Show john C calhoun served U S in many capacitive Capa capacities citie s john C calhoun south carolinas distinguished statesman and orator 0 who was born march 18 1782 served his country in many capacities twice as vice president of the united states he was secretary of war under monroe and in 1844 w was as appointed secretary of state under tyler in 1845 he was elected senator from south carolina and became the foremost champion of the south A man with the courage of his convictions vict ions calhoun believed in the most extreme form of bf states rights and developed the theory of the nullification fi ordinance of 1832 he defended slavery and furnished arguments which were to greatly influence ance the political course of the south in regard to slavery while calhoun was vice president under president jackson writes leslie hartley in the washington star it was the only time in american history that two southerners held these two high offices during the same term their political views differed widely however and calhoun resigned to enter the united states senate this was also the only time in american history a vice president voluntarily left office calhoun was held in great esteem by his native state which struck off a medal proclaiming calhoun the first president of the confederacy he died in 1850 without achieving his ambition to become president of the united states |