President Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont. Calvin Coolidge was one of two Presidents born in Vermont. He was born John Calvin Coolidge, but dropped John from his name since that was the first name of his father.

Calvin grew to be 5' 9" tall.

During the Garfield-Hancock campaign of 1880, he asked his father for a penny to buy candy. John Coolidge refused, explaining that if the Democrats should be elected, hard times could be expected. After Garfield won, Calvin reminded his father that the Republicans had stayed in power. He got the penny.

Coolidge marries Grace Goodue on October 4, 1905.

On August 2, 1923, Coolidge was vacationing at his father's home in Plymouth, Vermont. It took several hours for the news of President Harding's death in California to reach the small town. Traditionally, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swears in the president, but he was 500 miles away. So at 2:30 a.m., Coolidge's father, a notary republic, administered the oath of office to his son by the light of a kerosene lamp. He is the only president to be sworn in by his father.

During the rest of that term President Coolidge did not have a Vice President (1923-1925). During Coolidge's second term his Vice President was Charles Dawes (1925-1929).

Calvin Coolidge enjoy eating pancakes.

Called "Silent Cal," Coolidge was once challenged by a reporter, saying, "I bet someone that I could get more than two words out of you." Coolidge responded, "You lose."

President Coolidge was the first president to have his inauguration heard on the radio and the first president to make a radio broadcast. The first presidential political speech on the radio originated from New York City and was broadcast on 5 radio stations. An audience estimated to be about 5 million people listened in to hear Coolidge speak.

Calvin Coolidge loved having his head rubbed with Vaseline while he ate breakfast in bed.

He played the harmonica.

Calvin Coolidge was Vice President under Warren Harding and became President when Harding died.

The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice William Howard Taft. This was the first time that a former President gave the oath of office to a President.

Calvin Coolidge, 1923.
Library of Congress
(Click for a larger image.)

President Coolidge's was the first inaugural ceremony to be broadcast. His 41 minute speech was broadcast by twenty-five radio stations and heard by over 22 million people.

Calvin Coolidge like horeseback riding but went from real horses to a mechanical horse.

Calvin Coolidge was President for some time without a Vice President. He had been Warren Harding's VP, and the position was not filled until Coolidge was elected for his own term in 1924.

Calvin Coolidge slept 10 hours a day. He refused to use the telephone while in office.

The Calvin family had two pet raccoons. They were named Rebecca and Rueben. They stayed in an outdoor shed at night. Sometimes they would roam the White House during the day.

During the Coolidge administration, new forms of communication spread as radios became a part of American homes. Motion pictures were projected with sound, and telephones connected America and Europe. The first two commercial air routes were established, from coast-to-coast and from Chicago to Dallas.

Cal eased the burdens of his office by confining himself to 4 hours of work a day and by taking a nap every afternoon.

Coolige was the only president to have his image on a coin while living. He was featured on the 1926 sesquicentennial half dollar. Washington to Coolige.

Calvin Coolidge was expected to attend a fair. A reporter asked if he would say anything at the fair. He replied, "No. I am just going as an exhibit."

Coolidge was the last Ex-President to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. John Quincy Adams was the first Ex-President to serve in he U.S. House of Representatives.

Calvin Coolidge died in Northampton, Mass. on January 5, 1935. He was 60 years and 185 days old.

"Nothing is easier than spending public money. It does not appear to belong to anybody. The temptaion is over whelming to bestow it on somebody.

Calvin Coolidge 1923 - 1929 30th President

Calvin Coolidge
1923 - 1929
30th President