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Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President
Calvin The Quiet President
472 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
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November 25, 2019
I struggled to rate McCoy's biography, Calvin Coolidge, The Quiet President. He did a great job balancing pros and cons and was effective in identifying Coolidge as a representative president who operated within a strict constitutional interpretation. He was able to draw from Coolidge's personality and past experiences justification of his responses and decisions. So, from the viewpoint of writing an biography, I would rate him fairly high. On the other hand, it was a boring read, and that might not be entirely McCoy's fault. To put it in McCoy's own words, a synopsis of Coolidge's life and public service was " avoid controversy and publicity, and when you serve, do little"! If each president was created as a superhero figure (might be kind of a fun activity), Coolidge would be Chameleon Man. He took always the middle road approach so as to offend nobody, working hard not to ruffle feathers or take a specific stand. He avoided conflict (such as not intervening in the Boston Policemen Strike when he was governor of MA, but then took credit when it eventually resolved). He leaned heavily on his cabinet, essentially letting them manage and set policy on all of the work within their sphere of responsibility, and he reaped the benefits while letting individual cabinet members hold the can if things went south. He saw himself as a champion in representing what the general public wanted (he would never disappoint the voters that way) but as a result, never really left his own personal stamp on anything. He never seemed to have learned to really manage the legislature, a symptom of his chameleon styled politics. McCoy identifies him as "low energy", a bit of a hypochondriac who slept 10 hours daily and seemed to have absolutely no hobbies or interests. Taft was a golfer, Harding had his poker nights, Wilson his "bit on the side", Roosevelt a bit of everything, but Coolidge....nothing. He did not like the theater or sports, was not much of a reader or conversationalist (hence the 'Quiet President'). He did have a droll if sarcastic sense of humor (it was said multiple times that he teased his 2 boys cruelly) and that he liked long quiet walks. This laconic president was a product of a Vermont Yankee upbringing: tight-lipped while holding tight purse strings. Coolidge was particularly frugal, saving much of his presidential salary, and desired the government should be run in like manner. He was a man for small government and worked hard in the post-war years to reduce the deficit created by the war and was for big business hoping to create an economic environment in which people would eventually have money to buy the products and services of a capitalistic nation. And the economy did grow, but one could almost hear the clock ticking down to October 29, 1929. Economists kept warning Coolidge that speculations were running too high, but he enjoyed the popularity of the Coolidge Prosperity, and being a man who prided himself on being a mirror to the desires of the people who were now living more comfortably than they had in years, he felt bound to maintain the status quo.
McCoy made much of Coolidge's written announcement disclosed to a handful of reporters, who each received a 2x9 inch slip of paper with the words, "I do not choose to run for President in nineteen twenty-eight". And in the Spring of 1927, the "quadrennial silly season of American Politics" (which is upon us now...sigh), that short statement was interpreted as Coolidge is running, is not running, is sort of running but is buying his time to announce it waiting in true Coolidge fashion to see how things lie. I really don't think he did want to run again. He was tired, tired of living in the limelight, tired of holding in all of his words and emotions when prodded to respond, tired of the responsibility of the office. He retires into oblivion, back to his duplex home in Northampton, MA, unable to find suitable employment that was, in his mind, fitting for a past president that did not tax him too much.
McCoy makes the summation that Coolidge might have been what the country needed following the uncertainty of the war years and after all of the controversy of Wilson and Harding: a calm, almost boring time to allow all of the anxiety to settle down. So, to answer my conundrum about how to rate McCoy's book, I think that I will take a very Coolidge approach: I will give it a 3, a middle of the road kind of number! I think that if McCoy would aspire to a higher rating on a biography, at least from me, he will have to choose a more dynamic character!
Interesting to note in the biography that technological advancement and its effect on the times. 1923 saw the first party conventions being broadcast on radio. The use of flight and the need for its regulation coming to the forefront, something that Coolidge did successfully.
McCoy made much of Coolidge's written announcement disclosed to a handful of reporters, who each received a 2x9 inch slip of paper with the words, "I do not choose to run for President in nineteen twenty-eight". And in the Spring of 1927, the "quadrennial silly season of American Politics" (which is upon us now...sigh), that short statement was interpreted as Coolidge is running, is not running, is sort of running but is buying his time to announce it waiting in true Coolidge fashion to see how things lie. I really don't think he did want to run again. He was tired, tired of living in the limelight, tired of holding in all of his words and emotions when prodded to respond, tired of the responsibility of the office. He retires into oblivion, back to his duplex home in Northampton, MA, unable to find suitable employment that was, in his mind, fitting for a past president that did not tax him too much.
McCoy makes the summation that Coolidge might have been what the country needed following the uncertainty of the war years and after all of the controversy of Wilson and Harding: a calm, almost boring time to allow all of the anxiety to settle down. So, to answer my conundrum about how to rate McCoy's book, I think that I will take a very Coolidge approach: I will give it a 3, a middle of the road kind of number! I think that if McCoy would aspire to a higher rating on a biography, at least from me, he will have to choose a more dynamic character!
Interesting to note in the biography that technological advancement and its effect on the times. 1923 saw the first party conventions being broadcast on radio. The use of flight and the need for its regulation coming to the forefront, something that Coolidge did successfully.
July 17, 2013
This is a fine biography of an enigmatic American president. Enigmatic may not be the precisely accurate word. Coolidge was plain-spoken, but spoke little. The slightly humorous image of him as "Silent Cal," the man few people could get more than two words out of, turns out to be a fitting one. Over and over throughout the book are examples of Coolidge refusing to state a position, refusing to let even his closest associates know his thoughts, refusing to intervene in pressing issues unless he felt he could actively influence those issues. As a president, Coolidge must be considered a failure, his laissez-faire attitude guiding the U.S. through a period of extraordinary prosperity but landing it shortly after he left office on the unforeseen shoals of the Great Depression. Donald McCoy's research is meticulous and the book is a very good reading experience, even in light of its subjects determined inactivism.
December 23, 2015
http://bestpresidentialbios.com/2015/...
“Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President” is Donald McCoy’s 1967 biography of Coolidge. McCoy was a professor of history at the University of Kansas for almost four decades, an author and a leading authority on mid-20th century US history. In addition to his biography of Coolidge, he was the author of “The Presidency of Harry S. Truman.” McCoy died in 1996 at the age of 68.
If the measure of a biography is directly related to its ability to please neither fans nor detractors of its subject, McCoy’s biography of Coolidge stacks up well. Avoiding both effusive praise and unfair criticism, McCoy’s biography steers a steady middle course between the two extremes of thought on Coolidge. After weighing the evidence, however, McCoy ultimately finds him “a man of his time” but “not for his time.”
In 422 pages, McCoy carefully and comprehensively dissects the life of Calvin Coolidge with a straightforward, unpretentious and occasionally keen writing style. Reportedly the result of seven years of research, this biography is well organized, systematic and often insightful. And unlike some biographies, this work is firmly focused on the man and not primarily on his times.
