Following the death of President Harding, Calvin Coolidge became the new President of
the United States.
Who was Calvin Coolidge?
What type of leader was he?
John Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872 in Vermont.
After graduating from Amherst College, Coolidge moved to Massachusetts where he became a lawyer.
In 1898, he was elected to the City Council of Northampton and then a year later to the
position of City Solicitor.
He won a seat in the state house of representatives in 1906 and was elected Mayor of Northampton,
Massachusetts in 1909.
Coolidge continued his rise through the ranks of politics by running for a seat in the state
senate in 1912, Lt. Governor in 1915, and Governor of Massachusetts in 1918.
His successful handling of the Boston Police Strike in 1919 helped him gain national attention.
As a result, he was selected to be Warren G. Harding’s running mate in the 1920 presidential
election.
In 1923, Vice President Coolidge was visiting his parents in Vermont when he received startling
news.
President Harding had suddenly passed away, allowing Calvin Coolidge to become the 30th
President of the United States.
As president, Coolidge earned the nickname “Silent Cal” for his quiet and reserved
manner.
This manner also matched his administrative style, which was a very “hands off” approach.
Unlike some earlier administrations, he did not believe in government regulations and
insisted that the government should stay out of the way of the American economy.
This approach came to be known as “laissez-faire” economics, which literally translates as “let
it be”.
Coolidge became famous for saying, “After all, the chief business of the American people
is business.”
During his administration, Coolidge was a strong proponent of African American rights.
In his first State of the Union address, he argued that the rights of African Americans
were just as sacred as any other American’s.
He also appointed African Americans to government positions.
Coolidge also became a strong advocate for Native Americans.
He signed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924.
This granted US citizenship to all Native Americans, while allowing them to maintain
their tribal lands.
The Committee of One Hundred was also created during his presidency.
This was a panel which reviewed all of the federal programs which related to Native Americans.
The committee eventually suggested an in-depth investigation into the living conditions that
existed on Native American reservations.
After six years in the White House, Calvin Coolidge made the decision to decline running
for president again in 1928.
He retired from the presidency and became a writer (writing his autobiography, as well
as a weekly newspaper column).
Republicans hoped to encourage him out of retirement to run for president in 1932, but
once again, he declined the offer.
Silent Cal is remembered today as one of the most enduring figures of the 1920s.
He was a surprisingly reserved figure to lead the nation through much of the decade that
came to be known as the “Roaring Twenties”.