Since I view him as the greatest of all presidents, I have read all I could possibly read about the man. Here I will share a handful of biographical tidbits to hopefully bring to life an inexplicably somewhat forgotten President.
SILENT CAL:
He was known affectionately as Silent Cal. This was not because he was incapable of speaking eloquently. He believed it was wiser to be a man of fewer but well chosen words. It's an old time Yankee thing perhaps. His father was the same way, probably more so. Neither had the time to humor idle, superfluous chatter.
Coolidge, however, had an excellent sense of humor and a wonderful way with words when he chose to. In fact, a large book of Calvin Coolidge quotes is among my favorite books for leisure reading.
One evening while at a DC social event sure to include the type of discourse the President disdained, he displayed his stingy way with words and his wit. The hostess of the event begged Coolidge to talk to her as she had made a bet she could get more than two words out of the President. Coolidge thought about it and responded, " You lose." She got no more words out of him that night.
THE INAUGURATON:
As I have mentioned before, Coolidge and his father were typical no-nonsense, frugal, Yankee farmers. Then-VP Coolidge viewed the VP position. as ceremonial and a frustrating waste of his time. So it was no surprise he was at his father's farm (and boyhood home) when he found out President Harding had died.
Because his father's house had no telephone, word that the VP was now President did not get to the Coolidge home until around 2:00 AM on August 3, 1923. Even though nearly half the homes in the country had a telephone at this time, the elder Coolidge did not believe in the new technology. If someone had a message important enough, they would send a letter or get off their behind and tell him in person.
The new President got dressed, said a prayer, and went downstairs into the family parlor. John Calvin Coolidge Sr., a Vermont Justice of the Peace, administered the oath of office making his son the 30th President of the United States. All of this took place by kerosene lamp as the home also had no electricity! The new President then went back to bed.
A U.S. Marshall arrived in Plymouth Notch in the morning and deputized some locals to provide protection for the new President. Secret Service agents from Boston joined the new President during his train ride from Vermont back to DC.
And so began the presidency of the greatest President.
If you are ever near Vermont, I encourage paying Plymouth Notch a visit. Little has changed there. The tour, the village, and the museum are amazing. Just go in the summer!
SILENT CAL:
He was known affectionately as Silent Cal. This was not because he was incapable of speaking eloquently. He believed it was wiser to be a man of fewer but well chosen words. It's an old time Yankee thing perhaps. His father was the same way, probably more so. Neither had the time to humor idle, superfluous chatter.
Coolidge, however, had an excellent sense of humor and a wonderful way with words when he chose to. In fact, a large book of Calvin Coolidge quotes is among my favorite books for leisure reading.
One evening while at a DC social event sure to include the type of discourse the President disdained, he displayed his stingy way with words and his wit. The hostess of the event begged Coolidge to talk to her as she had made a bet she could get more than two words out of the President. Coolidge thought about it and responded, " You lose." She got no more words out of him that night.
THE INAUGURATON:
As I have mentioned before, Coolidge and his father were typical no-nonsense, frugal, Yankee farmers. Then-VP Coolidge viewed the VP position. as ceremonial and a frustrating waste of his time. So it was no surprise he was at his father's farm (and boyhood home) when he found out President Harding had died.
Because his father's house had no telephone, word that the VP was now President did not get to the Coolidge home until around 2:00 AM on August 3, 1923. Even though nearly half the homes in the country had a telephone at this time, the elder Coolidge did not believe in the new technology. If someone had a message important enough, they would send a letter or get off their behind and tell him in person.
The new President got dressed, said a prayer, and went downstairs into the family parlor. John Calvin Coolidge Sr., a Vermont Justice of the Peace, administered the oath of office making his son the 30th President of the United States. All of this took place by kerosene lamp as the home also had no electricity! The new President then went back to bed.
A U.S. Marshall arrived in Plymouth Notch in the morning and deputized some locals to provide protection for the new President. Secret Service agents from Boston joined the new President during his train ride from Vermont back to DC.
And so began the presidency of the greatest President.
If you are ever near Vermont, I encourage paying Plymouth Notch a visit. Little has changed there. The tour, the village, and the museum are amazing. Just go in the summer!
