President Calvin Coolidge

Easton Press Calvin Coolidge books

A Puritan in Babylon The story of Calvin Coolidge by William Allen White - 1986

President Calvin Coolidge biography

Calvin John Coolidge (1872-1933), 13th President of the United States, born in Plymouth, Vermont. Calvin Coolidge was educated at Amherst College, where he received A.B. degree in 1895. Two years later, following law study with a firm in Northampton, Massachusetts, he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar. His political career began in 1899, when he was elected to the Northampton city council. During the next 20 years, he became prominent in the Republican Party of Massachusetts, serving in the State House of Representatives (1907-1908), in the State Senate (1912-1915), as lieutenant governor (1916-1918), and as governor (1919-1920). His intervention, in September, 1919, to end the strike of Boston Police was widely praised in the press, making him nationally famous. At the National Convention of the Republican Party in the following year, he won the nomination for the vice presidency. Elected on the same ticket with President Warren Harding, he served as Vice President of the United States from March 4, 1921, until the death of President Harding. He was sworn in as President of the United States early the following day. In taking the oath of office he was sworn in by father John C. Coolidge, justice of the peace, at the family home in Plymouth, Vermont.

President Calvin Coolidge adhered to the conservative policies of the Harding administration, both in domestic and foreign affairs, opposing soldier bonus, Federal relief measures for farmers, and the American entry into the League of Nations. Toward the end of 1923, Senate investigations of certain leases of naval oil reserve lands to private operators, granted during Harding's incumbency, resulted in widespread charges of corruption in Calvin Coolidge's cabinet. By his skilful handling of this situation, commonly known as the Teapot Dome case, he helped to maintain popular support of the Republican Party. The chief event of the remainder of his first term as President was the action of Congress in overriding his veto of the soldier bonus bill.

At the Republican Convention of 1924, President Calvin Coolidge was nominated to succeed himself. He was elected in the following November, obtaining 382 of the 531 electoral votes. His second term as President, which coincided with a period of unprecedented prosperity, was marked, like the first, by extreme economy in governmental expenditures. President Calvin Coolidge obtained passage of a bill reducing income taxes, rejected proposals for tariff reduction, and vetoed (1927) the McNary-Haugen Farm relief Bill. In foreign affairs, he achieved a number of successes, including a solution for the Tacna-Arica Dispute between Chile and Peru, establishment of better relations with Mexico, and Senate ratification of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Calvin Coolidge retired to private life in 1929, after completion of his second term as President.

President Calvin Coolidge wrote the following books and a number of articles for books and magazines:

Having Faith in Massachusetts - 1919
The Price of freedom - 1924
Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge - 1929

A Puritan in Babylon

A Puritan in Babylon by William Allen White is a compelling biography that offers readers a deep insight into the life and presidency of the 30th President of the United States. Written by the renowned journalist and author William Allen White, this biography provides a captivating narrative of Coolidge's journey from his humble beginnings in rural Vermont to the pinnacle of American politics. Drawing upon meticulous research and a nuanced understanding of the era, White presents Coolidge as a quintessential figure of his time, embodying the virtues and values of the Puritan tradition amidst the bustling metropolis of early 20th-century America. Through vivid storytelling and rich historical detail, White explores Coolidge's steadfast commitment to thrift, honesty, and limited government, which guided his political philosophy and shaped his approach to governance.

White delves into Coolidge's rise through the ranks of Massachusetts politics, from his tenure as mayor of Northampton to his service as Governor of Massachusetts, where he gained a reputation for his fiscal conservatism and effective administration. Coolidge's leadership during the Boston Police Strike of 1919, where he famously declared, "There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime," cemented his reputation as a principled leader unafraid to stand firm in defense of law and order.

As President, Coolidge continued to champion the ideals of limited government and individual responsibility, earning him the nickname "Silent Cal" for his reserved demeanor and concise communication style. White provides insight into Coolidge's presidency, highlighting his efforts to reduce taxes, streamline government bureaucracy, and promote economic growth through policies of fiscal restraint and deregulation. Moreover, White explores Coolidge's role in shaping America's emergence as a global superpower, from his commitment to international peace and disarmament to his efforts to expand American influence in Latin America and the Far East. Despite his quiet demeanor, Coolidge's presidency was marked by significant achievements and lasting impact on the nation's trajectory.

A Puritan in Babylon is not only a biography of Calvin Coolidge but also a fascinating portrait of America during the Roaring Twenties, a time of rapid change and cultural transformation. Through White's masterful storytelling and insightful analysis, readers gain a deeper appreciation for Coolidge's legacy and his enduring relevance to contemporary debates about the role of government and the virtues of leadership.

Calvin Coolidge quotes

"The business of America is business."
"Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong."
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
"The chief business of the American people is business."
"The man who builds a factory builds a temple; the man who works there worships there."
"If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it."
"We do not need more intellectual power, we need more moral power. We do not need more knowledge, we need more character. We do not need more government, we need more culture. We do not need more law, we need more religion. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen."
"I have never been hurt by what I have not said."
"Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. "
"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."