Coolidge

by Amity Shlaes

That was a slip Couzens was too clever not to exploit. By referencing Couzens’s personal finances, Mellon had legitimized the discussion of all politicians’ finances, especially, of course, his own. Couzens did not squander the opportunity and assailed Mellon personally: “So long as you have entered into the record of my securities, will you please tell us what your securities are; how much you own of each and how you will benefit by the reduction of the surtaxes as proposed by you?” Mellon was working on establishing an independent appeals board so that citizens might get their tax cases heard in a fairer and more systematic fashion. Progressive lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, began preparing additional language for the tax legislation requiring their own version of transparency: that the amounts of all filers’ tax payments be put on public view at their local post office. Posting the returns of the wealthy in their communities would provide fodder for a million progressive investigations.