Jo Cals
Encyclopedia
Jozef Maria Laurens Theo "Jo" Cals (July 18, 1914 – December 30, 1971) was a Dutch
politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party
(KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
from April 14, 1965 until November 22, 1966.
He previously served as a Member of the House of Representatives from August 19, 1948 until March 15, 1950, when he became State Secretary
for Education, Culture and Science serving from March 15, 1950 until September 2, 1952 in the Cabinets Drees-Van Schaik and Drees I. He became Minister of Education, Culture and Science serving from September 2, 1952 until July 24, 1963 in the Cabinets Drees II
, III
, Beel II and De Quay. He again returned to the House of Representatives for two short periods, after the Dutch general election of 1956
and 1959
. Serving from July 3, 1956 until October 3, 1956 and from March 20, 1959 until May 19, 1959. And again a Member of the House of Representatives from July 2, 1963 until April 14, 1965. After the fall of the Cabinet Marijnen, Cals became Prime Minister of the Netherlands
, leading the Cabinet Cals.
After his premiership, Cals semi-retired from active politics and served as a civil servant
leading several governmental commissions.
On December 5, 1966 he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State
.
on July 18, 1914. After completing his secondary education in his home town, he studied for the priesthood in Rolduc. In 1935, however, he interrupted his theological training to study law at the Radboud University Nijmegen
, after graduating in 1940 he practiced law in that same city up until 1950, in the meantime also teaching economics at his old secondary school in Roermond
.
in Nijmegen municipal council till 1946. He was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives in 1948. From March 15, 1950 to September 2, 1952 he was State Secretary
for Education, Culture and Science serving from March 15, 1950 until September 2, 1952 in the Cabinets Drees-Van Schaik and Drees I. He became Minister of Education, Culture and Science serving from September 2, 1952 until July 24, 1963 in the Cabinets Drees II
, III
, Beel II and De Quay, he helped pass the "Mammoetwet," a law that transformed secondary education. In the debate, he spoke for 6 hours and 50 minutes, setting a record. In 1963, however he returned to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, alongside his duties there, he was a member of the board of governors of the University of Groningen
, chairman of the Arts Council and a member of the Press Council.
In the aftermath of the collapse of the Cabinet Marijnen
, Cals became Prime Minister of the Netherlands
from April 14, 1965 to November 22, 1966, the Cabinet Cals
was suddenly brought down in an attack on its budget, known as the "Night of Schmelzer
".
(The Catholic Scouts). He went in 1933 to the 4th World Scout Jamboree
in Gödöllo, Hungary. After the liberation in 1944 of the southern part of the Netherlands he was one of the main forces in rebuilding Catholic Scouting as a separate Scouting movement in the Netherlands. During his second term as Minister of Education, Culture and Science, the State Secretary
for Education, Culture and Science was his former Scout Master René Höppener.
in Japan. From 1967 he was chairman of the National Advisory Committee on the amendment of the Constitution.
Cals was a hard worker but this was at the expense of his health, he died in The Hague
on December 30, 1971 he was 57.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
(KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
from April 14, 1965 until November 22, 1966.
He previously served as a Member of the House of Representatives from August 19, 1948 until March 15, 1950, when he became State Secretary
State Secretary (Netherlands)
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister...
for Education, Culture and Science serving from March 15, 1950 until September 2, 1952 in the Cabinets Drees-Van Schaik and Drees I. He became Minister of Education, Culture and Science serving from September 2, 1952 until July 24, 1963 in the Cabinets Drees II
Second Drees cabinet
Drees II , was the third Dutch cabinet under prime minister Willem Drees, with ministers from PvdA, KVP, ARP and CHU and one independent minister....
, III
Third Drees cabinet
Drees III , was the fourth Dutch cabinet under prime minister Willem Drees, with ministers from PvdA, KVP, ARP end CHU....
, Beel II and De Quay. He again returned to the House of Representatives for two short periods, after the Dutch general election of 1956
Dutch general election, 1956
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on June 13, 1956.The 1956 election marks an important change in the history of the Dutch House of Representatives: the number of seats in the House was increased from 100 to 150.-National...
and 1959
Dutch general election, 1959
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on March 12, 1959.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
. Serving from July 3, 1956 until October 3, 1956 and from March 20, 1959 until May 19, 1959. And again a Member of the House of Representatives from July 2, 1963 until April 14, 1965. After the fall of the Cabinet Marijnen, Cals became Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
, leading the Cabinet Cals.
