Humility
President Coolidge has the reputation of being a stern, serious, no-nonsense type of man. Much of that reputation is deserved. However, I have provided examples in past posts detailing Coolidge's dry wit and sense of humor.
President Coolidge would have to be considered the president with the least ego. He had his own moral code (a strong one at that), and he did and said what was right. Optics be damned.
In 1924, not long after his young son Calvin Jr died, the President went home to Vermont for a "vacation" at his father's (and his boyhood) farm. The cameras followed, of course. There is a great news reel video on YouTube that is worth watching that details the stay in Vermont. Much to the chagrin of the President's aides, Coolidge appears in overalls shoveling hay with his father. It's just what he did when he was home. It wasn't dignified or presidential, and President Coolidge would not care. His aides tried to have him avoid appearing in this manner. Coolidge didn't give it a second thought. "It's who I am."
After signing the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S., the Sioux tribe made Coolidge an honorary member. He was presented with a ceremonial headdress. And yes, President Coolidge wore it. He thought it would be an insult not to do so. Optics, again, be damned. His aides were mortified. Coolidge thought is was great. (See photo below)
While visiting the Dakotas, some locals presented the President with a full cowboy outfit. Yup, you guessed it, President Coolidge appeared dressed as a local cowboy with the townspeople. An aide begged him not to.
Coolidge was dumbfounded, "I don't see why you object. The people here sent me this costume....why shouldn't I have my picture taken with it to please them?"
The aide explained, "It's making people laugh."
Now it was time for the man of few words as he responded simply, "Well, it's good for people to laugh." (See photo below)
Not just my favorite President politically, but my favorite President personally (as much as we can ever truly "know" them from biographies). He just didn't give a shit. If he lost popularity, oh well! As we will soon see, he would have been perfectly happy to leave DC forever.
President Coolidge has the reputation of being a stern, serious, no-nonsense type of man. Much of that reputation is deserved. However, I have provided examples in past posts detailing Coolidge's dry wit and sense of humor.
President Coolidge would have to be considered the president with the least ego. He had his own moral code (a strong one at that), and he did and said what was right. Optics be damned.
In 1924, not long after his young son Calvin Jr died, the President went home to Vermont for a "vacation" at his father's (and his boyhood) farm. The cameras followed, of course. There is a great news reel video on YouTube that is worth watching that details the stay in Vermont. Much to the chagrin of the President's aides, Coolidge appears in overalls shoveling hay with his father. It's just what he did when he was home. It wasn't dignified or presidential, and President Coolidge would not care. His aides tried to have him avoid appearing in this manner. Coolidge didn't give it a second thought. "It's who I am."
After signing the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S., the Sioux tribe made Coolidge an honorary member. He was presented with a ceremonial headdress. And yes, President Coolidge wore it. He thought it would be an insult not to do so. Optics, again, be damned. His aides were mortified. Coolidge thought is was great. (See photo below)
While visiting the Dakotas, some locals presented the President with a full cowboy outfit. Yup, you guessed it, President Coolidge appeared dressed as a local cowboy with the townspeople. An aide begged him not to.
Coolidge was dumbfounded, "I don't see why you object. The people here sent me this costume....why shouldn't I have my picture taken with it to please them?"
The aide explained, "It's making people laugh."
Now it was time for the man of few words as he responded simply, "Well, it's good for people to laugh." (See photo below)
Not just my favorite President politically, but my favorite President personally (as much as we can ever truly "know" them from biographies). He just didn't give a shit. If he lost popularity, oh well! As we will soon see, he would have been perfectly happy to leave DC forever.
