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{{Officeholder

{{Officeholder

|name=Calvin Coolidge

|name=Calvin Coolidge

|image=Calvin Coolidge cph.3g10777.jpg

|image=Calvin Coolidge by Hopkinson.jpg

|party=[[Republican]]

|party=[[Republican]]

|spouse=Grace Goodhue Coolidge

|spouse=Grace Goodhue Coolidge

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.''' was the 30th [[president of the United States of America]] from 1923 to 1929, an era of peace and prosperity. He was elected vice president in 1920 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] and took office in August 1923 upon the death of President [[Warren G. Harding]]; he was reelected by a landslide in 1924, but in 1928 at the peak of his popularity he announced in typical laconic fashion that he did not choose to run again.

'''John Calvin Coolidge Jr.''' (July 4, 1872 - January 5, 1933) was the 30th [[president of the United States of America]] from 1923 to 1929, an era of peace and prosperity. He was elected vice president in 1920 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] and took office in August 1923 upon the death of President [[Warren G. Harding]]; he was reelected by a landslide in 1924, but in 1928 at the peak of his popularity he announced in typical laconic fashion that he did not choose to run again.

 

Coolidge was so frugal that throughout the peak of his political career, including while he was president, he lived in a cramped duplex in western [[Massachusetts]] which he did not even own, and in which another family lived in the other half.

==Early career==

==Early career==

==Presidency==

==Presidency==

The elections in 1922 had reduced the party's numbers in Congress to a scant majority. Moreover, the scandals connected with the Harding administration were in the process of being made public by a congressional committee. Yet, a little over a year later, Coolidge was elected for another term by a landslide over both [[John W. Davis]], [[U.S. Democratic Party, History|Democrat]], and [[Robert La Follette]], Progressive. Davis got 29% of the popular vote, carrying the South from Virginia to Texas, and 136 electoral votes, LaFollette carried Wisconsin and many German and railroad centers, but Coolidge won easily with 382 electoral votes. Four years later, when he left office, his party was in a much stronger position than it had been in 1924.  

The elections in 1922 had reduced the party's numbers in Congress to a scant majority. Moreover, the scandals connected with the Harding administration were in the process of being made public by a congressional committee. Yet, a little over a year later, Coolidge was elected for another term by a landslide over both [[John W. Davis]], [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], and [[Robert La Follette]], Progressive. Davis got 29% of the popular vote, carrying the South from Virginia to Texas, and 136 electoral votes, LaFollette carried Wisconsin and many German and railroad centers, but Coolidge won easily with 382 electoral votes. Four years later, when he left office, his party was in a much stronger position than it had been in 1924.  

Felzenberg (19978) shows that Coolidge battled intolerance, lynching and especially the [[Ku Klux Klan]], which lost all its influence during his term.

Felzenberg shows that Coolidge battled intolerance, [[lynching]] and especially the [[Ku Klux Klan]], which lost all its influence during his term.

In 1924 he appointed a commission to investigate the circumstances of the Teapot Dome oil lease, a scandal inherited from the Harding administration.  By focusing all the blame on Harding, he permanently tarnished Harding's name and promoted himself.

In 1924 he appointed a commission to investigate the circumstances of the Teapot Dome oil lease, a scandal inherited from the Harding administration.  By focusing all the blame on Harding, he permanently tarnished Harding's name and promoted himself.

The Coolidge policy was a simple one, made easier by the continuous prosperity and the weakness of the liberal opposition. He believed in government economy, reduced taxation, and gave aid to private business without accompanying restrictive regulation. In 1927 he vetoed the soldiers' bonus bill. Coolidge opposed any government control in interstate electrical power and was against the proposal for government operation of the Wilson Dam at Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River; in 1933 it became part of the [[New Deal]]'s [[TVA]].

The Coolidge policy was a simple one, made easier by the continuous prosperity and the weakness of the liberal opposition. He believed in government economy, reduced taxation, and gave aid to private business without accompanying restrictive regulation. In 1927 he vetoed the soldiers' bonus bill. Coolidge opposed any government control in interstate electrical power and was against the proposal for government operation of the Wilson Dam at Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River; in 1933 it became part of the [[New Deal]]'s [[TVA]].