“The Quiet President” receives higher marks for insight and analysis than for its entertainment value. Although it is consistently readable, it grows weighty during Coolidge’s presidency. It becomes particularly dense when reviewing the nuances of Coolidge’s less important domestic initiatives and while discussing foreign affairs.
Of the half-dozen Coolidge biographies I’ve read so far, McCoy’s probably best captures Calvin’s early life in Vermont. “The Quiet President” sets the stage carefully, explaining his youth in a way that foreshadows the man Coolidge was to become while also providing the clearest explanation I’ve seen of his steady, if unlikely, rise in politics.
Almost in the spirit of a Joseph Ellis character study, McCoy paints a robust and multi-dimensional portrait of Coolidge’s personality and mindset. Some of the additional texture does not accrue to Coolidge’s benefit (his efforts to micromanage his wife’s daily life and his disinclination to taking steps which might have mitigated the looming Great Depression come to mind) but the incremental insight helps the reader holistically understand the man.
Somewhat to my surprise, the author is far less generous with praise regarding Coolidge’s role in the Boston Police Strike than I expected and he seems to underemphasize Coolidge’s philosophical aversion to governmental (if not personal) indebtedness. But I found McCoy’s discussion and analysis of the nomination process for both political parties in 1924 particularly fascinating.
Readers seeking a deep understanding of Coolidge’s presidency will be pleased; his years in the White House account for more than half the book. But McCoy reserves the best for last. The final chapter is an excellent and somewhat provocative review of Coolidge’s suitability for – and performance as – president. His attributes and foibles are well articulated and the author leaves the impression of Coolidge as a man in possession of many unique and desirable qualities of a President but whose shortcomings held him back.
Overall, Donald McCoy’s “Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President” is a comprehensive, detailed and well-written biography. While it will not satisfy Coolidge’s most ardent fans, neither will it appeal to his most passionate critics. Steering a somewhat unique middle path, McCoy’s biography provides a balanced, thorough and interesting introduction to Calvin Coolidge.
Overall rating: 3¾ stars
“Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President” is Donald McCoy’s 1967 biography of Coolidge. McCoy was a professor of history at the University of Kansas for almost four decades, an author and a leading authority on mid-20th century US history. In addition to his biography of Coolidge, he was the author of “The Presidency of Harry S. Truman.” McCoy died in 1996 at the age of 68.
If the measure of a biography is directly related to its ability to please neither fans nor detractors of its subject, McCoy’s biography of Coolidge stacks up well. Avoiding both effusive praise and unfair criticism, McCoy’s biography steers a steady middle course between the two extremes of thought on Coolidge. After weighing the evidence, however, McCoy ultimately finds him “a man of his time” but “not for his time.”
In 422 pages, McCoy carefully and comprehensively dissects the life of Calvin Coolidge with a straightforward, unpretentious and occasionally keen writing style. Reportedly the result of seven years of research, this biography is well organized, systematic and often insightful. And unlike some biographies, this work is firmly focused on the man and not primarily on his times.
“The Quiet President” receives higher marks for insight and analysis than for its entertainment value. Although it is consistently readable, it grows weighty during Coolidge’s presidency. It becomes particularly dense when reviewing the nuances of Coolidge’s less important domestic initiatives and while discussing foreign affairs.
Of the half-dozen Coolidge biographies I’ve read so far, McCoy’s probably best captures Calvin’s early life in Vermont. “The Quiet President” sets the stage carefully, explaining his youth in a way that foreshadows the man Coolidge was to become while also providing the clearest explanation I’ve seen of his steady, if unlikely, rise in politics.
Almost in the spirit of a Joseph Ellis character study, McCoy paints a robust and multi-dimensional portrait of Coolidge’s personality and mindset. Some of the additional texture does not accrue to Coolidge’s benefit (his efforts to micromanage his wife’s daily life and his disinclination to taking steps which might have mitigated the looming Great Depression come to mind) but the incremental insight helps the reader holistically understand the man.
Somewhat to my surprise, the author is far less generous with praise regarding Coolidge’s role in the Boston Police Strike than I expected and he seems to underemphasize Coolidge’s philosophical aversion to governmental (if not personal) indebtedness. But I found McCoy’s discussion and analysis of the nomination process for both political parties in 1924 particularly fascinating.
Readers seeking a deep understanding of Coolidge’s presidency will be pleased; his years in the White House account for more than half the book. But McCoy reserves the best for last. The final chapter is an excellent and somewhat provocative review of Coolidge’s suitability for – and performance as – president. His attributes and foibles are well articulated and the author leaves the impression of Coolidge as a man in possession of many unique and desirable qualities of a President but whose shortcomings held him back.
Overall, Donald McCoy’s “Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President” is a comprehensive, detailed and well-written biography. While it will not satisfy Coolidge’s most ardent fans, neither will it appeal to his most passionate critics. Steering a somewhat unique middle path, McCoy’s biography provides a balanced, thorough and interesting introduction to Calvin Coolidge.
Overall rating: 3¾ stars
November 28, 2019
My rating may be biased after reading a disappointing bio of Coolidge's predecessor, and because I was enamored with all the things I share in common with the USA's thirtieth president, but I found this book to be very entertaining. McCoy spent at least as much time on Coolidge's personal life as his time in the White House, so the reader gets a genuine feel for his character--as much of a feel as anyone can get of the closed-off, dry-humored, "Quiet President." The only time the story felt rushed was after Coolidge's death, a problem shared by many biographies and contrasting with our week-long fascination with televised pomp and ceremony after modern presidents pass. The final short chapter was an unnecessary recap of things already said in much the same language, but otherwise the book stayed fresh throughout. I do wish, however, that the title "Chief White House Usher" was not attached to Ike Hoover's name every time he was mentioned. I am quite familiar with the guy now and don't need the reminder. But that's me.
November 23, 2024
"A man of his time, Coolidge was not a man for his time."
"Coolidge, the success of his times, is a failure in history."
President Reciew:
These are fantastic quotes that would describe Coolidge and his presidency. He believed in a hands-off presidency and also to let business be.
Probably the hands down, the best thing he did was stop the corruption from the Harding admin from spreading further. His presidency should be given credit for correcting itself from a back door, dealing, scandal ridden administration to a return to true normalcy. Coolidge character truly leads to this as regardless of his policies, he seemed very down to earth and didn't like being around the wealthy and out of touch class.
Cutting regulations, expanding lending to European countries, and cutting taxes for businesses. What he didn't know(or did as there have been quotes stating that he knew the Great Depression was coming) was that the 1920s economy was built like a stack of cards. Some of these problems steamed directly from his administration, yet he lacked the ability of vision. He was too occupied with only getting the days work done. He should get credit for getting the government involved in aviation and avoiding the farm bill fiasco. However, his foreign policy is mediocre or awful at best. He goofed in all three areas, European, Far East, and South America. He let a brutal general run the Phillipines until the general retired on his own.
He was hands off on racial issues like the Ku Klux Klan, which he thought would just die out on his own. He spoke of a loan borrowing on stock speculation. While he chastised it, he would just refer it to one of his departments. He stated it was because he didn't believe it was the presidents job to stop speculation.
