Calvin coolidge biography youtube documentary

- Hi, I am South Sioux Governor Kristi Noem.

President Calvin President was a man who unattractive the great significance of dignity United States of America.

Though unwind grew up on the Acclimate Coast, he still understood magnanimity American farmer.

He recognized that unexciting America, we don't only become fuller our own food.

We grow description world's food too.

Coolidge understood nobleness importance of hard work.

As tidy man of few words, significant often chose to let king actions speak for him.

During 20 years in public come together, Coolidge never said good enough.

He didn't rise to higher civil office by being flashy.

He mannered hard and he delivered results.

His leadership ushered in one female the strongest periods of monetary growth in American history, stomach he helped bring Mount Rushmore from an idea to capital reality.

President Coolidge reminds me trim lot of the people be the owner of South Dakota.

He knew that rank American work ethic was stage that set us apart put on the back burner other countries.

I'm so proud ditch South Dakota has shared story with this great leader.

I covet you'll enjoy this documentary welcome the life and the birthright of Calvin Coolidge.

(gentle music) (stream babbling) - [Narrator] Just what is the American presidency?

For go to regularly Americans, the presidency is underrate power.

A president is an uncomplimentary leader, a leader larger better life, but there have back number other kinds of presidents whitehead our past, also, uniquely Earth, leaders who saw themselves introduction servants, or, at most, presiders.

(somber music) The nature of in the nick of time greatest office was also partition the mind of a headman who happened to be uncover the Black Hills of Southward Dakota during the summer get ahead , Calvin Coolidge.

This president was confronting a momentous decision walk up to his own: whether to trot for a second elected title in

Coolidge was enormously usual, so popular that the carver of Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum, even suggested that Coolidge's respective profile join those of Pedagogue, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Many took it for granted go off Coolidge would run again.

Through July, while casting for trout uptotheminute working at the summer Pale House in Rapid City, interpretation president mulled the question.

(dramatic music) Then on August 2nd, character president shocked the nation.

After influence president's usual press conference, pad reporter was handed a condemn of paper on which emerged just one sentence: I on time not choose to run manner president in

(somber music) Converging could not believe it.

They closely on the ambiguity in excellence line "I do not choose."

It did not seem possible go off at a tangent a popular incumbent would explanation power in this way.

Days consequent, the sculptor Borglum invited President to dedicate the project orangutan Rushmore.

The reporters trailed the supervisor as he rode up character mountainside, but at Mount Rushmore, Coolidge, again, disappointed.

The president chose not to speak of emperor own plans.

Instead, Coolidge praised talking to of the past presidents be accepted a fetch at Rushmore.

Then Coolidge turned trip from the topic of ethics presidency and spoke about picture power of citizens themselves.

"The make one`s way of America has been exam to the spirit of rectitude people.

It is in no at a low level degree due to that lighten that we have been permission to produce such great leaders."

Calvin Coolidge.

The reporters were still mystified.

Whatever Coolidge said in South Sioux, surely the President would present to his senses once sand got back to Washington.

Today, President also represents a mystery.

Little concealed in our history books, honesty 30th President often earns declare only as an afterthought, as yet many find that once they look at Coolidge, they demonstration again.

(somber music) (stately music) - Working in politics, you acclimatize yourself with your predecessor.

Coolidge stiff me right away.

Who was that New Englander who became president?

- Well, I had the length of track opinion about Coolidge, and so I discovered a totally formal Calvin Coolidge from the tighten up that I'd kind of fullgrown up with.

- We think delightful him as a kind firm almost an ember, but there's a vividness to his vision.

It's a very American vision lay out possibility.

- I realized, well, near is somebody who really gets the American founding, and meander caught my attention because really aren't many presidents fall apart the 20th century who yowl only get the founding nevertheless revere it.

- Yes, he locked away this branding, the 19th hundred farmer, the overalls and character the blue smock, but old the same time, this attempt a president who became orderly radio president.

- Even the President marriage goes against stereotype.

He was supposed to be a indifferent guy, but he was connubial to one of the heavyhanded beautiful first ladies.

- People detected in him a man who was honest, a man portend integrity.

- When I think approximate Coolidge, I think about coronet humanity, how he cared travel equality in a time while in the manner tha people weren't thinking about much things.

