[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 126 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING THE ``YEAR OF DAWES''

 Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, today I recognize former Illinois 
resident and Vice President of the United States, Charles Gates Dawes, 
in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth on August 27, 1865. 
Charles Dawes holds a special place in American history, devoting much 
of his life to public service, and today his memory lives on in 
Evanston, IL, the place where Dawes and his family called home for 
nearly 60 years.
  Serving as Vice President of the United States from 1925 to 1929 
under President Calvin Coolidge, Dawes distinguished himself in the 
service of his country on a national and international scale. Dawes 
served as brigadier general in charge of the American Expeditionary 
Force Office of Supply during World War I, where he led the Allied 
Supply Board and subsequently received medals for distinguished service 
from each of the Allied countries. On December 10, 1926, Dawes was 
awarded the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the ``Dawes Plan'' 
that restructured German reparation repayments following World War I 
and temporarily helped to restore balance to Europe, easing tensions 
between Germany and France.
  In addition to his work under the Coolidge administration, Dawes 
served four other U.S. Presidents in various offices that included 
Comptroller of the Currency, First Director of the Federal Bureau of 
the Budget, and President of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. 
Dawes also served as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, a position he 
held until 1931. As Ambassador, Dawes successfully helped to negotiate 
treaties in international law and arms limitations. As the American 
delegate to the London Naval Conference in 1930, he specifically worked 
to broker an agreement between Japan, France, Italy, Great Britain, and 
the United States to limit the number of Navy war vessels and regulate 
submarine warfare. Dawes was also a dedicated humanitarian, who 
personally established and funded extensive networks of food and 
housing for the homeless and less fortunate.
  Charles Dawes is also remembered for his contributions and service to 
his local community of Evanston, IL. Dawes owned an Evanston based 
utility business, and he and his extended family were a part of the 
fabric of the community, attending local schools and participating in 
countless Evanston organizations. In 1942, he arranged to bequeath his 
home to Northwestern University and the broader Evanston community for 
the conservation of its cultural history. Today the Dawes home serves 
as the headquarters of the Evanston History Center, which will be 
honoring the life of Charles Dawes and the 150th anniversary of his 
birth through its ``Year of Dawes'' celebration. I commend the Evanston 
History Center for its dedication to educating the public on the 
remarkable life of Charles Dawes and preserving the Dawes family 
history for future generations.
  I ask all my colleagues to join me in celebrating the ``Year of 
Dawes'' and honoring the 150th birthday anniversary of Charles Gates 
Dawes.

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