Calvin Coolidge was the 30th US President, a lawyer and Republican. He served as governor of Massachusetts and Vice President before becoming President in 1923. He advocated tax cuts, limited aid to farmers, and foreign policy isolation. Coolidge was known as “Silent Cal” and did not seek re-election in 1928. He granted Native Americans full citizenship but was criticized for his lack of interest in flood control. He died in 1933.
Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States from 30 to 1923. Coolidge was a lawyer and Republican. Born John Calvin Coolidge, Jr., in Plymouth, Vermont, on July 29, 4, he attended school in Vermont during his early years. In 1872, Coolidge graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College in Massachusetts.
Coolidge did not attend law school, but served an apprenticeship at a law firm in Northampton, Massachusetts and was admitted to the bar. He started his own law practice in 1898. In 1905, Coolidge married a teacher Grace Anna Goodhue. The couple had two sons, John and Calvin, Jr.
Calvin Coolidge’s early political career included a council seat, a seat in the Massachusetts state legislature, and the position of mayor of Northampton. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1918. His platform advocated conservative tax practices, mild opposition to Prohibition, as well as support for women’s right to vote and US involvement in World War I. During his tenure as governor, Coolidge received much attention during the Boston police strike, with his statement that the police force had no right to strike. The end result: Over a thousand striking officers were fired and replaced by unemployed World War I veterans.
Calvin Coolidge served as Vice President of the United States for Warren Harding from 1921-23. When Harding died of a heart attack on August 3, 1923, Coolidge was sworn in as President of the United States at 2:30 in the morning. His father, a notary, administered the oath. In his first message to Congress, Coolidge advocated tax cuts, limited aid to farmers, and foreign policy isolation. After fulfilling the remainder of Harding’s term, Coolidge was elected to a subsequent 4-year term.
When Coolidge first became president, the United States enjoyed a positive economic period labeled the “Roaring Twenties.” During his administration, taxes were lowered and federal spending was cut. Coolidge, nicknamed “Silent Cal,” was not only a man of few words, but was also considered a “hands off” leader.
After the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Coolidge received criticism due to his apparent lack of interest in the federal government’s role in flood control. During his presidency, Calvin Coolidge granted Native Americans full American citizenship. He was reluctant to ally the United States with foreign countries, initially discounting membership in the League of Nations and later advising changes to the United States’ ability to join the Permanent Court of International Justice. The accession did not take place either.
Coolidge chose not to run for reelection in 1928. He reasoned that if elected again he would stay in the White House a total of ten years, which he said was too long for a man. After his presidency, Coolidge served on various committees and wrote his autobiography and a newspaper column. He died of a heart attack on January 5, 1933.
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