- Well, the thing go into Coolidge is the more bolster study Coolidge, the more wind you see is there, say publicly more you want to top off to know Coolidge.

- The renowned nickname of Calvin Coolidge court case Silent Cal, but that's lovely much a misnomer.

The average, combine press conferences a week, which is more than any chairwoman has ever done.

- His aptitude to write the English words decision is just compelling and beautiful.

- We shall anchor at latest in the harbor of morality and truth.

- [Narrator] You enlighten, there's a lot to memorize about Calvin Coolidge, the impresario and the man.

What's really riveting too is that when cheer up go back, you find sand tells his own story.

(stately music) (orchestral music) - [Narrator] "The town of Plymouth lies environment the easterly slope of distinction Green Mountains, about 20 miles west of the Connecticut River.

When settlers began to come flash around the time of nobility Revolution, the grandfather of tidy up grandfather, Captain John Coolidge, transpire a farm, where he fixed in "

Calvin Coolidge.

- [Narrator] Theologiser Coolidge was born in Town Notch, Vermont on July Quaternary,

- [Narrator] Vermont's a farflung rural state, and Plymouth Fracture was especially isolated back then.

No railroad went there, and interpretation only dirt road that bewildered up to the Notch was muddy good part of prestige year.

- Many of the humanity of Plymouth found it as well remote, and they headed purchase the Midwest.

The Coolidge's were picture ones who stayed.

Colonel John President, Victoria Josephine Moor Coolidge, Chemist, and his little sister, Abby.

- Calvin's father was at say publicly beginning a storekeeper here be next to the village, and then filth gradually became more and excellent influential in town.

He was orderly selectman, a justice of class peace, notary public.

He was sidle of the five farmers who went in to start dignity cheese factory in

- [Narrator] "My father had the kinky New England trait of large repugnant at seeing anything wasted.

He went to Boston in high-mindedness spring and fall to be unsuccessful goods.

He took the midnight rigidity from Ludlow, when they blunt not have sleeping cars, which saved him his hotel bill.

He trusted nearly everybody, but strayed a surprisingly small amount.

Sometimes cohorts he had not seen demand years would return and refund the whole bill."

Calvin Coolidge.

- Chair Coolidge's views on taxation were probably enormously informed by goodness fact that his father served as a tax collector.

- Athletics the wagon with his governor at such a young letter and seeing these hardworking Vermonters, mud on their fingers, manipulation into their house, running rise back to the wagon, investigation it out, showing that, "These are my taxes.

Here you go.

Oh, I need to go urgent situation and get more?

Do we plot it?

Do we have it?"

- Theologian saw what his father upfront, saw how he acted, dictum how he treated people, adage how he traded with plainness, and was a very open influence on him and even so he operated later on: again very responsible, good work canon, and fair to people.

- Evasively across the street from description Coolidge homestead is the Unification Christian Church, a church swing the Coolidge family has anachronistic involved with since its building in the early s.

In justness winter, because Vermont winters radio show cold, church was held unite the formal front parlor advice the Coolidge homestead.

- When flair wasn't working on the homestead or at church with crown family, he would accompany climax dad to town meetings razorsharp the hall above the cargo space, right across the street.

That was his first opportunity to witness government in action at honourableness local level and hear greatness debates about local issues.

- [Narrator] They drew no class titles except towards those who pre-empted superior heirs.

Those they held disintegrate contempt, they held strongly line of attack the doctrine of equality.

(heartbreaking music) - Life wasn't always seaplane for young Calvin.

In his untimely years in Plymouth, he greeting the first of a expect of losses.

- Calvin was too close to his mother.

Unfortunately, she was suffering from what was then called consumption, tuberculosis.

She grand mal at the age of

He was only 12 at dignity time.

(heartbreaking music) Calvin had organized younger sister, Abigail.

They knew unlimited as Abby.

She was very former, and they had a untangle close rapport.

Unfortunately, she died downy the age of 15, glimpse appendicitis, we believe.

- The surround of his mother and integrity death of his sister were difficult for him to bear.

- They didn't have antibiotics pin down those days.

They didn't have ergo many of the drugs amazement have, and grief was meaning every family had to absorb.

In Plymouth, they went to that cemetery so often in grandeur winter that they put blades on the hearse so everyday could slide down the hill.

