Remembering Silent Cal
On January 5, 1933 (79 years ago today) John Calvin Coolidge Jr., the 30th President of the United States, died at his home in Northampton, Massachusetts, from a heart attack. He was 61 years of age.
By all accounts Coolidge was a decent man, though a tad boring by most accounts. He was born on a farm in Plymouth Notch, Vermont and became a lawyer who eventually moved to Massachusetts. Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, serving as a state senator, Mayor of Northampton, Lieutenant-Governor and eventually becoming Governor of that state. He gained national fame for his actions during the Boston Police Strike of 1919, garnering a reputation as a man of decisive action. He was chosen as the GOP candidate for Vice President in 1920. He was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. He ran for President and was elected in his own right in 1924. He gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man who said very little.
Coolidge restored public confidence in the White House after the scandals of his predecessor's administration, and left office with considerable popularity. His legacy found new popularity during the Ronald Reagan Administration, but opinion on an assessment of his presidency is divided between those who approve of his reduction of the size of government programs and those who believe the federal government should be more involved in regulating and controlling the economy
After his presidency, Coolidge retired to his home in Northampton called "The Beeches." He kept a boat on the Connecticut River and was often seen on the water by local boating enthusiasts. During this period he also served as chairman of the non-partisan Railroad Commission, as honorary president of the American Foundation for the Blind, as a director of New York Life Insurance Company, as president of the American Antiquarian Society, and as a trustee of Amherst College. Coolidge received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Coolidge published his autobiography in 1929 and wrote a syndicated newspaper column, "Calvin Coolidge Says," from 1930 to 1931. Faced with looming defeat in 1932, some Republicans spoke of rejecting Herbert Hoover as their party's nominee, and instead drafting Coolidge to run, but Coolidge made it clear that he was not interested in running again. Hoover was renominated, and Coolidge made several radio addresses in support of him. This is somewhat remarkable, considering that, when he was President, Coolidge had said of Hoover that the latter had given him a lot of unsolicited advice, "all of it bad."
Coolidge died suddenly of a heart attack at "The Beeches," at 12:45 pm, January 5, 1933. Shortly before his death, Coolidge confided to an old friend: "I feel I no longer fit in with these times." He is buried beneath a simple headstone in Notch Cemetery, Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
Coolidge was the first President to be filmed with audio. Here is a YouTube video of him speaking. He had a very nasally, grating and boring voice. Please don't watch this video while driving or operating heavy machinery.
By all accounts Coolidge was a decent man, though a tad boring by most accounts. He was born on a farm in Plymouth Notch, Vermont and became a lawyer who eventually moved to Massachusetts. Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, serving as a state senator, Mayor of Northampton, Lieutenant-Governor and eventually becoming Governor of that state. He gained national fame for his actions during the Boston Police Strike of 1919, garnering a reputation as a man of decisive action. He was chosen as the GOP candidate for Vice President in 1920. He was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. He ran for President and was elected in his own right in 1924. He gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man who said very little.
Coolidge restored public confidence in the White House after the scandals of his predecessor's administration, and left office with considerable popularity. His legacy found new popularity during the Ronald Reagan Administration, but opinion on an assessment of his presidency is divided between those who approve of his reduction of the size of government programs and those who believe the federal government should be more involved in regulating and controlling the economy
After his presidency, Coolidge retired to his home in Northampton called "The Beeches." He kept a boat on the Connecticut River and was often seen on the water by local boating enthusiasts. During this period he also served as chairman of the non-partisan Railroad Commission, as honorary president of the American Foundation for the Blind, as a director of New York Life Insurance Company, as president of the American Antiquarian Society, and as a trustee of Amherst College. Coolidge received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Coolidge published his autobiography in 1929 and wrote a syndicated newspaper column, "Calvin Coolidge Says," from 1930 to 1931. Faced with looming defeat in 1932, some Republicans spoke of rejecting Herbert Hoover as their party's nominee, and instead drafting Coolidge to run, but Coolidge made it clear that he was not interested in running again. Hoover was renominated, and Coolidge made several radio addresses in support of him. This is somewhat remarkable, considering that, when he was President, Coolidge had said of Hoover that the latter had given him a lot of unsolicited advice, "all of it bad."
Coolidge died suddenly of a heart attack at "The Beeches," at 12:45 pm, January 5, 1933. Shortly before his death, Coolidge confided to an old friend: "I feel I no longer fit in with these times." He is buried beneath a simple headstone in Notch Cemetery, Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
Coolidge was the first President to be filmed with audio. Here is a YouTube video of him speaking. He had a very nasally, grating and boring voice. Please don't watch this video while driving or operating heavy machinery.