Coolidge was caught in a deadly loop.
Do the absolute minimum -> economy booms -> must be because I did absolutely nothing, continues to do nothing -> economy booms(on a bridge of tooth picks) -> justified to continue to do nothing.
President Ranking: C
Book Review: McCoy does an amazing job of presenting the facts and breaking down the chapters into sections of importance. He is very thorough on breaking down the possible reasons that Coolidge did not run for his 2nd full term. Great book!
Book Ranking: 5 stars
"Coolidge, the success of his times, is a failure in history."
President Reciew:
These are fantastic quotes that would describe Coolidge and his presidency. He believed in a hands-off presidency and also to let business be.
Probably the hands down, the best thing he did was stop the corruption from the Harding admin from spreading further. His presidency should be given credit for correcting itself from a back door, dealing, scandal ridden administration to a return to true normalcy. Coolidge character truly leads to this as regardless of his policies, he seemed very down to earth and didn't like being around the wealthy and out of touch class.
Cutting regulations, expanding lending to European countries, and cutting taxes for businesses. What he didn't know(or did as there have been quotes stating that he knew the Great Depression was coming) was that the 1920s economy was built like a stack of cards. Some of these problems steamed directly from his administration, yet he lacked the ability of vision. He was too occupied with only getting the days work done. He should get credit for getting the government involved in aviation and avoiding the farm bill fiasco. However, his foreign policy is mediocre or awful at best. He goofed in all three areas, European, Far East, and South America. He let a brutal general run the Phillipines until the general retired on his own.
He was hands off on racial issues like the Ku Klux Klan, which he thought would just die out on his own. He spoke of a loan borrowing on stock speculation. While he chastised it, he would just refer it to one of his departments. He stated it was because he didn't believe it was the presidents job to stop speculation.
Coolidge was caught in a deadly loop.
Do the absolute minimum -> economy booms -> must be because I did absolutely nothing, continues to do nothing -> economy booms(on a bridge of tooth picks) -> justified to continue to do nothing.
President Ranking: C
Book Review: McCoy does an amazing job of presenting the facts and breaking down the chapters into sections of importance. He is very thorough on breaking down the possible reasons that Coolidge did not run for his 2nd full term. Great book!
Book Ranking: 5 stars
June 2, 2026
Coolidge was not an exciting man nor an exciting President. Obtaining the Presidency originally after the death of Harding and being part of the Republican fold of the time, stood for values of paying off debt, limited federal government action, and returning to isolationist ideals. This was perfect for time of booming economy but also contributed to the coming collapse.
I find Coolidge to be a great opportunist, always saving his comments and action until situations unfolded or festered to the point that he was always on the side of the public or able to step it as others were clearing up the mess and able to take credit or dodge the situation altogether.
We will never know if any foresight could have prevented the Great Depression, because like Harding, Coolidge had no foresight nor was inclined to prevent potential problems.
"A man of his time, Coolidge was not a man for his time."
"Coolidge, the success of his times, is a failure in history."
I find Coolidge to be a great opportunist, always saving his comments and action until situations unfolded or festered to the point that he was always on the side of the public or able to step it as others were clearing up the mess and able to take credit or dodge the situation altogether.
We will never know if any foresight could have prevented the Great Depression, because like Harding, Coolidge had no foresight nor was inclined to prevent potential problems.
"A man of his time, Coolidge was not a man for his time."
"Coolidge, the success of his times, is a failure in history."
July 10, 2019
For the most riotous pleasure driven decade in our history the Roaring 20s has become identified with
the president who served the most years of it. No one would ever have described Calvin Coolidge as
pleasure driven. For his whole life he was driven by the thrifty Yankee values he was brought up
with in rural Vermont. He didn't run around, he rarely drank and never after Prohibition became the
law of the land, a president has to set a good example. No one would have to scold him about that
the way they did with his predecessor Warren Harding. He raised his two kids and later his surviving
son with those values. He was happily married to Grace Anne Goodhue whom he met and wed after
settling in his adopted town of Northampton, Massachusetts and they were as happy a couple the
White House ever served as tenants. Grace was warm and outgoing and made up in light years for
his reputation for silence and taciturnity.
Coolidge was our only president born on the 4th July. In his case 1872. He was bright kid raised
by a yeoman father and he lost his wife and Calvin's mother. Two years later in 1890 Calvin lost a younger sister the only other sibling. Still it was a good intelligence that got him into Amherst in
Massachusetts where he did well.
He had no money for law school, but instead clerked at a law firm in Northampton which is how he
got there. Coolidge was a dyed in the wool Republican and also got active in the Republican Party
in Northampton which is in western Massachusetts.
The climb was a slow and steady one and he served in a number of elective offices including first
in the town council of Northampton, the state House of Representatives, Mayor of Northampton,
State Senator, Lieutenant Governor and finally elected governor. Back then these offices carried
one year terms which has vanished. It was the New England tradition of town hall type representation. Coolidge was forever campaigning.
As Governor and in the rest of the offices he served he was a small government conservative forever looking for ways to economize. It was how he was brought up, it was how government was
to be run. No scandals ever attached themselves to him. He also was enamored of rich people and
had some wealthy contributors. They helped in his campaign for the highest office.
His was an ironical rise. The Boston Police had a strike and in 1919-20 lots of chaos threatened to
go full blast there. Coolidge called in the Massachusetts National Guard and in reply to Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation of Labor's protest, he issued a stern warning that the police
had no right to strike against the public safety. He became a national hero with that and at the
1920 convention he was a favorite son from Massachusetts.
As has come down in legend the 1920 GOP convention was a brokered affair with the leading candidates refusing to given in. Before the 9th ballot in the most famous smoke filled room of all,
powers in the party got together and said Senator Warren G. Harding was our candidate.
The delegates did as told, but a spirit of rebelliousness pervaded the hall, When it came to choosing'a Vice President one delegate from Oregon tired of being instructed gave the uninstructed
nomination of Calvin Coolidge. It swept the convention and the bosses accepted. Coolidge if he
was anything was a goof party man.
As Vice President he didn't make much of a mark, no more than most Vice Presidents. For the first
time in our history Harding invited Coolidge to sit in on cabinet meetings. He was as silent there
as he was anywhere else. But his distance from Harding was also his distance from the scandals
that overtook that sad administration.
He was suddenly president on August 2, 1923 when Harding died suddenly in San Francisco. When
he was told he was president and advised to take the oath of office post haste he was visiting his
father in Vermont. Dad was a notary public and by candlelight Calvin Coolidge took his oath as
our 30th president with his father administering. A touch that endeared him to the nation.
Not being identified in any way Coolidge took vigorous steps in weeding out corrupt officials and
trying them as they fell. Harding's Attorney General Harry Daugherty was as corrupt as they come
and when he was forced out Coolidge appointed Amherst classmate Harlan Fiske Stone as Attorney
General. The Justice Department was weeded out of hacks and reformed. It was Stone's idea to
appoint a promising young lawyer J. Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI and Coolidge did so. It was a
reform movement then because Hoover professionalized the bureau. The paranoia comes post
World War II. Stone also became Coolidge's single appointment to the Supreme Court.
