Charles G. Dawes

NAME Charles Gates Dawes

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Dawes was the 30th Vice President of the United States (1925–1929), a banker, diplomat, and composer. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for his role in the Dawes Plan, which restructured Germany’s World War I reparations.

BIRTH Born August 27, 1865, in Marietta, Ohio, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Charles was the son of Rufus R. Dawes, a Civil War officer and businessman, and Mary Beman Gates Dawes. His family had a lineage of distinguished public service, including his great-great-grandfather, William Dawes, who rode with Paul Revere to warn colonists of the British advance at the start of the American Revolution

CHILDHOOD Growing up in Marietta, Dawes was surrounded by the cultural and political influences of his father's public service.

EDUCATION Dawes enrolled at Marietta College, where his mother had studied and his father served on the Board of Trustees. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1884 at the young age of nineteen.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Dawes attended Cincinnati Law School for two years. He graduated with his law degree in 1886. Following his law studies, Dawes returned to Marietta College to earn a master's degree. 

CAREER RECORD Dawes practiced law, before becoming a prominent banker

1897-1901 Comptroller of the Currency under President McKinley.

1917-19 Colonel and later General in the United States Army during World War I

1921-22 First Director of the United States Bureau of the Budget (1921-1922)

1925-1929 Served as Vice President under President Calvin Coolidge.

1929-1932 Ambassador to the United Kingdom

APPEARANCE Dawes had a tall and slender build. He was described as having a strong, imposing but dignified presence.

Dawes, c. 1920s

FASHION Known for his formal style, Dawes often wore dark suits with high collars, reflecting the professional standards of his time.

CHARACTER Charles G. Dawes was known for his strong, outspoken character and his unwavering commitment to his principles. 

Dawes was renowned for his direct and often colorful manner of speaking. He earned the nickname "Hell and Maria" Dawes due to his tendency to use strong language, particularly during a congressional hearing where he famously exclaimed, "Helen Maria, I'd have paid horse prices for sheep if sheep could have pulled artillery to the front!"

His temper was legendary and often got the better of him. This was evident during his testimony before the House of Representatives' committee investigating World War I spending, where his heated seven-hour dressing down of the committee made national headlines.

Dawes was a man of his word who valued truth above all else. He did not fear the consequences of telling the truth and often spoke on issues that others avoided to protect their image. This commitment to honesty sometimes led to humiliation and criticism, but Dawes remained steadfast in his convictions.

SPEAKING VOICE He had a strong and authoritative voice, suitable for public speaking, though not known for his oratory brilliance.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Dawes was known for a dry sense of humor, often displayed in his political and social interactions.

RELATIONSHIPS Charles Gates Dawes married Caro Blymyer on January 24, 1889. The couple had four children ( two biological, two adopted). The couple went on to have a long marriage that lasted until Charles G. Dawes' death in 1951.Their relationship was described as supportive and stable.

MONEY AND FAME In his business dealings, Dawes was known for his intelligence, ingenuity, and persuasiveness. These qualities helped him build a substantial personal fortune and succeed in various entrepreneurial ventures.

Dawes later gained international fame through politics and his Nobel Prize.

FOOD AND DRINK Dawes enjoyed the simple but refined dining traditions of his time,.

Dawes was known to be an avid pipe smoker. He was described as having a "conspicuous addiction to tobacco" and even designed a special pipe that became his trademark. This pipe, known as the "Dawes pipe," gained significant attention and was often featured in photographs and public appearances.

MUSIC AND ARTS Dawes was a self-taught pianist and flutist and developed passable skills on these instruments through personal practice and dedication

In 1911, Dawes composed "Melody in A Major" for piano and violin. This piece became his most famous musical work and gained widespread popularity. It was later adapted into the hit song "It's All in the Game" in 1951. Dawes is the only U.S. Vice President to co-author a hit song.

Dawes helped form the Chicago Grand Opera company and supported various musical organizations and individual musicians

Later in life, he struggled to play due to hearing loss

LITERATURE Dawes was an avid reader and writer, authoring several works on economics, politics, and personal reflections.