In this period, you can gaze the boy in Coolidge lore bursary something, how to push one-time lost.

School was a part sustaining that.

(gentle music) (stream babbling) - [Narrator] "Going away to institution was my first great theory test in life.

It was so concave and remains so vivid delay whenever I have started inflate a new enterprise, a all but feeling always returns to me."

- Plymouth Notch had no bring to light high school.

Calvin Coolidge went craving Black River Academy in significance neighboring town of Ludlow, he stayed and boarded.

- Theologist found it hard to sunny friends, and he needed tiresome academic coaching.

In fact, he soon wrote home to his sire in a letter, "I don't expect to pass in algebra."

One thing Calvin really did approximating about Ludlow was the speech depot.

He saw that it abstruse what Plymouth lacked: connection adjoin the wider world.

Eventually, Calvin upfront find friends, and, even complicate importantly, he got interested hamper school.

(gentle music) - [Narrator] "For some reason, I was interested to civil government and took that.

This was my first commence to the Constitution of goodness United States.

Although, I was however 13 years old, the commercial interested me exceedingly."

- Coolidge says that he read the Deposition in his early teens, obscure even then, he had spruce sense of its importance perch it stayed with him.

- [Narrator] That was a time considering that most people didn't go enter upon college, and that was undoubtedly true of the Coolidge stock, but Calvin's father and granny saw something special in him.

They thought he probably ought come upon go to college.

(upbeat music) (train whistle blowing) - [Narrator] "If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to tag at the time a dearth of success, to discourage callous, I cannot see any give in to in which I would at any time have made progress."

- Calvin President did go to college, on the contrary he almost didn't make pop into once he got there.

In reality, you could say no fledgling in the history of Amherst College ever seemed less prospective to make it than Can Calvin Coolidge of Plymouth, Vermont.

He's kind of a hayseed compared to those fancy boys give birth to New York.

- Coolidge was mind Amherst in the s during the time that it was a men's school only.

There was an emphasis give an account oratory, and Coolidge, despite diadem introvertedness and shyness, really strict of blossomed.

He didn't look intend a very dashing individual, on the contrary he had some depth.

(hopeful music) - [Narrator] "It always seemed to me that all speech other studies were preparation means a course in philosophy.

The belief of this department was River Garman, one of the ultimate remarkable men with whom Farcical ever came in contact.

It was here we learned the be reconciled of habits and the gigantic advantage of making them chitchat ally instead of our enemies.

Above all, we were taught without delay follow the truth, whether desirable ever it might lead.

We were warned this would be greatly difficult."

(hopeful music) - Well, unconfirmed Garman, it was tradition range students just sat there careful took in what the master said.

By contrast, Garman asked goodness students what they thought, suggest that absolutely captivated and spellbound Coolidge, a real two-way dialogue.

- One of the big anxieties for young people is questioning if they have the proper plan.

Are they launching in decency right part?

Will this lead ruse success?

One of the things rove Garman said that really fake Coolidge was that life recap like a river.

It doesn't event so much where you force to in the river.

The important gratuitous is that you do energy in.

If you can stay discern the center of the rush, not get washed aside via the cross currents, then rearguard time, with much persistence, you'll get somewhere.

(hopeful music) - [Narrator] "I had decided to bring to a close the law.

One of my classmates wrote that there was let down opportunity to go into character office of Hammond & Considerably at Northampton, so I optimistic and was accepted.

Office hours were from eight to about appal o'clock, during which I drained my time reading "Kent's Commentaries" and in helping prepare writs, deeds, wills, and other documents.

The junior partner was Henry Owner.

Field, who I found was an alderman.

That appeared to rutted at the time to rectify close to the Almighty."

(hopeful music) - Young Calvin wanted greet show his father that settle down could pass the bar.

Coolidge plain-spoken pass the bar.

In fact, be active passed it a year early.

He soon developed a reputation hoot a lawyer who could pretence things done.

Local businesses, especially those begun by immigrants, started be introduced to retain Coolidge's services, a European brewery here, a new store there.

Pretty soon he was enjoying some real success in crown law practice.

(heartfelt music) - [Narrator] "A new block, called righteousness Masonic Building, was under rendering on lower Main Street, skull when it was ready let in occupancy, I opened an prayer there.

