Claude G. Bowers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Claude Bowers
United States Ambassador to Chile
In office September 7, 1939 – September 2, 1953
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Norman Armour
Succeeded by	Willard L. Beaulac
United States Ambassador to Spain
In office June 1, 1933 – February 2, 1939
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Irwin B. Laughlin
Succeeded by	H. Freeman Matthews (Acting); Alexander W. Weddell
Personal details
Born	Claude Gernade Bowers (1878-11-20)November 20, 1878 Westfield, Indiana, U.S.
Died	January 21, 1958(1958-01-21) (aged 79) New York, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sybil McCaslin Bowers
Children	Patricia Bowers
Education	High school
Occupation	Newspaper writer and editor senatorial secretary ambassador to Spain and Chile
Writing career
Language	English
Period	First half of twentieth century
Genre	Popular history
Subject	American politics
Years active	1916–1953
Notable works	The Party Battles of the Jackson Period (1922) Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy in America (1925) The Tragic Era: The Revolution after Lincoln (1929)

Claude Gernade Bowers (born November 20, 1878 – died January 21, 1958) was an American writer, newspaper editor, and politician. He wrote popular books about American history. He also served as an ambassador for the United States.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose him to be the ambassador to Spain from 1933 to 1939. Later, he became the ambassador to Chile from 1939 to 1953. His history books helped shape how the Democratic Party saw itself. He believed the party stood against powerful monopolies and special privileges.

Bowers was the ambassador to Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). At first, he suggested the U.S. join other countries in a Non-intervention Agreement. This agreement meant no country should get involved in the war. However, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy openly helped the Nationalist rebels. This broke the agreement. Bowers then tried to convince Washington to help the government of the Spanish Republic, but he was not successful.

He left Spain in early 1939 when the rebels, led by Francisco Franco, won the war. Later that year, he became the U.S. Ambassador to Chile. Chile had a government that he liked more. In American politics, he followed the ideas of Thomas Jefferson. He was worried about some of the government's actions during the New Deal, but he did not speak out.

Claude Bowers' Life Story

Claude Bowers grew up in Indiana. His father, Lewis Bowers, was a shopkeeper who passed away when Claude was 12 years old. After his father's death, his mother, Juliet Tipton Bowers, moved the family to Indianapolis. Claude finished Shortridge High School in 1898.

He loved to read and learn. He especially enjoyed Irish speeches, English poetry, and history. He was a very good debater in high school. He even won a state contest with a speech about Alexander Hamilton.

Claude could not go to college because his family did not have enough money. He learned a lot by reading and studying on his own.

Starting a Career in Journalism

In 1901, Bowers began working as a journalist. He wrote articles for the Indianapolis Sentinel newspaper. He also worked as a reporter and writer for other newspapers in Indiana.

In 1903, he moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. There, he worked for the Terre Haute Gazette and then the Terre Haute Star. He became friends with Eugene V. Debs, who led the Socialist Party of America.

Getting Involved in Politics

In 1904, Bowers ran for Congress as a Democratic candidate. He campaigned hard but lost the election. He ran again in 1904 and lost again. Even though he lost, he became known as a great speaker. Many people wanted him to speak at events.

From 1906 to 1911, he worked for the Terre Haute Board of Public Improvements. This was a political job, but he did not enjoy it much.

From 1911 to 1916, he worked for John W. Kern, who was a powerful leader in the Senate. This job allowed Bowers to meet important politicians, including President Woodrow Wilson. He became well-known in the Democratic Party. He supported the League of Nations, which was a big project for President Wilson.

After Kern lost his election in 1916, Bowers returned to Indiana. He worked for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. In 1918, he wrote a book about John W. Kern.

Bowers was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. In 1918, he led the committee that wrote the party's main ideas. He was offered a job as Indiana Secretary of State, but he turned it down.

Becoming a Famous Author

His book, The Party Battles of the Jackson Period (1922), was very popular. Because of this book, he was invited to join the editorial team of the New York World in 1923. This was a very important Democratic newspaper. When that newspaper closed in 1931, he became a political writer for the New York Journal.

Bowers was also a popular public speaker. In 1929, people knew him best for his speeches. He helped write speeches for Al Smith, who ran for president in 1928. He became good friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt even wrote the only book review of his life for Bowers' book, Jefferson and Hamilton.

Because of Roosevelt's support, Bowers was the main speaker at the 1928 Democratic National Convention. His speech was heard across the country on the radio.

Ambassador to Spain and Chile

Claude Bowers played a big part in Franklin D. Roosevelt's campaign for president in 1932. When Roosevelt won, Bowers was sure to get an important job in the new government. Bowers asked to be the ambassador to Spain, and Roosevelt agreed.

While in Spain, Bowers was very popular. He was known for being a careful and hardworking leader. He continued to help the Democratic Party by writing speeches and giving advice.

