Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933,) full name John Calvin Coolidge, was an American Republican statesman who served as the 13th U.S. president 1923–29. His administration is remembered mainly for establishing minimal government interference in business and commerce, summarized by his expression, “the business of America is business.” Although he presided over a decade of unparalleled growth, his term has become emblematic of the self-satisfied conservatism that helped precipitate the Great Depression.
Born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, Coolidge first practiced law in Northampton, Massachusetts. He entered state politics as a Republican, was mayor of Northampton (1910–11,) state senator (1912–15,) state lieutenant governor (1919–21,) and governor (1919–20.) He gained national celebrity through a tough stand against a Boston police strike in 1919.
Elected vice president with Warren G. Harding, he succeeded to the presidency after Harding’s death (1923) and easily won a full term in 1924. Pro-business policies marked Coolidge’s administration. He committed to reducing income taxes and the national debt and was noted for his guiding principle of non-interference in foreign affairs, which culminated in the signing of the multilateral Kellogg-Briand Treaty of 1928. His policies encouraged the reckless stock market speculation of the late 1920s.
Coolidge announced his decision not to stand for re-election in 1928 with a terse announcement that has since become a catchphrase: “I do not choose to run.” He spent the later years of his life writing his autobiography (1929) and contributing articles to newspapers and magazines.
Coolidge destroyed most of his private papers and remains enigmatic in essential ways. Although highly popular, he is known as a reserved and distant man.
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It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Religion
Nothing is easier than spending the public money. It does not appear to belong to anybody. The temptation is overwhelming to bestow it on somebody.
—Calvin Coolidge
The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.
—Calvin Coolidge
If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to me at the time a lack of success, to discourage me I cannot see any way in which I would ever have made progress.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Progress, Failure
The two great political parties of the nation have existed for the purpose, each in accordance with its own principles, of undertaking to serve the interests of the whole nation. Their members of the Congress are chosen with that great end in view.
—Calvin Coolidge
If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you and you have to battle with only one of them.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Justice, Worry, Trials
There is no force so democratic as the force of an ideal.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Ideals, Idealism
If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only by their conduct, we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Criticism
Parties do not maintain themselves. They are maintained by effort. The government is not self-existent. It is maintained by the effort of those who believe in it. The people of America believe in American institutions, the American form of government and the American method of transacting business.
—Calvin Coolidge
Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.
—Calvin Coolidge
I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we prudently save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.
—Calvin Coolidge
Governments are necessarily continuing concerns. They have to keep going in good times and in bad. They therefore need a wide margin of safety. If taxes and debt are made all the people can bear when times are good, there will be certain disaster when times are bad.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Government
Dream what you dare to dream. Go where you want to go. Be what you want to be.
—Calvin Coolidge
All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. Work is not a curse; it is the prerogative of intelligence, the only means to manhood, and the measure of civilization.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Growth, Work
No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Business, Service
We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Vision
It is necessary to have party organization if we are to have effective and efficient government. The only difference between a mob and a trained army is organization, and the only difference between a disorganized country and one that has the advantage of a wise and sound government is fundamentally a question of organization.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Organization
The most common commodity in this country is unrealized potential.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Vision
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
—Calvin Coolidge
There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.
—Calvin Coolidge
If there has been any crime, it must be prosecuted. If there has been any property of the United States illegally transferred or leased, it must be recovered. I propose to employ special counsel of high rank drawn from both political parties to bring such actions for the enforcement of the law. Counsel will be instructed to prosecute these cases in the courts so that if there is any guilt it will be punished; if there is any civil liability it will be enforced; if there is any fraud it will be revealed; and if there are any contracts which are illegal they will be canceled. Every law will be enforced. And every right of the people and the Government will be protected.
—Calvin Coolidge
The appropriation of public money always is perfectly lovely until some one is asked to pay the bill. If we are to have a billion dollars of navy, half a billion of farm relief, etc. the people will have to furnish more revenue by paying more taxes. It is for them, through their Congress, to decide how far they wish to go.
—Calvin Coolidge
To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge
The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.
—Calvin Coolidge
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