Millard Fillmore Caldwell (February 6, 1897 – October 23, 1984) was an American politician, lawyer, and jurist. He was the 29th governor of Florida (1945–1949) and served in all three branches of government at various times in his life, including as a U.S. representative and Florida Supreme Court justice.
In 1926, Caldwell began serving as prosecutor and county attorney of Santa Rosa County; in 1929, he was elected as a Democrat to the state House, where he was a member until 1932.
US Congress and gubernatorial interim
Caldwell would enter the 1932 Democratic primary late for Florida's 3rd Congressional District. In the end he would end up defeating Tom Yon and in congress he would serve as a member on two committees: Foreign Affairs and Appropriations. While serving in Congress he would urge that the US be self-sufficient for its war resources by 1934. He would unsuccessfully try to place an embargo on shipments to Japan and he did advocate for expanding both the Navy and Army. He would retire from Congress on January 1, 1941, and move to Tallahassee where he would practice law along with raising cattle and operating a dairy. He used the dairy from this operation to produce a variety of cheeses which would be used in his renowned grilled cheese sandwiches. [4]
Governorship
In 1944, Caldwell was elected governor of Florida. Taking office in 1945, Caldwell's term is noted for his segregationist beliefs, as well as his support for road construction projects and the establishment of the Educational Minimum Foundation Program, which gave education funds to rural counties. One of the more colorful aspects of Caldwell's term came on August 10, 1945, during the surrender of Japan in World War II, when Caldwell issued a proclamation urging bars and other alcohol-selling establishments to close in order to prevent a frenzy of drunken celebration in the streets.[citation needed]
Caldwell would support Harry S. Truman's run for president in 1948 as many Southern Democrats had left the party.[5]
Post-governorship activities
After leaving office in 1949, Caldwell was appointed the administrator of the Federal Civil Defense Administration by then-PresidentHarry S. Truman in 1950. After leaving this post in 1952, Caldwell served as a justice – and later chief justice – on the State Supreme Court from 1962 to 1969.[3]
Caldwell died in Tallahassee on October 23, 1984.[3] He is interred at Blackwood-Harwood Plantations Cemetery in Leon County in Tallahassee, Florida.[citation needed]