Spanish Civil War and Diplomacy

Bowers supported the elected government of Spain, known as the Second Spanish Republic. When the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, he first agreed with other European countries to stay out of the conflict. However, Germany and Italy openly helped the rebels. Because of this, Bowers changed his mind and asked Washington to help the Spanish Republic. His requests were not successful.

One of Bowers' main concerns was helping Americans in Spain get to safety during the war. In his book, My Mission to Spain (1954), he strongly criticized the fascist groups and defended the Spanish Republic. He famously said that the Spanish Civil War was like a practice run for World War II.

In 1939, the Spanish fascists, led by Francisco Franco, won the war. This meant Bowers could no longer stay in Spain as ambassador. Roosevelt then chose him to be the ambassador to Chile. He stayed in Chile until 1953. He was considered one of the most liked and successful ambassadors in Latin America, even though he was not a professional diplomat and did not speak Spanish.

Bowers passed away in 1958 from leukemia. He is buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was survived by his wife, Sybil McCaslin, and his daughter, Patricia Bowers.

Claude Bowers' History Books

Bowers wrote several popular history books. He did not go to college, so his books were not like academic studies. However, he read many old newspapers and historical documents. He included references in his footnotes.

For Bowers, history was about important people and their actions. He saw history as a fight between special privileges and democracy. He often wrote about "critical periods" in history. These included the time when democracy won over aristocracy during the Andrew Jackson era, the conflict between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, and the period after the American Civil War.

One historian, William O. Lynch, said in 1929 that Bowers was "close to being an able historian." However, Lynch also suggested that Bowers could use a calmer writing style and be more balanced in his opinions.

Books About Thomas Jefferson

Bowers' books Party Battles of the Jackson Period (1922) and Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy in America (1925) were very popular. In these books, he criticized the Federalist Party, the Whig Party, and the Republican Party. He saw these parties as supporting the wealthy and powerful.

Jefferson and Hamilton looked at how Alexander Hamilton, as Secretary of the Treasury, helped financial investors. These investors, including some members of Congress, made a lot of money by buying old debts cheaply and then getting them paid back at full value.

After losing the 1924 elections, Democrats hoped for a new leader like Thomas Jefferson. Bowers' book helped them understand their party's history and purpose. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt reviewed Jefferson and Hamilton, he said, "At last!" He found the book very exciting.

Former Indiana Senator Albert J. Beveridge also wrote a long review of Jefferson and Hamilton. He called it "captivating" and said Bowers was a "master of the picturesque." Beveridge noted that Bowers was clearly on Jefferson's side but tried to be fair. He called it "the best story of the origins of Jeffersonian Democracy."

Seven years later, Bowers wrote a book about Beveridge himself, called Beveridge and the Progressive Era (1932). Many people thought this was Bowers' best work because it was balanced and well-written.

In his popular histories, Bowers promoted the idea that Thomas Jefferson started the Democratic Party. Later historians would give more credit to Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. President Franklin Roosevelt loved Bowers' books. He was so impressed that he built the Jefferson Memorial and made Bowers the U.S. ambassador to Spain.

The Tragic Era: A Look at Reconstruction

Bowers is perhaps best known for his popular history book about the Reconstruction Era, called The Tragic Era. The Revolution after Lincoln (1929).

The Tragic Era was chosen by a popular book club and was printed 13 times. It has always been available to buy. It is considered one of the most widely read books about Reconstruction and had a lot of influence.

In this book, Bowers strongly supported President Andrew Johnson. He called Johnson's impeachment a "farce." He also supported the "Redeemers," who were white leaders who took back control of Southern governments and limited the rights of Black citizens after the Civil War. Bowers' book shared ideas similar to the movie The Birth of a Nation and the "Lost Cause of the Confederacy" viewpoint.

Bowers had a political reason for writing The Tragic Era. He hoped to make the Republican Party less popular in the South and strengthen support for the Democratic Party. This book also made Roosevelt think even more highly of Bowers.

Books by Claude Bowers

• The Irish Orators: A History of Ireland's Fight for Freedom (1916)
• The Life of John Worth Kern (1918)
• The Party Battles of the Jackson Period (1922)
• Jefferson and Hamilton: The Struggle for Democracy in America (1925)
• Beveridge and the Progressive Era (1932)
• Jefferson in Power: The Death Struggle of the Federalists (1936)
• The Spanish Adventures of Washington Irving (1940)
• The Young Jefferson, 1743-1789 (1945)
• Pierre Vergniaud: Voice of the French Revolution (1950)
• Making Democracy a Reality. Jefferson, Jackson, and Polk (1954)
• My Mission to Spain: Watching the Rehearsal for World War II (1954)
• Chile Through Embassy Windows, 1939-1953 (1958)
• My Life: The Memoirs of Claude Bowers (1962)
• Indianapolis in the 'Gay Nineties': High School Diaries of Claude G. Bowers (1964)

See also

In Spanish: Claude Bowers para niños