Anther Amherst friend Dwight P. Morrow became Ambassador to Mexico and did a lot to improve
relations with that country. Mexico had been in chaos during the previous decade and things were
still pretty tense. We had intervened there in the Wilson administration and left a lot of bad will.
A bright spot in foreign policy. And under the direction of Secretary of State Frank Kellogg we
also signed a multi-nation pact that outlawed war of aggression. I think just about every country
going that signed the Kellogg-Briand pact has broken it now including the USA. But it was a noble
idea.
Coolidge won a landslide victory in 1924 for a term in his own right. Helped in large measure by
his own reputation for honesty and because the Democrats blew their own chances up in a 103
ballot deadlock that went on all summer it seemed. The eventual candidate John W. Davis was as
conservative as Coolidge in many respects. With Robert LaFollette running as a third party Progressive candidate Coolidge had a walk in.
Yet it was tinged with sadness as his younger son Calvin Coolidge, Jr. died of something modern
medicine would have treated with no problem. He developed a blister on his foot after playing
tennis and there was no such thing as antibiotics to treat it then. He died in the summer of 1924
and the ever stoic Coolidge took it hard.
Sad to say his conservative philosophy let him down on two big issues. Farmers did not enjoy the
boom prosperity of the Roaring 20s. They had raised enormous surpluses during World War I
and it depressed prices. There was a bill in Congress called the McNary-Haugen bill which would
have had a government program buying the surpluses. It was sponsored by two more progressive
Republicans in fact. Coolidge vetoed it twice after Congress passed it twice.
He also was privately concerned about the stock market speculation, but again he was a laissez
faire conservative and would do nothing. He was out of the White House in 1929 and his luckless
successor Herbert Hoover was holding the bag when the stock market crashed. Neither of these
inactions enhanced his presidential reputation.
In retirement the Coolidges lived modestly in Northampton. They had to as Coolidge never took
advantage of opportunities to enrich himself. One of his chief sources of income was an occasional
article for magazines. Coolidge died suddenly in January of 1933.
There's a lot to admire in Coolidge as a person. As a president though he lacked a social vision and
his presidency as a result is at best average.
the president who served the most years of it. No one would ever have described Calvin Coolidge as
pleasure driven. For his whole life he was driven by the thrifty Yankee values he was brought up
with in rural Vermont. He didn't run around, he rarely drank and never after Prohibition became the
law of the land, a president has to set a good example. No one would have to scold him about that
the way they did with his predecessor Warren Harding. He raised his two kids and later his surviving
son with those values. He was happily married to Grace Anne Goodhue whom he met and wed after
settling in his adopted town of Northampton, Massachusetts and they were as happy a couple the
White House ever served as tenants. Grace was warm and outgoing and made up in light years for
his reputation for silence and taciturnity.
Coolidge was our only president born on the 4th July. In his case 1872. He was bright kid raised
by a yeoman father and he lost his wife and Calvin's mother. Two years later in 1890 Calvin lost a younger sister the only other sibling. Still it was a good intelligence that got him into Amherst in
Massachusetts where he did well.
He had no money for law school, but instead clerked at a law firm in Northampton which is how he
got there. Coolidge was a dyed in the wool Republican and also got active in the Republican Party
in Northampton which is in western Massachusetts.
The climb was a slow and steady one and he served in a number of elective offices including first
in the town council of Northampton, the state House of Representatives, Mayor of Northampton,
State Senator, Lieutenant Governor and finally elected governor. Back then these offices carried
one year terms which has vanished. It was the New England tradition of town hall type representation. Coolidge was forever campaigning.
As Governor and in the rest of the offices he served he was a small government conservative forever looking for ways to economize. It was how he was brought up, it was how government was
to be run. No scandals ever attached themselves to him. He also was enamored of rich people and
had some wealthy contributors. They helped in his campaign for the highest office.
His was an ironical rise. The Boston Police had a strike and in 1919-20 lots of chaos threatened to
go full blast there. Coolidge called in the Massachusetts National Guard and in reply to Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation of Labor's protest, he issued a stern warning that the police
had no right to strike against the public safety. He became a national hero with that and at the
1920 convention he was a favorite son from Massachusetts.
As has come down in legend the 1920 GOP convention was a brokered affair with the leading candidates refusing to given in. Before the 9th ballot in the most famous smoke filled room of all,
powers in the party got together and said Senator Warren G. Harding was our candidate.
The delegates did as told, but a spirit of rebelliousness pervaded the hall, When it came to choosing'a Vice President one delegate from Oregon tired of being instructed gave the uninstructed
nomination of Calvin Coolidge. It swept the convention and the bosses accepted. Coolidge if he
was anything was a goof party man.
As Vice President he didn't make much of a mark, no more than most Vice Presidents. For the first
time in our history Harding invited Coolidge to sit in on cabinet meetings. He was as silent there
as he was anywhere else. But his distance from Harding was also his distance from the scandals
that overtook that sad administration.
He was suddenly president on August 2, 1923 when Harding died suddenly in San Francisco. When
he was told he was president and advised to take the oath of office post haste he was visiting his
father in Vermont. Dad was a notary public and by candlelight Calvin Coolidge took his oath as
our 30th president with his father administering. A touch that endeared him to the nation.
Not being identified in any way Coolidge took vigorous steps in weeding out corrupt officials and
trying them as they fell. Harding's Attorney General Harry Daugherty was as corrupt as they come
and when he was forced out Coolidge appointed Amherst classmate Harlan Fiske Stone as Attorney
General. The Justice Department was weeded out of hacks and reformed. It was Stone's idea to
appoint a promising young lawyer J. Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI and Coolidge did so. It was a
reform movement then because Hoover professionalized the bureau. The paranoia comes post
World War II. Stone also became Coolidge's single appointment to the Supreme Court.
Anther Amherst friend Dwight P. Morrow became Ambassador to Mexico and did a lot to improve
relations with that country. Mexico had been in chaos during the previous decade and things were
still pretty tense. We had intervened there in the Wilson administration and left a lot of bad will.
A bright spot in foreign policy. And under the direction of Secretary of State Frank Kellogg we
also signed a multi-nation pact that outlawed war of aggression. I think just about every country
going that signed the Kellogg-Briand pact has broken it now including the USA. But it was a noble
idea.
Coolidge won a landslide victory in 1924 for a term in his own right. Helped in large measure by
his own reputation for honesty and because the Democrats blew their own chances up in a 103
ballot deadlock that went on all summer it seemed. The eventual candidate John W. Davis was as
conservative as Coolidge in many respects. With Robert LaFollette running as a third party Progressive candidate Coolidge had a walk in.
Yet it was tinged with sadness as his younger son Calvin Coolidge, Jr. died of something modern
medicine would have treated with no problem. He developed a blister on his foot after playing
tennis and there was no such thing as antibiotics to treat it then. He died in the summer of 1924
and the ever stoic Coolidge took it hard.
