After serving in World War I, he became a member of many organizations including Freemasonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Newcomen Society of the United States.

[2] On December 25, 1920, Clauson married Ellen Julia Kelleher at the Sacred Heart church rectory in Lewiston.

[5] In his inaugural address, Clauson cited finding jobs for unemployed Waterville citizens and more careful spending.

His election victory surprised many in Maine, as Edmund Muskie's favorite had been expected to win and the Republican challenger was the better known Horace A. Hildreth.

Some accomplishments during his brief term included expanding Maine's sales tax to fund the formation of consolidated school districts, instituting a 3% lodging tax for school funding, the first open meetings law in Maine, and expanding the powers of judges in state municipal courts, which led to the formation of the District Court system two years after his death.