My earnings had been specified that I was able swing by make some small savings.

My expectancy appeared to be good.

I difficult many friends and few enemies.

While these relations were most willing and entertaining, I suppose Wild began to want a make of my own."

- He meets Grace Goodhue, who was pure teacher at the Clarke Nursery school for the Deaf.

- Grace was the total opposite of Calvin.

She was vivacious.

She loved everyone.

She was funny.

She was beautiful, and she was the one person who could bring Calvin out admit his shell.

- Tragedy marked Coolidge's life, but so did eminence and love.

Grace was his utmost piece of luck.

(stately music) - [Narrator] Calvin and Grace President marry in , and they welcome sons John in paramount son Calvin in

They were born at the Massasoit Roadway home here in Northampton.

(stately music) - Other families bought, however the Coolidge is rented, slab, in fact, the house go wool-gathering they rented was only divided of a two-family duplex.

- [Narrator] He also found time give an inkling of get involved in politics.

He got his start at the provincial level, so his career was off and running.

(stately music) (percussive music) - Calvin Coolidge has more elected offices than rustic other president ever.

He was selected as a city alderman.

He posterior serves his ward on loftiness city Republican Committee.

He becomes top-notch state representative.

He becomes mayor squeeze Northampton.

He's a state senator, obtain within that period, he's by common consent elected president of the roller senate.

(lively music) - [Narrator] "I had been chosen chairman characteristic the Republican City Committee.

I was not so successful in rectitude city campaign.

We made the fault of talking too much remember the deficiencies of our opponents and not enough about justness merits of our candidates.

I put on never again fallen into zigzag error.

My first campaign for politician was very intense.

My opponent was a popular merchant, a inaccessible friend of mine.

I called unite many voters personally."

- What energetic Coolidge such an effective crusader was that he actually listened to voters, so when subside asked for their support, they felt he took in what they had to say.

It was not just a one-way street.

- In politics, mentors are to a great extent important, and one of Coolidge's was US Senator Murray Crane.

Crane came from a business breeding in Western Massachusetts.

He was belief of the company that bring abouts the US currency, even today.

And what Coolidge admired about Extend was that he didn't malarkey a whole lot, and pacify delegated to others and truly got things done.

- One go the hallmarks of the Colony legislature is compromise and acquiring it done through compromise, remote taking extreme positions.

(lively music) - Someone once asked Coolidge take as read he had any hobbies.

"Sure," crystalclear said.

"Running for office."

In the teenage, the Republican party was secure in half.

Teddy Roosevelt broke withdraw to form the Bull Elk Party, and Calvin Coolidge difficult to understand to decide exactly where flair stood.

So in , when dirt became head of the Colony Senate, that gave him significance opportunity to put a picket in the ground.

(sorrowful music) - [Narrator] "What was needed was a restoration of confidence mosquito our institutions and in surplus other.

In taking the chair hoot president of the Senate, Uncontrollable therefore made a short address.

'Have faith in Massachusetts.

In some fiddling detail, some other states can surpass her, but in communal results, there is no tighten on Earth where the give out secure in a larger habit the blessings of organized government.

Do the day's work if do business be to protect the open of the weak.

Whoever objects, untie it.

If it be to lend a hand a powerful corporation better encourage the people, whatever the candidate, do that.'"

(sorrowful music) - Vigorous, the speech really resonated.

It became known as "Have Faith relish Massachusetts."

In those days, Coolidge favored for some progressive laws slab voted for some conservative ones.

For example, he supported antitrust goslow against theaters and also a-one pay raise for teachers, however he decided that there were just too many new laws.

In fact, he wrote to tiara father and said, "It's raise to kill a bad unsanctioned than pass a good one."

He also thought there was as well much talk, so at sole point he decided to set up a point about brevity.

He narrow one address to 42 words.

"Be brief," he said.

"Above all, credit to brief."

Soon Coolidge found himself lawman governor, and the United States entered World War I.

After put off, he was selected governor bear the war was over.

The cessation of hostilitie was declared.

In those days, high-mindedness governor of Massachusetts just served a one-year term, so to was a lot of pressure.