Sad to say his conservative philosophy let him down on two big issues. Farmers did not enjoy the
boom prosperity of the Roaring 20s. They had raised enormous surpluses during World War I
and it depressed prices. There was a bill in Congress called the McNary-Haugen bill which would
have had a government program buying the surpluses. It was sponsored by two more progressive
Republicans in fact. Coolidge vetoed it twice after Congress passed it twice.
He also was privately concerned about the stock market speculation, but again he was a laissez
faire conservative and would do nothing. He was out of the White House in 1929 and his luckless
successor Herbert Hoover was holding the bag when the stock market crashed. Neither of these
inactions enhanced his presidential reputation.
In retirement the Coolidges lived modestly in Northampton. They had to as Coolidge never took
advantage of opportunities to enrich himself. One of his chief sources of income was an occasional
article for magazines. Coolidge died suddenly in January of 1933.
There's a lot to admire in Coolidge as a person. As a president though he lacked a social vision and
his presidency as a result is at best average.
July 28, 2024
The last of the 19th Century New England Presidents
As I have taken on this #presidentialreadingchallenge chronologically, I figured it wouldn't be too hard to find a short biography of each president and knock this project out in a year or two. As I enter the 30th year of this challenge I found myself finishing president #30 of 46 that I have served, I fear I may be at this challenge for a decade or more, particularly if I want to give each president a fair review. And even with a president like #calvincoolidge who entered the presidency as vice president in the third year of the #hardingadministration , intending to not change the course too significantly from the priorities of the #warrengharding and serious on his conviction of the separation of powers between the three branches of government, it would appear that, on the surface, there wouldn't be much to the #coolidgeadministration.
Born in small Vermont farm town who moved to Massachusetts after attending Amherst, Coolidge was never terribly personable and not a dynamic people pleaser, but his knowledge of the law, decent speech making capabilities and ability to luck himself into power found him rising pretty quickly through Massachusetts legislative and executive politics and, quite by surprise, on the Harding ticket where he thoroughly enjoyed his role presiding over the Senate. In those days, there was no Vice Presidential Residence so he found himself taking the same rooms at the Willard Hotel that had been occupied by the outgoing Democratic President and supplementing his income with paid speeches.
A habitual cigar smoker and tea toddler as he was serving at the time of Prohibition, while serving at a time of the growth of aviation and radio, his general reticence at times made him seem as if her were better suited to serve in the 1820's rather than the 1920's. And with few close friends and little desire to play a role in legislative or judicial influence, Coolidge, a copious reader and deliberate writer, welcomed frequent time away from the chaos of Washington DC. After filling a term and being elected to the presidency, he did not seek reelection, giving a tacit nod to his Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover to run and win with Coolidge's hesitant endorsement.
Author #donaldmccoy shares Coolidge's conservative politics so he is more complementary and finds Silent Cal more redeeming than a more neutral historian. Despite that fact, this isn't a puff piece and his extensive reading of all prior works on Coolidge shows itself in the scholarship. Cal's retirement, first to the small town duplex where he had brought up his family and , at last the rural mansion he finally resided, one of the few rich men in spite of the Great Depression, his lifelong frugality demonstrated how being cheap in a time of speculative enthusiasm, can leave you up when others around you are struggling.
As I have taken on this #presidentialreadingchallenge chronologically, I figured it wouldn't be too hard to find a short biography of each president and knock this project out in a year or two. As I enter the 30th year of this challenge I found myself finishing president #30 of 46 that I have served, I fear I may be at this challenge for a decade or more, particularly if I want to give each president a fair review. And even with a president like #calvincoolidge who entered the presidency as vice president in the third year of the #hardingadministration , intending to not change the course too significantly from the priorities of the #warrengharding and serious on his conviction of the separation of powers between the three branches of government, it would appear that, on the surface, there wouldn't be much to the #coolidgeadministration.
Born in small Vermont farm town who moved to Massachusetts after attending Amherst, Coolidge was never terribly personable and not a dynamic people pleaser, but his knowledge of the law, decent speech making capabilities and ability to luck himself into power found him rising pretty quickly through Massachusetts legislative and executive politics and, quite by surprise, on the Harding ticket where he thoroughly enjoyed his role presiding over the Senate. In those days, there was no Vice Presidential Residence so he found himself taking the same rooms at the Willard Hotel that had been occupied by the outgoing Democratic President and supplementing his income with paid speeches.
A habitual cigar smoker and tea toddler as he was serving at the time of Prohibition, while serving at a time of the growth of aviation and radio, his general reticence at times made him seem as if her were better suited to serve in the 1820's rather than the 1920's. And with few close friends and little desire to play a role in legislative or judicial influence, Coolidge, a copious reader and deliberate writer, welcomed frequent time away from the chaos of Washington DC. After filling a term and being elected to the presidency, he did not seek reelection, giving a tacit nod to his Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover to run and win with Coolidge's hesitant endorsement.
Author #donaldmccoy shares Coolidge's conservative politics so he is more complementary and finds Silent Cal more redeeming than a more neutral historian. Despite that fact, this isn't a puff piece and his extensive reading of all prior works on Coolidge shows itself in the scholarship. Cal's retirement, first to the small town duplex where he had brought up his family and , at last the rural mansion he finally resided, one of the few rich men in spite of the Great Depression, his lifelong frugality demonstrated how being cheap in a time of speculative enthusiasm, can leave you up when others around you are struggling.
April 21, 2021
Often a review of a presidential biography covers both subject and the author, and it's difficult to separate the two. But I will try.
After reading books on Wilson and Harding, it's hard to find any exciting about Calvin Coolidge. But then that was what the country wanted and needed after the previous 10 years (and arguably the 12 years previous with Roosevelt and progressivism on the ascendency.) America needed a breather, and Coolidge was it. Yes, he was an accidental president like Tyler, Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Arthur, and Roosevelt. Only Roosevelt of those won his own term outright as did Coolidge, thus achieving some validation of his presidency and policies.
Other than that, there really wasn't much dynamic about him. The Boston Police Strike was interesting, his upbringing and schooling held some interest as well as the story of being sworn in in Vermont by his father, which had to be repeated in D.C. due to questions of his father's authority as notary only of Vermont. Besides that, he fought with Congress a lot, vetoed many bills, and attempted some arrangement of post-World War I international peace but failed as had Wilson and Harding before him. He sat back and let things happen, rather than choose Rooseveltian or Wilsonian or even Harding dynamism to shape events. He did extricate us from several Latin American and Asian military situations, though he failed to get us out of Haiti, and guns that went to Mexico ended up in Nicaragua to be used in their civil war. It was a mixed record, but Coolidge looked on it with satisfaction as his main policy of tax reduction and cutting appropriations in the post-war period with the help and encouragement of Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon was accomplished and, arguably, resulted in the "Coolidge Prosperity." It also very likely overheated the economy and led to overzealous speculation, which Coolidge decried but did nothing about.
Coolidge, in several statements, saw the Depression coming and thought he was not the president to be spending money, which would soon be required of him. I found it interesting that he recognized he was not the president for the coming times.