Throughout the farming regions of the traditionally Republican Middle West loud complaints were heard about the farm crisis. It was characterized by low prices for crops and the overhang of the land [[economic bubble|bubble]] that burst in 1920, leaving many farmers deeply in debt for new lands they purchased at high price during the war. The farmers wanted the federal government to intervene in the market, by buying crops at high prices and dumping them abroad cheaply. Congress passed the legislation, known as the  and the [[McNary-Haugen Bill]], a farm relief bill, but Coolidge vetoed it. He supported the alternative program of Hoover and Jardine to modernize farming, by bringing in more electricity, more efficient equipment, better seeds and breeds, and better business practices.

Throughout the farming regions of the traditionally Republican Middle West loud complaints were heard about the farm crisis. It was characterized by low prices for crops and the overhang of the land [[economic bubble|bubble]] that burst in 1920, leaving many farmers deeply in debt for new lands they purchased at high price during the war. The farmers wanted the federal government to intervene in the market, by buying crops at high prices and dumping them abroad cheaply. Congress passed the legislation, known as the  and the [[McNary-Haugen Bill]], a farm relief bill pushed by Senator [[Charles McNary]] of [[Oregon]], but Coolidge vetoed the measure. He supported the alternative program of Hoover and Jardine to modernize farming, by bringing in more electricity, more efficient equipment, better seeds and breeds, and better business practices.

===Foreign Affairs===

===Foreign Affairs===

=== Calvin Coolidge and Prohibition ===

=== Calvin Coolidge and Prohibition ===

Calvin Coolidge was not a teetotaler, but he didn't have much use for alcohol. Due to his belief in limited government, he cut the [[Prohibition]] Bureau’s budget during the boom year of 1926. Andrew Mellon, who as Treasury Secretary was also the Chief Prohibition Enforcement Officer in the United States, hated the law and was less than dedicated in his enforcement efforts.<ref>[http://kaiology.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/water-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink-coolidge-and-prohibition-2/ Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink – Coolidge and Prohibition]</ref>

Calvin Coolidge was not a teetotaler, but he didn't have much use for alcohol. Due to his belief in limited government, he cut the [[Prohibition]] Bureau's budget during the boom year of 1926. Andrew Mellon, who as Treasury Secretary was also the Chief Prohibition Enforcement Officer in the United States, hated the law and was less than dedicated in his enforcement efforts.<ref>[http://kaiology.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/water-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink-coolidge-and-prohibition-2/ Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink – Coolidge and Prohibition]</ref>

===Evaluations===

===Evaluations===

In the short view, the Coolidge administration was a preeminently successful one. Income taxes and corporate taxes were greatly reduced, a major part of the national debt was retired, and the nation experienced some of the most prosperous years in its history. The Coolidge policies were in part responsible for these benefits, but some hostile [[liberal]] historians falsely claim they were probably responsible, in part, for the great depression that followed.  

In the short view, the Coolidge administration was a preeminently successful one. Income taxes and corporate taxes were greatly reduced, a major part of the national debt was retired, and the nation experienced some of the most prosperous years in its history. The Coolidge policies were in part responsible for these benefits, but some hostile [[liberal]] historians falsely claim they were probably responsible, in part, for the great depression that followed.  

[[Image:Calvin Coolidge by Hopkinson.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Painting by Charles Hopkinson]]

[[Image:Calvin Coolidge cph.3g10777.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Calvin Coolidge in 1919]]

