John C. Calhoun

This c. 1844-45 bust of John C. Calhoun by Clark Mills stands in the Smithsonian American Art Gallery.

“Calhoun, a man of great force of character, but of very remarkable moral purity; he could not have been otherwise.” -- The artist quoted in The Washington Post, August 1879

"John C. Calhoun was a senator for South Carolina and a great orator. He served as vice president under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, and spoke passionately against the abolition of slavery and for the principles of states’ rights. This sculpture shows the commanding figure of Calhoun with a formidable expression, as if he is challenging the viewer to oppose his controversial views." -- Smithsonian American Art Museum