McCoy does an excellent job really, given the less than dynamic subject. He's fair, he draws out as much drama as can be drawn out from Silent Cal, who thought if you just stood still, 9 out of 10 troubles will run themselves into the ditch before they get to you. The problem was 1 out of 10 could still amount to a lot of trouble. He got out on a high. He also had lost interest in the job after the death of his son and his father. He wanted quiet again. Some of the most interesting parts of McCoy's book are the anecdotes. Silent Cal had wit and used his silence to make the sparse words he did use mean all the more.
McCoy's book is probably THE book to read on Coolidge. I found Amity Shlaes' book laudatory to a fault as a worshipper of Coolidge and his policies with not enough thoughtful, balanced analysis like you find in McCoy's. Even though I recommend this book, I would say that one need only read a book on Coolidge if one is REALLY interested in the subject or at least the 1920s with which Coolidge is inevitably intertwined. Or one is making their way through all the presidents as I am. Then you have no choice.
After reading books on Wilson and Harding, it's hard to find any exciting about Calvin Coolidge. But then that was what the country wanted and needed after the previous 10 years (and arguably the 12 years previous with Roosevelt and progressivism on the ascendency.) America needed a breather, and Coolidge was it. Yes, he was an accidental president like Tyler, Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Arthur, and Roosevelt. Only Roosevelt of those won his own term outright as did Coolidge, thus achieving some validation of his presidency and policies.
Other than that, there really wasn't much dynamic about him. The Boston Police Strike was interesting, his upbringing and schooling held some interest as well as the story of being sworn in in Vermont by his father, which had to be repeated in D.C. due to questions of his father's authority as notary only of Vermont. Besides that, he fought with Congress a lot, vetoed many bills, and attempted some arrangement of post-World War I international peace but failed as had Wilson and Harding before him. He sat back and let things happen, rather than choose Rooseveltian or Wilsonian or even Harding dynamism to shape events. He did extricate us from several Latin American and Asian military situations, though he failed to get us out of Haiti, and guns that went to Mexico ended up in Nicaragua to be used in their civil war. It was a mixed record, but Coolidge looked on it with satisfaction as his main policy of tax reduction and cutting appropriations in the post-war period with the help and encouragement of Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon was accomplished and, arguably, resulted in the "Coolidge Prosperity." It also very likely overheated the economy and led to overzealous speculation, which Coolidge decried but did nothing about.
Coolidge, in several statements, saw the Depression coming and thought he was not the president to be spending money, which would soon be required of him. I found it interesting that he recognized he was not the president for the coming times.
McCoy does an excellent job really, given the less than dynamic subject. He's fair, he draws out as much drama as can be drawn out from Silent Cal, who thought if you just stood still, 9 out of 10 troubles will run themselves into the ditch before they get to you. The problem was 1 out of 10 could still amount to a lot of trouble. He got out on a high. He also had lost interest in the job after the death of his son and his father. He wanted quiet again. Some of the most interesting parts of McCoy's book are the anecdotes. Silent Cal had wit and used his silence to make the sparse words he did use mean all the more.
McCoy's book is probably THE book to read on Coolidge. I found Amity Shlaes' book laudatory to a fault as a worshipper of Coolidge and his policies with not enough thoughtful, balanced analysis like you find in McCoy's. Even though I recommend this book, I would say that one need only read a book on Coolidge if one is REALLY interested in the subject or at least the 1920s with which Coolidge is inevitably intertwined. Or one is making their way through all the presidents as I am. Then you have no choice.
April 16, 2022
It was hard separating out my feelings on the subject from those on the author. But there are several reasons why I disliked this boring biography of a president regarded as quite boring, or “quiet.”
The main reason for my general dislike of The Quiet President is simply that the author failed to paint a story of Calvin Coolidge’s life in my mind’s eye. The book read as a recitation of facts and events without diving into the context and impact of his life. Part of me argues that the author should be applauded for this feat given the possibly flat character of his subject, especially when compared to the dynamic personalities of the other men that have managed to ascend to the highest office in the land. But the other part of me argues that even the most supposedly uninteresting individuals have a lifetime of decisions, reactions, influences, and context that can be used to weave that person’s tapestry of life in such a way that even muted or dull color schemes can be as engaging as the most saturated of hues.
I repeatedly felt frustrated with the author filling so many pages with Coolidge’s time as president after breezing through his youth and pre-presidential career. Admittedly, this tends to be a common theme among presidential biographies, which are written primarily because these *men* were presidents. However, the author repeatedly refers back to formative events and lessons learned during Coolidge’s youth, family, relationship and marriage, and early career without having adequately explored those markers in his development or, other than his reserved personality, documenting lifelong instances they were expressed and either reinforced or confronted. For example, the author would state the feelings Coolidge held for his wife and children and the value they held in his life when their lives were part of facts important enough to make it into this history, yet they were only briefly introduced and occasionally referred to, cast as day players or background extras when their role in the protagonist’s development deserved a series regular.
In sum, I felt as if the title of this Coolidge biography was decided first and then shaped the story that was written. It’s a reserved accounting of the life of a quiet president, and I struggled to make my way through to the end.
The main reason for my general dislike of The Quiet President is simply that the author failed to paint a story of Calvin Coolidge’s life in my mind’s eye. The book read as a recitation of facts and events without diving into the context and impact of his life. Part of me argues that the author should be applauded for this feat given the possibly flat character of his subject, especially when compared to the dynamic personalities of the other men that have managed to ascend to the highest office in the land. But the other part of me argues that even the most supposedly uninteresting individuals have a lifetime of decisions, reactions, influences, and context that can be used to weave that person’s tapestry of life in such a way that even muted or dull color schemes can be as engaging as the most saturated of hues.
I repeatedly felt frustrated with the author filling so many pages with Coolidge’s time as president after breezing through his youth and pre-presidential career. Admittedly, this tends to be a common theme among presidential biographies, which are written primarily because these *men* were presidents. However, the author repeatedly refers back to formative events and lessons learned during Coolidge’s youth, family, relationship and marriage, and early career without having adequately explored those markers in his development or, other than his reserved personality, documenting lifelong instances they were expressed and either reinforced or confronted. For example, the author would state the feelings Coolidge held for his wife and children and the value they held in his life when their lives were part of facts important enough to make it into this history, yet they were only briefly introduced and occasionally referred to, cast as day players or background extras when their role in the protagonist’s development deserved a series regular.
In sum, I felt as if the title of this Coolidge biography was decided first and then shaped the story that was written. It’s a reserved accounting of the life of a quiet president, and I struggled to make my way through to the end.
March 2, 2018
Sometimes it's difficult to separate the subject from the book describing it. In the case of presidential biographies, it can be tempting to give the book a poor rating because I didn't like the president. This is one of those cases.
I'm sure it's difficult to write an engaging book about a subject that is dull. It may be the case, in some parallel universe, where the dictionary definition of "dull" is accompanied by Coolidge's picture. As president, he tended to sleep 11 or 12 hours a day. It could be argued that he didn't take any action on his own; that he let his cabinet define his policy, and that he felt it was his job to do what the people desired, rather than to do what he thought must be done. It is easy to understand how a book about him isn't exactly a page-turner.
