He served in the Foreign Diplomatic Service. Upon graduation from college, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and was injured during an aviation training crash on a flying boat in Newport News, Virginia,[1] resulting in the loss of a leg. He served out the rest of his time in the military in Pensacola, Florida. He was awarded the Citation Star. He was later State Commander and National Senior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans.
He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston. He was secretary to United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. He served as assistant United States attorney in Boston
Political career
Curtis as a member of Massachusetts House circa 1935.
In 1946, Curtis was elected Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts. He defeated former Treasurer Fred J. Burrell in the Republican primary and incumbent Treasurer John E. Hurley in the general election.[2][3] However, Curtis lost re-election to Hurley in the historic wave election of 1948, when the Democratic Party swept all six state offices. Hurley sought a re-match and defeated Curtis by over 230,000 votes.[4]
In 1950, Curtis was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. He won the nomination relatively easily with 46% of the vote over a five-man field, including anti-communist activist Robert W. Welch Jr. and State Senator Harris S. Richardson.[5] Though he was the leading Republican candidate on the ballot,[6] Curtis lost the general election to incumbent Charles F. Sullivan as Republicans failed to erase the Democratic gains of 1948.[7]
U.S. Representative
In 1952, Curtis initially sought election as Governor, calling for a "wholesale clean-up of conditions at the State House that have destroyed the hope of a square deal for Massachusetts citizens."[6] However, U.S. Representative Christian Herter was drafted by the party establishment for the race instead. Curtis initially vowed to remain in the race before withdrawing, endorsing Herter, and running for Herter's House seat with party support.[6][8]
In 1962, he declined to run for a sixth term in favor of seeking the United States Senate seat left vacant by John F. Kennedy's election to the White House. However, he lost the Republican nomination to George C. Lodge.
After his 1962 loss, Curtis resumed the practice of law. He unsuccessfully sought election to the House three more times in 1968, 1970, and 1972.
