CALVIN COOLIDGE
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After Harding's death, Calvin Coolidge, who was vice president under Harding, found out that he was president at 2:30 in the morning of August 3, 1923. His father swore him in by the light of a kerosene lamp with the family Bible. Coolidge, who was known more for his character than his heroic achievement, was given the great task of restoring the presidency's pride. Coolidge graduated from Amherst College with honors, and entered law and politics in Northampton, Massachusetts and eventually became Governor of Massachusetts (as a Republican).
As president, Coolidge worked to preserve the abundance of prosperity his citizens were experiencing and enjoying. He refused to use Federal economic power to check the growing boom or to ameliorate the depressed condition of agriculture and certain industries. Coolidge's first message to Congress in December 1923 called for isolation in foreign policy, and for tax cuts, economy, and limited aid to farmers. Because of his encouragement of prosperity, Coolidge became wildly popular.
In his Inaugural he asserted that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen," and pledged himself to maintain the level of prosperity in the country. However, in subsequent years, he twice vetoed farm relief bills, and killed a plan to produce cheap Federal electric power on the Tennessee River. Walter Lippmann pointed out that Coolidge's talent was effectively doing nothing. He said "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
Coolidge succeeded in being one of the most negative and remote of presidents, yet he was also one of the most accessible. He became famous for his dry, northern wit and his frugality with words and by the time the disaster of the Great Depression hit the country, Coolidge was in retirement. He later died in 1933 (Calvin Coolidge).
As president, Coolidge worked to preserve the abundance of prosperity his citizens were experiencing and enjoying. He refused to use Federal economic power to check the growing boom or to ameliorate the depressed condition of agriculture and certain industries. Coolidge's first message to Congress in December 1923 called for isolation in foreign policy, and for tax cuts, economy, and limited aid to farmers. Because of his encouragement of prosperity, Coolidge became wildly popular.
In his Inaugural he asserted that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen," and pledged himself to maintain the level of prosperity in the country. However, in subsequent years, he twice vetoed farm relief bills, and killed a plan to produce cheap Federal electric power on the Tennessee River. Walter Lippmann pointed out that Coolidge's talent was effectively doing nothing. He said "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
Coolidge succeeded in being one of the most negative and remote of presidents, yet he was also one of the most accessible. He became famous for his dry, northern wit and his frugality with words and by the time the disaster of the Great Depression hit the country, Coolidge was in retirement. He later died in 1933 (Calvin Coolidge).