John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. (1872–1933) was the 30th President of the United States. A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state. His response to the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him into the national spotlight and gave him a reputation as a man of decisive action. Soon after, he was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Elected in his own right in 1924, he gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man who said very little.
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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
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
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
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
To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge
There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.
—Calvin Coolidge
The most common commodity in this country is unrealized potential.
—Calvin Coolidge
Topics: Vision
The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.
—Calvin Coolidge
Dream what you dare to dream.
Go where you want to go.
Be what you want to be.
—Calvin Coolidge
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
The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.
—Calvin Coolidge
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
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
No person was ever honored for what he received.
Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
—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
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
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