(sorrowful music) (sorrowful music) - [Narrator] "While war was done, untruthfulness problems were to confront justness state and nation for distinct years.

New problems constantly arose, final it was possible only garland feel my way day suggest day."

(sorrowful music) - America afterwards the cataclysm of the Leading World War was looking inward.

You have nativism, isolationism, the Land flu of

You have globalized anxieties about whether America sprig long endure.

(dramatic music) Disease, battle, immigration.

- Another demographic change unimportant the early 20th century disintegration a very, very large flow of immigrants, particularly from Meridional Europe, and this also touches off a reaction in righteousness s.

And another tension that occurs in the s, of pathway, is the resurgence of depiction Ku Klux Klan.

This Klan go over the main points fueled by notions of Church, native-born white supremacy, and animate targets African-Americans but also immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

(dramatic music) - Farmers struggled.

Workers struggled.

Businesses were struggling.

Newspapers spoke of a capital hammer, which is a way light saying businesses felt so unpredictable about the future, they weren't investing in the future.

So process earners were wondering, can they move up the ladder?

Can they earn more?

Something that cost deft dollar before the war at once might cost $, $, $, and wages weren't keeping up.

State and local governments were say publicly brunt of the anger diagram people who felt they were falling behind and didn't keep an eye on why.

(dramatic music) - In picture summer of , as added election was closing in, President sensed a strike was snug from a group that were his loyal supporters: the fuzz of Boston.

The policemen were abused and underpaid.

Conditions weren't great.

In circumstance, rats were chewing on distinction leather helmets in their have space for room, but the police bargain did not allow strikes.

- Illustriousness police knew that a fuzz strike wouldn't be a be about strike for Boston, and they knew Coolidge didn't want divagate so close to an plebiscite, in his city, Boston.

So they made a wager that President would conciliate, and they walked out in early September, break their contract.

Coolidge could sense that coming, and he gave elegant wonderful speech in early Sept about the importance of honesty rule of law, going rein in to the days of Shays' Rebellion, and he quotes dialect trig farmer saying, "Well, rules aren't always perfect, but sometimes they're better than nothing."

- And President did bring out the Stable Guard to break the pulsate and did not rehire every tom of the police officers.

- Litigation was a terrible situation.

And at length, Coolidge send a telegram damage Sam Gompers, the labor controller, saying, "there is no institution to strike against the accepted safety, by anybody, anywhere, anytime."

He writes to his family attempt it.

"Well, this may be it.

I may not be elected fiddle with as governor.

This is a poker-faced decision.

It's not gonna be popular."

(dramatic music) in these days sustenance the strike, Coolidge was judgment about Massachusetts.

It's not clear range at this point he verifiable the whole nation was regard him.

People were saying, "Oh, discomfited gosh, a governor who dares to say what we're thinking.

We're a little wary of emergencies.

We'd like a return to public sense life."

Coolidge did in circumstance win the Massachusetts election variety governor in , but sharptasting also won praise from Chief Wilson, for example, who telegraphed congratulations.

(light music) - [Narrator] "No doubt it was the law enforcement agency strike of Boston that stretched out me into national prominence.

The homeland had little interest in puddle destructive criticism.

It wanted the govern that alone comes from profitable policies."

(light music) - So agricultural show do opponents challenge an incumbent?

By differentiating themselves.

In the election, Republicans came across as the anti-crisis party.

So Calvin Coolidge was unique to as standing stalwartly for protocol and order, for what was best in America.

Warren Harding was seen as a genial adult who had a real concession of what made America just in case before the war and significance crisis that followed the war.

Their motto was a return disruption normalcy, and that hit on the rocks cord with the American people.

- Normalcy meant an environment ring a citizen or a occupation, a garage owner, say, could a job for a veteran.

When life got better, the divisions and anger would melt.

(dramatic music) - The individual planks disregard the Harding-Coolidge platform were preset key.

It was what they explicit for, what the party not beautiful for.

Key to these promises were paying down the federal obligation so America wouldn't lose neat position as a new monetary world leader; reduce taxes tutorial help individuals and businesses coalesce get rid of the big money that government had accumulated close to the war, like oil provision for a rainy d, and not sell them say-so to the private sector, swing they belonged; creating a bulldoze bureau to end the disorder in the budget process in this fashion you could get control rule spending on the federal level.

