History of John C. Calhoun in Timeline
John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States, was a prominent figure in American politics during the 19th century. Originally a nationalist and advocate for a strong federal government, his views shifted dramatically, leading him to champion states' rights, limited government, and nullification. A staunch defender of slavery and the interests of Southern whites, Calhoun believed that the South's continued presence in the Union hinged on Northern acceptance of these principles. His ideologies significantly influenced the South's secession in the 1860s. Notably, he was the first of two vice presidents to resign from office.
1910: Calhoun Statue Placed in National Statuary Hall
In 1910, a statue of John C. Calhoun, gifted by the state of South Carolina, was added to the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol.
1957: Calhoun Selected for Senate's "Hall of Fame"
In 1957, a Senate committee headed by Senator John F. Kennedy selected John C. Calhoun as one of five senators to be featured in a newly created "hall of fame" in the Senate Reception Room.
1957: Calhoun Portrait in Senate Reception Room
John C. Calhoun was among the initial "Famous Five" former senators chosen by the Senate in 1957 to be honored with a portrait in the Senate Reception Room.
1973: Resignation of Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew became the second vice president in US history to resign from the position in 1973.
1997: Calhoun Portrayed in "Amistad"
Actor Arliss Howard played the role of John C. Calhoun in the 1997 film "Amistad," which centers around the legal battle concerning the fate of slaves who revolted on the Spanish slave ship La Amistad in 1839.
June 2015: Vandalism of Calhoun Monument and Renewed Calls for Removal
The racially motivated Charleston church shooting in June 2015 led to renewed demands for the removal of monuments honoring pro-slavery figures, including the Calhoun monument in Charleston, which was found vandalized with messages condemning his racist views and support of slavery.
2017: Debate Over Plaque on Calhoun Statue
In 2017, the city council of Charleston, South Carolina, postponed a proposal to place a plaque on the John C. Calhoun statue that would have acknowledged his white supremacist views.
2017: Renaming of Calhoun College at Yale
Yale University President Peter Salovey announced in 2017 the renaming of Calhoun College to honor Grace Hopper, a renowned computer scientist and Navy rear admiral. This decision came after years of requests to rename the college due to Calhoun's legacy of supporting slavery.
November 2018: Calhoun-Isles Community Band Changes Name
The Calhoun-Isles Community Band in Minneapolis changed its name to City of Lakes Community Band in November 2018 to distance itself from Calhoun's pro-slavery legacy. This followed the renaming of Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska.
2018: Calhoun Monument Targeted for Removal
In 2018, the Make It Right Project listed the John C. Calhoun monument in Charleston as No. 5 on their list of the top 10 Confederate monuments they aimed to have removed.
May 16, 2019: Protest at Calhoun Monument in Charleston
On May 16, 2019, the Make It Right Project, an organization advocating for the removal of Confederate monuments, held a protest at the John C. Calhoun monument in Charleston.
June 2020: Clemson University Removes Calhoun's Name from Honors College
In June 2020, Clemson University removed John C. Calhoun's name from its Calhoun Honors College, renaming it to Clemson University Honors College. This decision was made in response to a petition and the George Floyd protests, citing Calhoun's ideals, beliefs, and actions as inconsistent with the university's values.
June 23, 2020: Announcement to Remove Calhoun Statue in Charleston
On June 23, 2020, the city of Charleston announced its decision to remove the statue of John C. Calhoun following public outcry and vandalism during the George Floyd protests.
June 24, 2020: Removal of Calhoun Monument in Charleston
Following years of debate and protest, the monument to John C. Calhoun in Marion Square, Charleston, South Carolina, was removed on June 24, 2020, after a unanimous vote by the Charleston City Council.
2022: Removal of Calhoun's Name from Calhoun Square in Savannah
The city councilors of Savannah, Georgia, unanimously voted to remove John C. Calhoun's name from Calhoun Square in 2022.
2023: Kamala Harris Breaks Tie-Breaking Vote Record
In 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris surpassed Calhoun's record of 31 tie-breaking votes in the Senate, which he set during his time as vice president.