After his premiership, Cals semi-retired from active politics and served as a civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
leading several governmental commissions.
On December 5, 1966 he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State
Minister of State (Netherlands)
The Minister of State is an honorary title in the Netherlands. The title is formally granted together with the style Excellency, by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the cabinet of the Netherlands. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is...
.
Early life
Jozef Maria Laurens Theo Cals was born in RoermondRoermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
on July 18, 1914. After completing his secondary education in his home town, he studied for the priesthood in Rolduc. In 1935, however, he interrupted his theological training to study law at the Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university with a strong focus on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands...
, after graduating in 1940 he practiced law in that same city up until 1950, in the meantime also teaching economics at his old secondary school in Roermond
Roermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
.
Politics
In 1945 Cals became leader of the Catholic People's PartyCatholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
in Nijmegen municipal council till 1946. He was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives in 1948. From March 15, 1950 to September 2, 1952 he was State Secretary
State Secretary (Netherlands)
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister...
for Education, Culture and Science serving from March 15, 1950 until September 2, 1952 in the Cabinets Drees-Van Schaik and Drees I. He became Minister of Education, Culture and Science serving from September 2, 1952 until July 24, 1963 in the Cabinets Drees II
Second Drees cabinet
Drees II , was the third Dutch cabinet under prime minister Willem Drees, with ministers from PvdA, KVP, ARP and CHU and one independent minister....
, III
Third Drees cabinet
Drees III , was the fourth Dutch cabinet under prime minister Willem Drees, with ministers from PvdA, KVP, ARP end CHU....
, Beel II and De Quay, he helped pass the "Mammoetwet," a law that transformed secondary education. In the debate, he spoke for 6 hours and 50 minutes, setting a record. In 1963, however he returned to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, alongside his duties there, he was a member of the board of governors of the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, chairman of the Arts Council and a member of the Press Council.
In the aftermath of the collapse of the Cabinet Marijnen
Netherlands cabinet Marijnen
Marijnen was the name given to a Dutch cabinet consisting of ministers from KVP, VVD, ARP and CHU, the same parties that formed the previous cabinet De Quay and can be seen as a continuation of that cabinet....
, Cals became Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
from April 14, 1965 to November 22, 1966, the Cabinet Cals
Netherlands cabinet Cals
Cals is the name given to a Dutch cabinet, consisting of ministers from KVP, PvdA and ARP.After the fall of the Marijnen cabinet, the confessional parties did not want snap elections because those could centre around the introduction of commercial television, the issue that led to the fall of the...
was suddenly brought down in an attack on its budget, known as the "Night of Schmelzer
Norbert Schmelzer
Wilhelm Klaus Norbert Schmelzer was a Dutch politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal . Serving numerus positions in his career including Minister of Foreign Affairs from July 6, 1971 until May 11, 1973...
".
Scouting
Cals was in 1930, just after the foundation as a separate Scouting organisation, one of the first members of De Katholieke VerkennersScouting Nederland
Scouting Nederland is the national Scout organisation of the Netherlands with approximately 110,000 members Scouting Nederland is the national Scout organisation of the Netherlands with approximately 110,000 members Scouting Nederland is the national Scout organisation of the Netherlands with...
(The Catholic Scouts). He went in 1933 to the 4th World Scout Jamboree
4th World Scout Jamboree
The 4th World Scout Jamboree, a gathering of Boy Scouts from all over the world, was hosted by Hungary and held from August 2 to August 13, 1933. It was attended by 25,792 Scouts, representing 46 different nations and additional territories...
in Gödöllo, Hungary. After the liberation in 1944 of the southern part of the Netherlands he was one of the main forces in rebuilding Catholic Scouting as a separate Scouting movement in the Netherlands. During his second term as Minister of Education, Culture and Science, the State Secretary
State Secretary (Netherlands)
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister...
for Education, Culture and Science was his former Scout Master René Höppener.
Trivia
Between 1968 and 1970, Cals was in charge of the Dutch entry to the Expo '70Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
in Japan. From 1967 he was chairman of the National Advisory Committee on the amendment of the Constitution.
Cals was a hard worker but this was at the expense of his health, he died in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
on December 30, 1971 he was 57.
External links
- Mr. J.M.L.Th. Cals (Ministry of General Affairs) Mr. J.M.L.Th. (Jo) Cals (Parlement & Politiek)