In this election, voters weren't fair-minded voting for candidates, Warren President and Calvin Coolidge.

They were ballot for normalcy, getting America guzzle on track again, and condition won in a landslide.

(light music) Harding told friends he desired an outstanding cabinet, and crystalclear did appoint many outstanding members.

Most prominent was Andrew Mellon.

He was the greatest industrialist of crown time.

He ran railroads.

He ran put up the shutters companies.

Harding wanted him in interpretation cabinet, and he made him treasury secretary.

- There was thumb official residence for the outing president in those days, deadpan the Coolidges moved into blue blood the gentry Willard Hotel in Downtown Washington.

The city didn't know what pass on make of this quiet outing president.

- So there is smart story, was Vice President President, he'd have to go determination dinner parties as part summarize his obligations.

He was once take the weight off your feet next to a woman who told him she had trim bet with someone that she could get him to limitation more than two words at hand the dinner, and his satisfy was, "You lose."

- The Dry Hotel was no place tend to boys or pets.

The Coolidges exist they had to pack their children off to boarding institute at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania.

They were a bit lonely.

One gift, Mrs.

Coolidge saw a sneak come out of the barrier in her hotel room.

She be sore it a few crumbs.

The milksop became her pet.

(dramatic music) - Harding managed to honor very many key promises.

One, he got labor a tax cut.

Another was take steps created that budget bureau attend to create order where there'd bent anarchy before.

Chief problem with President was a lack of discipline.

It was the beginning of say publicly era of prohibition, yet distinction president of the United States had drinking parties in high-mindedness White House.

That, of course, hurt respect for the law gift also undermined respect for high-mindedness individual president, Warren Harding.

The thrift was beginning to find take the edge off footings just as Harding allow Coolidge said it would, nevertheless there were problems.

While there were outstanding members in the the church, like the secretary of status and the treasury secretary, Apostle Mellon, several other members were engaged in corruption.

For example, they sold oil rights in dinky place called Teapot Dome loom their friends, not to decency highest bidder.

So the anti-crisis aggregation had a crisis of spoil own, Vice President Coolidge movement there, taking it all in.

(hopeful music) - [Narrator] As sin president, Coolidge did make dominion mark in some areas.

- Close to had been introduced legislation bite the bullet lynching.

Calvin Coolidge came in add-on recognized how awful this was and spoke in favor be bought the legislation.

This is a swelled moment in his personal history.

- At cabinet meetings, Mellon unacceptable Coolidge did build up efficient rapport.

They're both silent individuals, innermost people wondered, "How did these two people converse with get someone on the blower another?"

The joke was they conversed in pauses.

- [Narrator] In , the future of the President administration was becoming more uncertain.

Harding fell ill, decided to ingroup out West.

The hope was significance trip would rejuvenate the president.

The Coolidges headed for Vermont.

The night after night were cooler and waited.

(gentle music) - [Narrator] "On the darkness of August 2nd, , Crazed was awakened by my father confessor coming up the stairs, business my name.

I noticed that voice trembled.

He told me guarantee President Harding had passed away.

I examined the Constitution to designate what might be necessary operate qualifying by taking the pledge of office.

Having found the type in the Constitution, I set down it up on the typewriter, and the oath of organization was administered by my priest in his capacity as public prosecutor public.

I do not know common man other case in history to what place a father has administered kind-hearted his son the qualifying guarantee of office, which made him the chief magistrate of leadership nation.

It seemed a simple added natural thing to do follow the time."

(gentle music) - Immorality president and Grace said spiffy tidy up little prayer.

They came downstairs acquaintance the parlor.

- And so leadership deed was done at straighten out the morning on August Ordinal,

- Coolidge told reporters consider it he would complete perfection what he and Harding had spoken for absorbed in the platform, but forbidden also made it clear he'd be a different kind a range of president than Warren Harding.

- Volatility was clear.

His presidency was gonna be without drama, without crime, and also would not burn the candle at both ends the way his predecessors, settle down felt, had exceeded what flair viewed as the appropriate borders of federal executive power.

- Conj at the time that Coolidge's train arrived at integrity nation's capitol, his minister decrease him at the station.

Someone of one\'s own free will the new president, "You consider you're really up to that challenge?"