Coolidge's image was to a degree shaped by Madison Avenue. Buckley (2003) reveals the role of advertising giant [[Bruce Barton]] in the remaking of the public persona or image of Coolidge during 1919-26 and, in so doing, guiding a dramatic shift in politics and the wide acceptance of consumer culture. The dominance of the political party bosses, who selected Harding in 1920, ended when the business elite wrested control from the party, using their ability to raise money for advertising and ultimately commodifying the political process. Members of this elite suggested that Barton refashion Coolidge from an aloof man driven by the advancement of his career into a voice of the masses, the "silent majority," which Barton accomplished with press coverage, exploiting the new technology of radio for political speeches, newsreels, an exclusive "spontaneous" interview with Coolidge, and by arranging events that would be covered free, as news. Coolidge's election to the presidency in 1924 was the first campaign of personality, in which style was promoted over substance, tapping into "intense private longings" of a public uncertain of its moorings in a rapidly modernizing society. Gilbert (2003) and Gilbert (2005) argues that Coolidge suffered from clinical depression throughout his life. Gilbert discusses the major symptoms of the disorder as evidenced in Coolidge's personal and political behavior. He exhibited symptoms from a very early age, beginning with his grandfather's death when he was six and again with the deaths of his mother and sister during his adolescence. Ascending to the presidency in 1923, Coolidge at first was diligent, effective, and respectful of others. After the death of his teenage son in 1924, however, his demeanor and degree of political engagement changed drastically. He developed hypersomnia, sleeping as much as 15 hours per day, and he began to treat White House staffers and his wife rudely, often publicly humiliating them. Moreover, he became far less effective as a decision-maker and grew increasingly detached from political issues.

Coolidge's image was to a degree shaped by Madison Avenue. Buckley (2003) reveals the role of advertising giant Bruce Barton in the remaking of the public persona or image of Coolidge during 1919-26 and, in so doing, guiding a dramatic shift in politics and the wide acceptance of consumer culture. The dominance of the political party bosses, who selected Harding in 1920, ended when the business elite wrested control from the party, using their ability to raise money for advertising and ultimately commodifying the political process. Members of this elite suggested that Barton refashion Coolidge from an aloof man driven by the advancement of his career into a voice of the masses, the "silent majority," which Barton accomplished with press coverage, exploiting the new technology of radio for political speeches, newsreels, an exclusive "spontaneous" interview with Coolidge, and by arranging events that would be covered free, as news. Coolidge's election to the presidency in 1924 was the first campaign of personality, in which style was promoted over substance, tapping into "intense private longings" of a public uncertain of its moorings in a rapidly modernizing society. Gilbert (2003) and Gilbert (2005) argues that Coolidge suffered from clinical depression throughout his life. Gilbert discusses the major symptoms of the disorder as evidenced in Coolidge's personal and political behavior. He exhibited symptoms from a very early age, beginning with his grandfather's death when he was six and again with the deaths of his mother and sister during his adolescence. Ascending to the presidency in 1923, Coolidge at first was diligent, effective, and respectful of others. After the death of his teenage son in 1924, however, his demeanor and degree of political engagement changed drastically. He developed hypersomnia, sleeping as much as 15 hours per day, and he began to treat White House staffers and his wife rudely, often publicly humiliating them. Moreover, he became far less effective as a decision-maker and grew increasingly detached from political issues.

Other scholars note Coolidge's effective, principled philosophical stand against the Progressives. Joseph Postell, for instance, argues that Coolidge presents the most formidable attack on the principles of progressivism of any 20th century conservative.<ref>Joseph W. Postell and Johnathan O'Neill, "Roaring Against Progressivism: Calvin Coolidge's Principled Conservatism" in Towards an American Conservatism: Constitutional Conservatism in the Progressive Era, (Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) 183.</ref> According to Postell, Coolidge's philosophical framework defends both the benevolence of custom as well as the truths of the American Founding. While Coolidge advocated a return to and a protection of America's political tradition, he did so not out of some thoughtless fear of the future, but for the sake of universal truths and the principles of the Declaration.<ref>Joseph W. Postell and Johnathan O'Neill, Towards an American Conservatism, 183.</ref>

A woman once told Coolidge that she had bet someone that she could get him to say more than two words. He told her, "You lose."

==Silent Cal==

"Silent Cal," as Coolidge was known, would allegedly sleep a great deal, both during the day as well as the night.  When the [[liberal]] satirist [[Dorothy Parker]] heard news that he had died, she declared, "How can they tell?"

A woman once told Coolidge that she had bet someone that she couldn't get him to say more than two words.  He told her, "You lose."

===Retirement===

===Retirement===

*'''"I favor the American system of individual enterprise, and I am opposed to any general extension of government ownership, and control."'''  

*'''"I favor the American system of individual enterprise, and I am opposed to any general extension of government ownership, and control."'''  

