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Calvin Coolidge
30th President of the United States
It is in such contemplations, my fellow countrymen, which are not
exhaustive but only representative, that I find ample warrant for
satisfaction and encouragement. We should not let the much that is to do
obscure the much which has been done. The past and present show faith and
hope and courage fully justified. Here stands our country, an example of
tranquillity at home, a patron of tranquillity abroad. Here stands its
Government, aware of its might but obedient to its conscience. Here it will
continue to stand, seeking peace and prosperity, solicitous for the welfare
of the wage earner, promoting enterprise, developing waterways and natural
resources, attentive to the intuitive counsel of womanhood, encouraging
education, desiring the advancement of religion, supporting the cause of
justice and honor among the nations. America seeks no earthly empire built
on blood and force. No ambition, no temptation, lures her to thought of
foreign dominions. The legions which she sends forth are armed, not with
the sword, but with the cross. The higher state to which she seeks the
allegiance of all mankind is not of human, but of divine origin. She
cherishes no purpose save to merit the favor of Almighty God.
----Calvin Coolidge, 1925 inaugeration
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If Calvin Coolidge had not been born on the 4th of July would he have chosen politics? No one can answer that question, why he chose a profession he seemed so ill suited for, and one that his blunt personality would generally prevent others from being successful.
Despite the pundits of the day, who always underestimated his appeal to the public, he only lost one election (a school board race). Seemingly, nearly every step he made toward the presidency was pre-ordinated, as circumstances always favored his election to each position he sought.
Even his nomination to the vice presidency seems almost happenstance, caused by a mini-revolt of the delegates at the (Chicago, 1920) GOP Convention, who were disgruntled with the Senate Leaders who tried to make both Senators Harding and Lenroot as the nominees. Coolidge was nominated from the floor of the convention and won the nomination overwhelmingly. This, and his later election to the presidency in 1924 (he became president in 1923 after the death of President Harding) may not have been as much luck as it was Coolidge's ability to maximize his opportunities without appearing to even be in contention. It was just assumed by vast majorities that he was the best man for every job that had an opening without his overt yearning for it. When he first sought a political position he simply walked from door to door saying, "I need your vote, I want your vote, I would appreciate your vote", then he would walk away to the next house. Somehow this man of few words was understood, and in many ways he let his actions so this talking.
As governor of Massachusetts he consolidated its 118 different departments into 18, causing many powerful enemies who lost their cushy jobs, but it was the Boston police strike that gained him a national following, when he sent in the guard and wired Samuel Gomper (AFL) that, "There is no right to strike against public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime."
Coolidge's time as Vice President gave no clue to his future landslide victory in the 1924 presidential race. He didn't seem to fit into Washington high society. In 1921 Edward Lowry said that he was an "apparition...who seemingly cannot talk". Mr. Lowry had no conclusion as to what Coolidge's future would hold.
"Inevitability" has been used to describe Coolidge's political career, each step just seemed to happen naturally. Despite almost unanimous opposition to Coolidge by the "Intellectuals" of the day he won the 1924 election by a landslide.
While he was in office America prospered, and the national debt was cut by a third. In 1923 (his first year) federal receipts were $3.8 billion and expenditures were $3.1 billion, In 1929 (his last year as president) federal receipts were $3.8 billion and expenditures were $3.1 billion, and he had reduced the national debt from $22.3 billion to $16.9 billion. He was able to cut taxes four out of his six years as president, and the economy experienced steady growth, with perhaps only high tariffs hindering it. Conservatives of his day were nearly universally supportive of high tariffs. It was one of his very few departures from his strong belief in free markets.
Seven months after Coolidge left office the stock market crashed. His failure to foresee the dangers of having an overproductive economy, paired with world-wide tariffs and a stock market based on margin sales, tarnish his otherwise outstanding reputation, although noone else of consequence foresaw any danger to the economy in early 1929. We shall never know how well he would have led us through the coming depression.
Unlike the rockets red glare, brilliant streamers flashing on Independence Day, this president was best known as "Silent Cal". May he be remembered as long as free people celebrate both his and our birthday.
Some Facts about Coolidge:
Born: July 4, 1872, Plymouth, Vermont
Died: January 5, 1933, Northampton, Massachusetts
Father: John Calvin Coolidge
Mother: Victoria Josephine Moor Coolidge
Married: October 4, 1905 to Grace Anna Goodhue (1879-1957)
Children: John Coolidge (1906- )
Calvin Coolidge, Jr. (1908-24)
Religion: Congregationalist
Education: Amherst College, class of 1895
Military Experience: None
Occupation: Lawyer, Politician
Political Party: Republican
References
The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge
Robert H. Ferrell, 1998
Presidents I've known
Charles Willis Thompson, 1929
Washington Close-Ups
Edward G. Lowry, 1921
POTUS: Presidents of the United States
The Internet Public Library
Robert S. Summers, 1998
by: Ted Kegebein
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