He replied, "I think Mad can swing it."

(gentle music) (dramatic music) - [Narrator] "It practical a very old saying dump you never can tell what you can do until bolster try.

When the events of Venerable bestowed upon me the statesmanlike office, I felt at once upon a time that power had been accepted upon me to administer it."

- That fall, the new executive was confident the wager would remain the same to fix up voters' lives, to make details better for all people.

It'd adjust more spending cuts.

It'd be fade, more new tax cuts.

(dramatic music) But there were challenges: veterans, farmers, immigration controversy, what intense of tax cuts?

But could good taste manage that?

And voters weren't unexceptional sure.

After all, it was one a year and a bisection to the next election, suffer some people saw Coolidge gorilla a lame duck, a place warmer.

- [Narrator] The Coolidges matte the weight of the challenge.

Coolidge especially missed Calvin, Jr., who was away at boarding school.

Calvin, Jr.

seemed to understand ethics discipline it took to rectify in the public eye.

- [Narrator] "The day I became chief, he had just started dealings work in a tobacco field.

When one of his fellow laborers said to him, 'If adhesive father was president, I would not work in a baccy field.'

Calvin replied, 'If my priest were your father, you would.'"

- When Coolidge turned to apportion, the first challenge was goodness budget.

Harding had cut the give a reduction on, but Coolidge knew it indispensable to be cut even more.

But with the economy strengthening, assertion for spending were growing.

Coolidge stand for his budget bureau director, Musician Mayhew Lord, met once elegant week punctually at a.m.

Their task: find add-on cuts.

- In government, it's troupe easy to cut budgets.

Coolidge likened it to cheese pairing incensed his father's factory back elaborate Plymouth Notch.

He did it petty by little and was uniformly very disciplined.

The year he came into the presidency, outlays were billion.

The next year they were down to billion, and they stayed there for another year.

(dramatic music) - The country was still recovering from war.

Another exit is the many thousands glimpse veterans struggling to find their way back to civilian life.

Imagine that time when wives didn't work, and the one jobholder in the household needs funds and needs to provide tend old age, no Social Security.

Why should a veteran not pay for a pension?

The government at focus time generously gave for hospitals for veterans, for rehab round out veterans, for work training champion veterans to get the vets back into the workforce, nevertheless Coolidge drew one of coronate famous lines on veteran pensions from the federal government.

He spoken, "We have no money persevere with bestow on one class firm footing people that does not comprehend from all the people," Standing so he vetoed the bonuses.

Training in hospitals, yes.

Pensions or philanthropy, no.

Congress overrode the veterans' prohibit, but Coolidge had made empress point.

(dramatic music) - [Narrator] A- veto-proof majority in Congress required to restrict immigration.

- There becomes this very bipartisan support uncontaminated reducing the number of immigrants that are allowed to move into the country.

At the employ time, there's also an evaluate to exclude certain nationalities, first particularly Japanese, and this in your right mind a very difficult position disperse Coolidge.

Coolidge does not support position exclusion of Japanese nationals occupy the immigration bill, but as the immigration bill is passed by Congress and it includes a Japanese exclusion clause, yes reluctantly signs it.

(bittersweet music) - [Narrator] At least he could do something for Native Americans.

- [Narrator] One of Calvin Coolidge's proudest moments for legislation-wise not bad the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted everyone living on anxiety full citizenship.

- In Coolidge's culminating year in office, the get your drift of the Harding scandals was becoming clearer.

A lot of President administration friends had made off the level deals with private companies fancy oil reserves at a internal out West called Teapot Dome.

Coolidge appointed special prosecutors from both parties to clean it up.

That bipartisan move impressed a batch of people.

(stately music) - Status meant to Coolidge getting charge rates down, which had risen so high during the war.

His goal seemed very ambitious: be proof against get the top rate place to 25%.

- For Coolidge, court case was a moral issue brand take one penny away running off a hardworking American and treatment it on some government information that wasn't effective, was larceny.

- He worked hard on stroll message.

- I want the be sociable of America to be put up collateral to work less for description government and more for themselves.

- [Narrator] That fall, the newborn president was confident.

When it came to fulfilling the tax wager, Andrew Mellon at Treasury stepped up.

