Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge, who served as President from 1923-1929, has long been rated as a "poor" President by liberal historians and academics who fault him for his seemingly passive, quiet, and inactive approach to the Presidency. In this first-rate biography, Mr. Sobel shows us just how wrong those judgements are. Far from being a "Silent" or "Lazy" President, Coolidge ran a remarkably honest and efficient Administration that led America through one of the most exciting and prosperous decades in American history - the "Roaring Twenties". As Sobel demonstrates, Coolidge was born and raised in an environment which the great majority of Americans today would find alien. He grew up in the tiny rural village of Plymouth, Vermont. His beloved mother died when he was young and he was raised by his father, a classic "pillar of the community" type - his father was serious, sober, religious, a prosperous farmer and general-store owner, and a local politician who served as a justice of the peace, constable, and Vermont state legislator. Coolidge grew up to be an equally serious-minded and self-reliant young man - a modern Puritan, without the hypocrisy or self-righteous attitude. Coolidge became a good lawyer in Northampton, Massachussetts, married Grace Goodhue and had a happy marriage, and slowly but steadily climbed the political ladder. Unlike most modern politicians who try to start out with a major office (such as Senator or Governor) and then immediately try to run for President, Coolidge spent many years in local and state politics before he became a "big-time" politician - a fact which probably accounted for his success as President. He served as a city councilman, Mayor of Northampton, state legislator, head of the Massachussetts State Assembly, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and finally Vice-President and President. During his long climb Coolidge was never dramatic or spectacular, but he was intelligent, efficient, honest, reliable, and a good speaker. People seemed to like and trust him wherever he went, and his dry yet biting wit, and his quiet and reserved personality became legendary (in one famous story, Coolidge went to a party and said nothing. The hostess, desperate, approached him and said "Mr. President, I made a bet with my friend over there that I could get at least 3 words out of you tonight". Coolidge's reply: "You lose"). What this biography does is to give the reader a much better appreciation for the man, and Sobel convincingly demonstrates that the great economic boom of the 1920's was not merely a fluke, but the direct result of Coolidge's shrewd business sense and leadership. Anyone who continues to rate Coolidge as a poor President should be required to read this book and refute Sobel's persuasive arguments. To sum up, this is a first-rate book about a much-underrated President, and it should be highly recommended to all political and presidential history buffs.

As an ardent admirer of FDR and the New Deal, I'd never read any more on Coolidge than his "Keep Faith in Massachusetts". This book didn't change any of my major beliefs about Coolidge, but certainly filled in countless details about his life and work. I admire Mr. Sobel's efforts to make a readable book despite the lack of Coolidge's papers. As is ably demonstrated, Mr. Coolidge was popular as much for what he was as for what he did. His integrity and moral rectitude served him so well in those pre-TV times. A man such as this would stand no chance in today's prettified, telegenic politics. Mr. Sobel is able to illustrate the injustice done to the memory of President Coolidge as being cold and remote. Mr. Coolidge was a child of his time, region, and upbringing. His deep love for his family is refreshing. This eminently readable book will give great enjoyment to those interested in Presidential history.

In this time of scandal, mud-slinging, political incompetence, and too-rapid change, the life of Calvin Coolidge is a nostalgic and refreshing reminder of a simpler time, and a simpler America. This 'accidental' President, who epitomized the quiet dignity and sound judgement Americans expected of their President, presided over unprecedented economic growth and a sense of national propriety and dignity. Following the disgrace of the Harding mis-Administration, Coolidge brought about a reformation of the executive branch, restored faith in the government, and skillfully asserted his control over the Republican Party. His willing retirement at the conclusion of his term exemplifies the 'citizen politician' once prevalent, and now virtually extinct. Much like the monumental biography of Harry Truman by David McCullough which led to a nostalgia for Truman, this biography is sure to do the same for Coolidge.

The few bad reviews I've seen on this book call attention to Sobel's use of secondary sources: I'm not sure that Sobel's aim was to show anything new. He critically and categorically looks at the lines history has been giving us for so many years and offers a fresh perspective. The book gives some lesser known facts on Coolidge: he was voted one of the best radio personalities of his time, "Silent Cal" gave more press conferences than ANY of his predecessors, and had staggeringly high approval ratings that could have ushered him into another term. Sobel also shows Coolidge to be the epitome of "hands-off" government. What a refreshing thought for today.

I think Mr. Sobel has done an excellent job in destroying much of the criticism of Calvin Coolidge the man as well as Calvin Coolidge the President. I picked up this book out of curiosity - I read the Coolidge chapter in Nathan Miller's book "Star-Spangled Men - America's Ten Worst Presidents", and decided to learn more about this silent, penurious, enigmatic President who was apparently heartless and supported big business while in office. I soon found that this man was quite likable, although he lacked the garrulous nature of many politicians. One of his major faults, as Mr. Sobel put it, was in "not being able to predict the future." He cut taxes four times and had good reason not to interfere with Wall Street (read the book to find out why!). To any person that wishes to know more about an OUTSTANDING U.S. President who was in office during a time of great prosperity, please consider this wonderful biography.