CHARLES G. DAWES: Portrait of an American

Mr. Timmons showed strong ability as a political biographer with Garner of Texas published by Harper in 1948 (p. 359) and proves it again in a well delineated life story of the Ohio boy who became Coolidge's vice-president, government financier and in private life, a successful Chicago businessman. Studded with successes that marked him often as the man behind the man behind the gun, Dawes' career began with a law degree and a move to Lincoln, Nebraska to set up practice. Chicago and the business world soon became more attractive and from that metropolis the natural bents of Dawes' energy and outgoing personality brought him into politics. At 31 he was second in influence to Mark Hanna in the McKinley campaign and the position landed him the job of Comptroller of Currency, suited to him in its political freedom and opportunity to form monetary policy. Again in Illinois during the Roosevelt administration, Dawes continued in public service, preparing the way for a future that saw him through anti-trust legislation, purchaser for the A.E.F. in WWI, chief budget man under Harding, founder of the ""Dawes Committee"" on international affairs, the vice-presidency, ambassador to Britain and a career of financial policy making that formed much of the Republican thought. He died in 1951 important and highly regarded. Though not of general interest this will hold historians and those who knew the era.