That said, I'll give passing marks to McCoy. The book is informative and well written, if not exciting. The last chapter neatly summarizes the rest of the book. Here, McCoy reiterates that Coolidge's greatest achievement was restoring public confidence in the office of the President after the Harding administration. McCoy also points out that Coolidge did nothing to prevent or delay or reduce the coming storms of the 1930's. Doing nothing is what Coolidge did.
I'm sure it's difficult to write an engaging book about a subject that is dull. It may be the case, in some parallel universe, where the dictionary definition of "dull" is accompanied by Coolidge's picture. As president, he tended to sleep 11 or 12 hours a day. It could be argued that he didn't take any action on his own; that he let his cabinet define his policy, and that he felt it was his job to do what the people desired, rather than to do what he thought must be done. It is easy to understand how a book about him isn't exactly a page-turner.
That said, I'll give passing marks to McCoy. The book is informative and well written, if not exciting. The last chapter neatly summarizes the rest of the book. Here, McCoy reiterates that Coolidge's greatest achievement was restoring public confidence in the office of the President after the Harding administration. McCoy also points out that Coolidge did nothing to prevent or delay or reduce the coming storms of the 1930's. Doing nothing is what Coolidge did.
November 2, 2018
Picked this up after visiting Coolidge's homestead in Plymouth Notch, VT. Pretty amazing how someone from such a small village could become President! Was interesting to learn how he steadily and seemingly inadvertently worked his way up the political ladder from country lawyer. His personal style ("the Quiet President") was probably the diametric opposite of our current president, and its now somewhat hard to imagine a time during which a mild mannered, non-inspirational, quiet person could be elected US president. I guess it helped that the country seemed to want a "return to normalcy" after the war years. He also had an extreme respect for the principle of separation of powers, often to his political disadvantage. The book helped me learn a lot about that period between WWI and the Great Depression, and debates from that time about many issues that are ongoing today...immigration, federal deficit, taxes, etc. Definitely gives you some things to think (worry) about!
November 13, 2019
It is a challenge to find a book on a GOP President other than ALincoln or TRoosevelt that is neutral. This book raised my hopes early on, but eventually became a picayune examination of a fascinating life by what seems a partisan operative.
Professor McCoy seems to desire a monarchist in the White House. He rails against Coolidge’s inability to get his agenda through Congress while also questioning whether it was proper for the country. He details numerous interesting events, but they uniformly lack citation. Are we to accept as fact that which cannot be independently perused?
Professor McCoy seems to desire a monarchist in the White House. He rails against Coolidge’s inability to get his agenda through Congress while also questioning whether it was proper for the country. He details numerous interesting events, but they uniformly lack citation. Are we to accept as fact that which cannot be independently perused?
September 2, 2022
Loved the way this biography was written. Shorter chapters made it more manageable in terms of short, focused reading sessions. Comprehensive view of a lesser known president.
February 19, 2023
I remember reading this about 20 years ago. It was fact based and more informative than illusory.
November 18, 2016
Since the nation has recently elected arguably its most bellicose president, I thought it might be instructive to read a biography of arguably the nation's most taciturn president. The contrast is amazing indeed, and the book was well worth my time. I had always heard that Coolidge's nickname was "Silent Cal," but until I read this, I had no idea how nonverbal the guy was.
The biography traces Coolidge's early days in Vermont, and it does a nice job of helping you understand the influences and ideas that would shape Coolidge the president. I'm still amazed that someone who said so little and looked constantly as if he had just eaten a pickle could advance to the presidency. Coolidge was the nation's first radio president, and it's a good thing he missed out on the TV era. For many reasons, he would not likely have been a success.
It was fascinating to read about the divisiveness and partisanship that was so much a part of Coolidge's presidency. I actually found a level of comfort in the fact that things appeared as divisive in his day as they do in ours.
According to the biography, Coolidge resoundingly believed that to enhance big business was to elevate the entire nation. He held firmly to ideas of self reliance and zero indebtedness, and he found ways to cut taxes and still expand some programs. He adopted the idea that everyone should have a little something so long as it doesn't cost too much.
He was far from a great role model in many ways. He was hyper critical of his wife, Grace, who made up for his deficiencies with her gregariousness and articulation. He would throw biscuits she had prepared on the floor and stomp his foot in an effort to compare the density of the biscuit with his footfall. But she gave as good as she got in many ways sometimes by taking him down a notch or two in public places.
The book does a solid job of summarizing his final post-presidency years. There weren't many of those. His favorite son died while Coolidge was president, and the office mattered precious little to him after that. He was ultimately glad to be rid of it.
There are some long chapters here that deal with his opposition to the League of Nations, and a great deal is written about agriculture bills and other political minutia of the 1920s.
I believe this is one of those books that were part of the American Presidency series that was published in the '90s. That means the book is highly readable and not overly scholarly or academic.
In short, this is a highly sympathetic biography, and I wish it had explored more thoroughly Coolidge's role in the Great Depression, which began just months after he left office. Coolidge seemed to know the depression was coming, and it seemed as if he wanted out before it happened.
The biography traces Coolidge's early days in Vermont, and it does a nice job of helping you understand the influences and ideas that would shape Coolidge the president. I'm still amazed that someone who said so little and looked constantly as if he had just eaten a pickle could advance to the presidency. Coolidge was the nation's first radio president, and it's a good thing he missed out on the TV era. For many reasons, he would not likely have been a success.
It was fascinating to read about the divisiveness and partisanship that was so much a part of Coolidge's presidency. I actually found a level of comfort in the fact that things appeared as divisive in his day as they do in ours.
According to the biography, Coolidge resoundingly believed that to enhance big business was to elevate the entire nation. He held firmly to ideas of self reliance and zero indebtedness, and he found ways to cut taxes and still expand some programs. He adopted the idea that everyone should have a little something so long as it doesn't cost too much.
He was far from a great role model in many ways. He was hyper critical of his wife, Grace, who made up for his deficiencies with her gregariousness and articulation. He would throw biscuits she had prepared on the floor and stomp his foot in an effort to compare the density of the biscuit with his footfall. But she gave as good as she got in many ways sometimes by taking him down a notch or two in public places.
The book does a solid job of summarizing his final post-presidency years. There weren't many of those. His favorite son died while Coolidge was president, and the office mattered precious little to him after that. He was ultimately glad to be rid of it.
There are some long chapters here that deal with his opposition to the League of Nations, and a great deal is written about agriculture bills and other political minutia of the 1920s.
I believe this is one of those books that were part of the American Presidency series that was published in the '90s. That means the book is highly readable and not overly scholarly or academic.
In short, this is a highly sympathetic biography, and I wish it had explored more thoroughly Coolidge's role in the Great Depression, which began just months after he left office. Coolidge seemed to know the depression was coming, and it seemed as if he wanted out before it happened.
