Prior to entering politics he served as vice president and general manager of the Ford Motor Company.

[4] Couzens' diligence at the railroad was noticed by Alexander Y. Malcomson, who hired the young man as a clerk in his coal business.

[3] In 1906, Gray died and Malcomson was eased out of the business, and Couzens became vice president and general manager of the company.

[3] However, the two men gradually grew apart, and in 1915 Couzens resigned his position as general manager, although he retained a seat on the board.

Couzens was appointed November 29, 1922, as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Truman H.

[4] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1936, the loss generally attributed to Couzens's support for Roosevelt's New Deal programs.

[4] Couzens' actions in Congress generally followed those of the Progressive Republicans, advocating acts such as high graduated income tax and public ownership of utilities.

[8] In the 1930s, Couzens donated $1 million to Children's Hospital of Michigan, in response to a birthday request from his wife for "a simple box in which to keep my pearls".

Couzens complied, including a note within the box describing the $1 million gift, stating "My dear, your new pearls will be all the children who are eventually treated there".

[7][10] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress