Charles Dawes

Charles G. Dawes (1865-1951) began his political career when fellow Ohioan William McKinley tapped him to chair his successful presidential campaign in 1896. When World War I broke out, Dawes was commissioned as a major in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of general. His work on war reparations earned him the Distinguished Service Medal and the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as being picked by Calvin Coolidge to be his running mate in the 1924 presidential election. He served as Vice President of the United States until 1929.

He was also a self-taught composer, and his 1912 piano and violin piece Melody in A major became the subject of a popular arrangement that was played at his public functions. In 1951, the music had lyrics set to it and became Tommy Edwards' “It’s All in the Game”, making Dawes the only U.S. vice president to be credited with writing a No. 1 pop hit.