Charles Dawes and his Crusade Against the Senate Filibuster

The Evanston History Center presents a free online event on Thurs. August 26, at 6pm (CST): Daniel S. Holt, Assistant Historian of the U.S. Senate Historical Office, will take us back to the 1920s as he discusses Vice President Charles Dawes’ crusade against the filibuster. The event takes place virtually on Zoom and is free! Registration is required: https://bit.ly/FilibusterEvent

On March 4, 1925, Charles G. Dawes took the oath of office as Vice President of the United States—making him President of the Senate—and delivered perhaps the most memorable vice presidential inaugural address in Senate history. From his position in the presiding officer’s chair in the Senate Chamber Dawes railed against the Senate rules that allowed a minority of senators to delay and block legislation, a tool popularly known as the filibuster. Dawes took his campaign on the road over the next four years, delivering speeches throughout the country and pressuring senators to rid themselves of what he called “a travesty on good government.” In 1929, Dawes left the Senate, but the filibuster remained.

To see the History Center’s full line up of fall 2021 events, go to: https://www.evanstonhistorycenter.org/all-events/