David Sholtz

David Sholtz (born October 6, 1891 in Brooklyn , New York , † March 21, 1953 in Key West , Florida ) was an American politician and the 26th governor of Florida from 1933 to 1937 .

Early years and political advancement

David Sholtz attended Yale University and then studied law at Stetson University. After graduating in 1915, he opened a law firm in Daytona Beach , Florida. During the First World War he was a marine in the United States Navy . In 1917 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. Between 1919 and 1921 he worked as a public prosecutor. In 1921 he became a judge. In 1932 he was able to prevail within his Democratic Party on the question of nominating the top candidate for the gubernatorial election. He was then elected to this office by voters in Florida.

Florida governor

His term as governor began on January 3, 1933, at the height of the Great Depression that rocked the State of Florida (and the entire western world) as a result of the October 1929 New York stock market crash. In combating the crisis, he was able to benefit from the successes of the new President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal policy. Job creation measures have been initiated. A first social insurance scheme was prepared, which mainly contained unemployment insurance and pension programs. He also advocated administrative reform. During his tenure, free textbooks were generally made available in public schools. Teachers' salaries were raised and the education system improved.

Further career

Since the Florida constitution did not allow direct re-election, he had to leave office on January 5, 1937 after his term of office expired. It was then that the President's New Deal policy began to take effect in Florida. The state slowly recovered from the severe crisis. Sholtz tried unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate in 1938 . He then spent most of his time in New York, but kept his main residence in Florida. He died in 1953 while visiting Key West. David Sholtz was married to Alice May Agee. The couple had three children.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport Conn. 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Sholtz, David
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Florida
DATE OF BIRTH	October 6, 1891
PLACE OF BIRTH	Brooklyn , New York
DATE OF DEATH	March 21, 1953
Place of death	Key West , Florida