Book Review: The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge
On my plane ride home from Winnipeg, I was able to finish The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, a book I would recommend as being an easy read, though without surprises or revelations. Following is a review of the book that I wrote for Amazon:
The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge is probably written the way that political figures wrote their memoirs in the 1920s: it is brief, simple, guarded and idealistic. Coolidge's life story has several moralistic themes running through it: (1) have a strong work ethic, (2) as far as possible be on good terms with everyone, even your political opponents, (3) don't expect government to solve your problems, you've got to work hard and make a better life for yourself. As an example of the type of platitude that is plentiful in this book, Coolidge writes "There is only one form of political strategy in which I have any confidence, and that is to try to do the right thing and sometimes be able to succeed" or "Any reward worth having only comes to the industrious."
Coolidge tells us his life-story in a modest, self-effacing manner beginning with an idyllic description of his country upbringing and the strong work ethic that was instilled in him by his father. He describes how he became a lawyer and learned the law, rising to some prominence in the legal community once again by hard work, a strong sense of ethics and learning from the example of the best lawyers around. He describes how he climbed the political ladder, first in municipal politics, then at the state and national level. His star rose rapidly as a mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor and then governor of Massachusetts for two years before being drafted as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with Warren Harding in 1920. At each rung of this ladder, Coolidge would have the reader believe that he had no strong political ambitions, but it was at the urging of the electorate and his peers that he rose to the next level.
This book does not give any details or inside accounts of any major political occurrences. For example, Coolidge only mentions the scandals of the Harding administration in a sentence, commenting on how they must have aged Harding and accelerated his death. Of Harding himself, Coolidge is loyal and speaks warmly of his boss, without any mention of Harding's personal character defects. At one point in his book, Coolidge admits that he has always been loyal and supportive of his political superiors. The chapter of the book on his own Presidency does not discuss any of the issue of the day. Instead he writes about the mundane routine of his presidential duties as well as some of the protocol involved in the office. About the only time that Coolidge talks about a political issue is his account of the Boston Police strike of 1919 during his term as Governor of Massachusetts. He admits that it was likely his handling of that issue that led to his being chosen as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency in 1920.
But on one issue Coolidge lets down his guard somewhat and gives us some insight into his innermost thought, that being on the death of his son Calvin. Calvin died during the time that Coolidge was running for President in his own right in 1924. Of his son, Coolidge writes:
"He was a boy of much promise, proficient in his studies, with a scholarly mind, who had just turned sixteen. He had a remarkable insight into things. The day I became president he had just started to work in a tobacco field. When one of his fellow laborers said to him 'If my father was President I would not work in a tobacco field', Calvin replied 'If my father were your father you would'... If I had not been President, he would not have raised a blister on his toe, which resulted in blood poisoning, playing tennis in the south grounds. In his suffering he was asking me to make him well. I could not. When he went, the power and the glory of the Presidency went with him. The ways of Providence are often beyond our understanding. It seemed to me that the world had need of the work that it was probable he could do. I do not know why such a price was exacted for occupying the White House... It costs a great deal to be President."
This is an effortless read, pleasant and not mentally taxing. What it lacks in detail and revelation, it makes up in simple but practical philosophy and takes the reader back to a more innocent time, whether real or imagined.
The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge is probably written the way that political figures wrote their memoirs in the 1920s: it is brief, simple, guarded and idealistic. Coolidge's life story has several moralistic themes running through it: (1) have a strong work ethic, (2) as far as possible be on good terms with everyone, even your political opponents, (3) don't expect government to solve your problems, you've got to work hard and make a better life for yourself. As an example of the type of platitude that is plentiful in this book, Coolidge writes "There is only one form of political strategy in which I have any confidence, and that is to try to do the right thing and sometimes be able to succeed" or "Any reward worth having only comes to the industrious."
Coolidge tells us his life-story in a modest, self-effacing manner beginning with an idyllic description of his country upbringing and the strong work ethic that was instilled in him by his father. He describes how he became a lawyer and learned the law, rising to some prominence in the legal community once again by hard work, a strong sense of ethics and learning from the example of the best lawyers around. He describes how he climbed the political ladder, first in municipal politics, then at the state and national level. His star rose rapidly as a mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor and then governor of Massachusetts for two years before being drafted as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with Warren Harding in 1920. At each rung of this ladder, Coolidge would have the reader believe that he had no strong political ambitions, but it was at the urging of the electorate and his peers that he rose to the next level.
This book does not give any details or inside accounts of any major political occurrences. For example, Coolidge only mentions the scandals of the Harding administration in a sentence, commenting on how they must have aged Harding and accelerated his death. Of Harding himself, Coolidge is loyal and speaks warmly of his boss, without any mention of Harding's personal character defects. At one point in his book, Coolidge admits that he has always been loyal and supportive of his political superiors. The chapter of the book on his own Presidency does not discuss any of the issue of the day. Instead he writes about the mundane routine of his presidential duties as well as some of the protocol involved in the office. About the only time that Coolidge talks about a political issue is his account of the Boston Police strike of 1919 during his term as Governor of Massachusetts. He admits that it was likely his handling of that issue that led to his being chosen as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency in 1920.
But on one issue Coolidge lets down his guard somewhat and gives us some insight into his innermost thought, that being on the death of his son Calvin. Calvin died during the time that Coolidge was running for President in his own right in 1924. Of his son, Coolidge writes:
"He was a boy of much promise, proficient in his studies, with a scholarly mind, who had just turned sixteen. He had a remarkable insight into things. The day I became president he had just started to work in a tobacco field. When one of his fellow laborers said to him 'If my father was President I would not work in a tobacco field', Calvin replied 'If my father were your father you would'... If I had not been President, he would not have raised a blister on his toe, which resulted in blood poisoning, playing tennis in the south grounds. In his suffering he was asking me to make him well. I could not. When he went, the power and the glory of the Presidency went with him. The ways of Providence are often beyond our understanding. It seemed to me that the world had need of the work that it was probable he could do. I do not know why such a price was exacted for occupying the White House... It costs a great deal to be President."
This is an effortless read, pleasant and not mentally taxing. What it lacks in detail and revelation, it makes up in simple but practical philosophy and takes the reader back to a more innocent time, whether real or imagined.