*"Unfortunately the Federal Government has strayed far afield from its legitimate business. It has trespassed upon fields where there should be no trespass. If we could confine our Federal expenditures to the legitimate obligations and functions of the Federal Government, a material reduction would be apparent. But far more important than this would be its effect upon the fabric of our constitutional form of government, which tends to be gradually weakened and undermined by this encroachment. The cure for this is not in our hands. It lies with the people. It will come when they realize the necessity of State assumption of State responsibility. It will come when they realize that the laws under which the Federal Government hands out contributions to the states are placing upon them a double burden of taxation–Federal taxation in the first instance to raise the moneys which the Government donates to the states, and state taxation in the second instance to meet the extravagances of state expenditures which are tempted by Federal donations." - At Memorial Continental Hall, January 21, 1924

*"Unfortunately the Federal Government has strayed far afield from its legitimate business. It has trespassed upon fields where there should be no trespass. If we could confine our Federal expenditures to the legitimate obligations and functions of the Federal Government, a material reduction would be apparent. But far more important than this would be its effect upon the fabric of our constitutional form of government, which tends to be gradually weakened and undermined by this encroachment. The cure for this is not in our hands. It lies with the people. It will come when they realize the necessity of State assumption of State responsibility. It will come when they realize that the laws under which the Federal Government hands out contributions to the states are placing upon them a double burden of taxation–Federal taxation in the first instance to raise the moneys which the Government donates to the states, and state taxation in the second instance to meet the extravagances of state expenditures which are tempted by Federal donations." - At Memorial Continental Hall, January 21, 1924

*"There is no substitute for a militant freedom. The only alternative is submission and slavery." - Acceptance of the Memorial on Behalf of the Government and People of the United States<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eLQ6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA88 Report of the Proceedings of the Reunions of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Volumes 44-45]</ref>

*"There is no substitute for a militant freedom. The only alternative is submission and slavery." - Acceptance of the Memorial on Behalf of the Government and People of the United States<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eLQ6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA88 Report of the Proceedings of the Reunions of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Volumes 44-45]</ref>

*"A very positive echo of what the Dutch had done in 1581, and what the English were preparing to do, appears in the assertion of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Connecticut, as early as 1638, when he said in a sermon before the General Court that- “The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people.” “The choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God’s own allowance.” This doctrine found wide acceptance among the nonconformist clergy who later made up the Congregational Church. The great apostle of this movement was the Rev. [[John Wise (clergyman)|John Wise]], of Massachusetts. He was one of the leaders of the revolt against the royal governor [[Edmund Andros]] in 1687, for which he suffered imprisonment. He was a liberal in ecclesiastical controversies. He appears to have been familiar with the writings of the political scientist, Samuel Pufendorf, who was born in Saxony in 1632. Wise published a treatise, entitled “The Church’s Quarrel Espoused,” in 1710, which was amplified in another publication in 1717. In it he dealt with the principles of civil government. His works were reprinted in 1772 and have been declared to have been nothing less than a textbook of liberty for our Revolutionary fathers."<ref>[https://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2011/pdf/FP_PS32.pdf Calvin Coolidge Challenges Progress in the Name of the Declaration of Independence], [[Heritage Foundation]]</ref><ref>[http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/speech-on-the-occasion-of-the-one-hundred-and-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-declaration-of-independence/ Speech on the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence]</ref>

*"A very positive echo of what the Dutch had done in 1581, and what the English were preparing to do, appears in the assertion of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Connecticut, as early as 1638, when he said in a sermon before the General Court that- “The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people.” “The choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God’s own allowance.” This doctrine found wide acceptance among the nonconformist clergy who later made up the Congregational Church. The great apostle of this movement was the Rev. [[John Wise (clergyman)|John Wise]], of Massachusetts. He was one of the leaders of the revolt against the royal governor [[Edmund Andros]] in 1687, for which he suffered imprisonment. He was a liberal in ecclesiastical controversies. He appears to have been familiar with the writings of the political scientist, [[Samuel Pufendorf]], who was born in Saxony in 1632. Wise published a treatise, entitled “The Church’s Quarrel Espoused,” in 1710, which was amplified in another publication in 1717. In it he dealt with the principles of civil government. His works were reprinted in 1772 and have been declared to have been nothing less than a textbook of liberty for our Revolutionary fathers."<ref>[https://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2011/pdf/FP_PS32.pdf Calvin Coolidge Challenges Progress in the Name of the Declaration of Independence], [[Heritage Foundation]]</ref><ref>[http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/speech-on-the-occasion-of-the-one-hundred-and-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-declaration-of-independence/ Speech on the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence]</ref>