September 10, 2016
I started reading this book at the same time as I was reading the biography by Amity Shlaes and they took different approaches. With this one the chapter were shorter and you learned about President Coolidge based on events and subjects in his life. Mostly in chronological order but not always because certain subjects ran over longer periods. The authors prejudice came through early and throughout the reading of the book. The last chapter of the book lays all out there as to why he thinks President Coolidge is a failure. I disagree with his findings though I agree on the identification of many of his traits. The problem is the author traits the death of Calvin Jr. as an event when it became a theme for President Coolidge for the rest of his term until his eventual death. President Coolidge remarked himself how the presidency lost its appeal when he lost his son. Plus you see the Coolidge's spend less time in Washington and with each other. Unlike the President Grace could flee Washington more then her husband. The author criticizes a like of bold vision because he didn't like the vision President Coolidge had of fiscal responsibility. Something that was needed at the time and led to great prosperity in the 20's. The author also criticized the lack of vision and preparedness for the Great Depression yet Coolidge talk much at the end of his term of a coming collapse of the stock market and his fear the next administration would react as they did. Raising taxes, increasing debt spending and creating new programs after new programs. We know from history that these actions did not end the Great Depression for either Hoover or FDR. Coolidge wanted more fiscal responsibility. It may not of worked because the way debt was interwoven through the world privately and publicly and the trade restrictions the US and many countries had. It is hard to criticize because since the founding of the country revenue from tariffs was the main raise our government raised money. The income tax was still new and the progressive beliefs were changing the role of federal government. Who knows what another term could of brought. Probably not much but not for the authors reason, it was because Coolidge was a dieing and an emotionally drained man. He did not have the energy or desire anymore and another term would accelerated his death and had him sick in the White House for much of his last term.
December 29, 2023
Calvin Coolidge is one of those Presidents who is best remembered for his sense of humor and conservative philosophy. He is usually portrayed as a do-nothing President who failed to prevent the Great Depression who began months after he left office.
In this thoroughly researched and balanced biography historian Donald McCoy examines Coolidge's life, career and Presidency in a way few other biographies have. McCoy portrays Coolidge as a hard working politician who was very successful at not creating enemies while not siding with one faction over the other in Massachusetts politics.
Coolidge first comes to national attention as a result of the Boston Police Strike which ended largely without Coolidge's involvement. Coolidge's response to labor leader Samuel Gompers that there waa no right to strike against the public safety made him a national figure and played a role in his nomination for Vice President the next year.
Following an uneventful time as VP, Coolidge was suddenly thrust into the Presidency upon the death of Warren Harding. As President Coolidge pursued policies of tax reduction, debt reduction and economy in spending. Coolidge had a very rocky relationship with Congress which rarely passed bills to his satisfaction. While he was able to reduce taxes, lower the national debt and control spending to a degree, Coolidge was also willing to regulate the aviation industry, support flood control and seek a peaceful foreign policy.
McCoy spends more time on Coolidge's handling of foreign affairs than any other biographer to date. Coolidge pursued peace as an extension of his belief in economy by reasoning war required expenses by the government. Coolidge mostly relied on his Secretaries of State, Charles Evans Hughes and Frank Kellogg to manage foreign policy. Among the various issues Coolidge faced were debt repatriations, upheaval in China, naval arms limitation, membership in the World Court, relations with Latin America specifically Mexico and Nicaragua, and the Outlawry of War which resulted in the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
This is my personal favorite biography of Calvin Coolidge and one I recommend highly. It is the most balanced biography written about Coolidge to date.
In this thoroughly researched and balanced biography historian Donald McCoy examines Coolidge's life, career and Presidency in a way few other biographies have. McCoy portrays Coolidge as a hard working politician who was very successful at not creating enemies while not siding with one faction over the other in Massachusetts politics.
Coolidge first comes to national attention as a result of the Boston Police Strike which ended largely without Coolidge's involvement. Coolidge's response to labor leader Samuel Gompers that there waa no right to strike against the public safety made him a national figure and played a role in his nomination for Vice President the next year.
Following an uneventful time as VP, Coolidge was suddenly thrust into the Presidency upon the death of Warren Harding. As President Coolidge pursued policies of tax reduction, debt reduction and economy in spending. Coolidge had a very rocky relationship with Congress which rarely passed bills to his satisfaction. While he was able to reduce taxes, lower the national debt and control spending to a degree, Coolidge was also willing to regulate the aviation industry, support flood control and seek a peaceful foreign policy.
McCoy spends more time on Coolidge's handling of foreign affairs than any other biographer to date. Coolidge pursued peace as an extension of his belief in economy by reasoning war required expenses by the government. Coolidge mostly relied on his Secretaries of State, Charles Evans Hughes and Frank Kellogg to manage foreign policy. Among the various issues Coolidge faced were debt repatriations, upheaval in China, naval arms limitation, membership in the World Court, relations with Latin America specifically Mexico and Nicaragua, and the Outlawry of War which resulted in the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
This is my personal favorite biography of Calvin Coolidge and one I recommend highly. It is the most balanced biography written about Coolidge to date.
February 22, 2015
Admirable attempt at a biography of a mostly-forgotten (for good reason) President. McCoy tries hard to bring Coolidge to life, but the man just was not a very interesting or exciting person. He didn't work hard. In fact, Coolidge did not possess a very high energy level, and was overly worried about his health. He had almost no hobbies, very few close friends, and no close relationships with anyone - even his family was distant. He slept approximately ten hours/day, and tried to avoid as many problems as he could.
This was not a bad read. McCoy makes an effort to be balanced in his reporting of Coolidge, and he does a god job of this. He is neither overly critical nor is he fawning. Coolidge just did not give him a lot of material to work with. Fortunately for Coolidge, nothing major occurred while he was President (one wonders what exactly Coolidge would have done - if anything - had an emergency arisen). McCoy's writing is a bit dated and academic tone. He repeatedly used the phrase "Coolidge quacked..." instead of "Coolidge responded" or "Coolidge said." He did provide a decent analysis of Coolidge's brief retirement years and how he was viewed after he left the presidency.
Grade: C
This was not a bad read. McCoy makes an effort to be balanced in his reporting of Coolidge, and he does a god job of this. He is neither overly critical nor is he fawning. Coolidge just did not give him a lot of material to work with. Fortunately for Coolidge, nothing major occurred while he was President (one wonders what exactly Coolidge would have done - if anything - had an emergency arisen). McCoy's writing is a bit dated and academic tone. He repeatedly used the phrase "Coolidge quacked..." instead of "Coolidge responded" or "Coolidge said." He did provide a decent analysis of Coolidge's brief retirement years and how he was viewed after he left the presidency.
Grade: C
May 22, 2011
This is a balanced biography of Silent Cal. McCoy doesn't outright place the blame on Coolidge for the upcoming Great Depression, but he does fault him for being aware of the excesses of Wall Street and banking practices yet unwilling to establish any regulations. Coolidge's mantra of "what's good for business is good for the country" might have worked if business interests were honest and fairminded as himself. Unfortunately, he was wrong.
September 7, 2016
Fair book about Calvin Coolidge. I appreciated the short chapters, they made it easy to sit down and read for short spurts of time.
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