Having developed a penchant for Greek and Roman poetry in his student years, Koht lectured in philology as an adult.

Despite the conservative political views of his family, Koht became fascinated by the radical national liberal movement of the late 19th century.

Eventually becoming elected as both city mayor and Member of Parliament, he advocated radical reforms, amongst them common suffrage and the eight-hour day.

In a bulletin titled Samfundsblade, Koht—together with Sofus Arctander, Ole Furu and Hans Brecke—recited Ancient Greek and Latin poems.

[3] Coming from a disciplined family of a conservative culture, Koht fell under the spell of the neoteric national liberal ideology, developing a weltanschauung radical for his time.

After only one year, Koht left the paper, disenchanted with its publishing of an article that he felt violated the principles of the newspaper.

[1] The latest city fire posed a heavy burden onto the newly elected mayor; yet, according to Nissen, Koht administered the task "in an outstanding way".