 

 

*Coolidge was known to pull pranks on his bodyguards. He would press all his buttons in his office to call his bodyguards to him and would hide under his desk as they frantically looked for him.<ref>https://funfactz.com/funny-facts/calvin-coolidge-bodyguards/</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Buckley, Kerry W. "'A President for the "Great Silent Majority': Bruce Barton's Construction of Calvin Coolidge." ''New England Quarterly'' 2003 76(4): 593-626. Issn: 0028-4866 Fulltext: in Jstor  

* Buckley, Kerry W. "'A President for the "Great Silent Majority': Bruce Barton's Construction of Calvin Coolidge." ''New England Quarterly'' 2003 76(4): 593–626. Issn: 0028-4866 Fulltext: in Jstor  

* Felzenberg, Alvin S. "Calvin Coolidge and Race: His Record in Dealing with the Racial Tensions of the 1920s." ''New England Journal of History'' 1998 55(1): 83-96.  

* Felzenberg, Alvin S. "Calvin Coolidge and Race: His Record in Dealing with the Racial Tensions of the 1920s." ''New England Journal of History'' 1998 55(1): 83–96.  

* Ferrell, Robert H.  ''The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge.'' U. Press of Kansas, 1998. 244 pp. The standard scholarly study.

* Ferrell, Robert H.  ''The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge.'' U. Press of Kansas, 1998. 244 pp. The standard scholarly study.

* Gilbert, Robert E. "Calvin Coolidge's Tragic Presidency: the Political Effects of Bereavement and Depression." ''Journal of American Studies'' 2005 39(1): 87-109. Issn: 0021-8758 Fulltext: in Cambridge and Swetswise

* Gilbert, Robert E. "Calvin Coolidge's Tragic Presidency: the Political Effects of Bereavement and Depression." ''Journal of American Studies'' 2005 39(1): 87–109. Issn: 0021-8758 Fulltext: in Cambridge and Swetswise

* Gilbert, Robert E. ''The Tormented President: Calvin Coolidge, Death, and Clinical Depression.'' Praeger, 2003. 288pp

* Gilbert, Robert E. ''The Tormented President: Calvin Coolidge, Death, and Clinical Depression.'' Praeger, 2003. 288pp

* Greenberg, David. ''Calvin Coolidge'' (2006), short biography.  [http://www.amazon.com/Calvin-Coolidge-David-Greenberg/dp/0805069577/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194420081&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Greenberg, David. ''Calvin Coolidge'' (2006), short biography.  [https://www.amazon.com/Calvin-Coolidge-David-Greenberg/dp/0805069577/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194420081&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

*  Haynes, John Earl, ed.  ''Calvin Coolidge and the Coolidge Era: Essays on the History of the 1920s.'' Library of Congress, 1998. 329 pp.  essays by scholars

*  Haynes, John Earl, ed.  ''Calvin Coolidge and the Coolidge Era: Essays on the History of the 1920s.'' Library of Congress, 1998. 329 pp.  essays by scholars

* McCoy, Donald R.  ''Calvin Coolidge: A Biography'' (1967), 447pp, the standard scholarly biography

* McCoy, Donald R.  ''Calvin Coolidge: A Biography'' (1967), 447pp, the standard scholarly biography

* [http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/id/222754 Author David Pietrusza discusses Calvin Coolidge on C-SPAN BookTV]

* [http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/id/222754 Author David Pietrusza discusses Calvin Coolidge on C-SPAN BookTV]

* [https://librivox.org/author/7190 Works by Calvin Coolidge - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

* [https://librivox.org/author/7190 Works by Calvin Coolidge - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

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