NATURE He enjoyed the outdoors and often appreciated the serenity of nature during his travels.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Music and composing were his main hobbies (he frequently played piano during his leisure time). Dawes was also known for enjoying chess and intellectual pursuits.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Dawes demonstrated an interest in economics and finance, excelling in the practical applications of mathematics in his banking career.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY He adhered to Christian principles and was a member of the Congregational Church, reflecting his family’s strong religious traditions.

POLITICS A moderate Republican, Dawes waltzed into politics in 1896 by managing the Illinois chapter of William McKinley’s presidential campaign, a role that foreshadowed his knack for collecting accolades and fixing messes. Following McKinley's win, Dawes was appointed Comptroller of the Currency, a title that sounds as if it ought to come with a cape and a sidekick. He spent his tenure collecting $25 million from failed banks, a tidy sum that would undoubtedly earn him a standing ovation in any room full of accountants.

In 1921, Warren G. Harding decided the federal government needed a serious budgetary overhaul and appointed Dawes as the first Director of the Bureau of the Budget. Dawes attacked federal spending with the kind of zeal most people reserve for spring cleaning, slashing expenditures by a third in one year. It was as if he'd Marie Kondo-ed the entire federal budget: If it didn’t spark joy (or at least solvency), it was out.

Dawes’s most famous government assignment came in 1923 when Herbert Hoover handed him the Herculean task of untangling post-World War I Europe’s financial mess. As chair of the Allied Reparations Commission, Dawes devised the imaginatively named Dawes Plan. This scheme stabilized Germany’s economy and reduced tensions with France, though it wasn’t a permanent fix—just a financial Band-Aid, really. Still, it was impressive enough to earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925, an achievement that likely made him the only Nobel laureate with a side hustle in piano composition.

From 1925 to 1929, Dawes served as the 30th Vice President under Calvin Coolidge. He did what vice presidents traditionally do—advocated for policies, made ceremonial appearances, and occasionally ruffled feathers. He campaigned against the Ku Klux Klan, supported Senate filibuster reform, and pushed for the Kellogg-Briand Pact, an international agreement to renounce war. That the latter didn’t exactly stick is no reflection on Dawes’s enthusiasm.

After his vice-presidential stint, Dawes became Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1929–1932), a position that paired nicely with his fondness for diplomacy and fine tailoring. He then chaired the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during the Great Depression, overseeing efforts to stabilize the economy.

SCANDAL As Vice President, Dawes was not afraid to challenge established norms. He famously criticized Senate rules, particularly the filibuster, in his inaugural address, which caused significant controversy and overshadowed President Coolidge's own address

MILITARY RECORD Dawes was commissioned as a major during World War I on June 11, 1917, in the 17th Engineers. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant colonel,  colonel and brigadier general. From August 1917 to August 1919, Dawes served in France as chairman of the general purchasing board for the American Expeditionary Forces in the US Army. 

Dawes in uniform 1918

Dawes's most significant contribution to international politics was the Dawes Plan, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925. This plan helped reduce tensions between Germany and France after World War I and contributed to the stabilization of the German economy.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Dawes maintained good health for most of his life but slowed down in his later years due to aging.

HOMES Dawes lived in Evanston, Illinois, where his home later became the headquarters for the Evanston Historical Society.

TRAVEL He traveled extensively, particularly during his work on the Dawes Plan, which required international negotiations.

DEATH Charles Gates Dawes died on April 23, 1951, at the age of 85. His death occurred at his home in Evanston, Illinois, and was attributed to coronary thrombosis.

Dawes was interred at Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago, Illinois. Rosehill Cemetery is located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago and is known for being the final resting place of many notable figures.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA  Dawes’ life and contributions have been mentioned in historical documentaries and books about early 20th-century U.S. politics. His composition, "It’s All in the Game," brought him a unique form of pop culture recognition.

ACHIEVEMENTS Co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1925)

Instrumental in formulating the Dawes Plan, which helped stabilize the German economy after World War I.

Served as Vice President of the United States.

Played a significant role in the creation of the United States Bureau of the Budget.

Author of "Melody in A Major," which became a Billboard chart-topping hit decades later.