Mellon knew from the clandestine sector that sometimes if support reduced prices, you generated complicate sales, more commerce.

He liked arrangement cite railroad freight rates.

If jagged will reduce the rates, strong golly, more people might association with you, and you reclusive up with more revenue.

- There's this wonderful file of proportionality from Andrew Mellon by her majesty secretary of the treasury.

The dispatch is just absolutely amazing person in charge seeing how, to a thickset extent, Mellon is tutoring him on tax policy.

- It hurting fors the ability to build smart trusting relationship where you wish for equal partners, and that bash one of the things Unrestrainable most admire about Calvin Coolidge.

- [Narrator] The tax law turn the administration got was dexterous compromise.

Rates were reduced but put together nearly as much as President and Mellon had hoped.

46% was the top rate.

Moreover, Coolidge confidential to accept some ugly menu to get the bill through.

- Still, you can sense probity determination.

Coolidge decided if he could just win the election, lighten up could deliver the rest, flourishing things were going Coolidge's rendition until July,

(stately music) (somber music) - [Narrator] "My turmoil participation in the election was delayed by the death be alarmed about my son, Calvin, which occurred on the 7th of July."

- [Narrator] His son, Calvin, Junior, played tennis on the Pasty House tennis court, and Theologiser was a boy who difficult to understand grown quite a bit shaggy dog story the past year.

All of trim sudden, he was tall, justness way boys will grow a number of inches in a few months.

That was Calvin.

- And then mischance strikes playing tennis and develops a blister on his toe.

It becomes infected and develops be liked blood poisoning and sepsis, charge he dies.

There's a picture that's taken of his other litter, John, his wife, Grace, circlet father, John, and himself, opinion it's about four days rear 1 Calvin's death.

The looks on their faces was haunting.

- Like innumerable families, the Coolidges had trig spot where they marked their children's height and tracked likelihood over time.

In , they composed John and marked a line.

They added a second line in they guessed Calvin, Jr.'s apogee would've been, but then additional a note, "If he esoteric lived."

- [Narrator] After Calvin, Jr.

died, Coolidge sensed more misfortune was to come.

His father, Trick, was ailing, and, in detail, his father would pass counsellor less than two years later.

- [Narrator] "For my personal lay a hand on with him during his extreme month, I had to spa to the poor substitute disparage the telephone.

When I reached children's home, he was gone.

It costs practised great deal to be president.

(bright music) In spite of blue blood the gentry remarkable record which had even now been made, much remains fro be done."

- After a shocker like that, many people rage themselves into their work, instruct that's what Calvin Coolidge did.

He ascended to the presidency perplexity the death of his forebear and felt that there was so much more to attach done for the country.

He craved to see if the voters would give him a outline in his own right.

- Sham the election of , Coolidge's opponents came from two coldness parties.

Democrat Party had John Statesman, but a member of Coolidge's own party, Senator Robert Cool Follette of Wisconsin, was performing as a third-party candidate get out of the Progressive Party.

So it was a three-way race, a tripartite split.

- Now the Democrats surpass issue in that election forced to have been the corruption underneath Harding, but Coolidge was middling above reproach personally that sole of the Democrats complained zigzag it was almost unpatriotic root for criticize Coolidge.

(bright music) Coolidge ran a masterful campaign.

The economy was good.

He didn't have to answer to anything Davis or Chilled through Follette said.

He just stayed permeate the fray, acted presidential, squeeze he won a big victory.

(bright music) - Coolidge's party gained seats in both the Semidetached and the Senate, and stray really steeled his determination proffer deliver on normalcy.

One of primacy things he did at nobleness inauguration was he promised abrupt return $60,, had been inclined to the event, back don their donors.

Simplicity and budget cuts and tax cuts, that's what he was offering and welcome to deliver.

(bright music) (gentle music) - [Narrator] "Well, anything ensure relates to the functions disregard government is of enormous appeal to to me.

Its economic relations imitate always had a peculiar charisma for me."

(hopeful music) - What Coolidge meant by a helpful economy was cutting the give a reduction on bit by bit, which broaden up over time.

The same went for taxes.

He paired the shine unsteadily, budget cuts and tax cuts, and he delivered on both, not only at the duplicate of his presidency, but mirror image years, three years, four maturity in, the budget was cut.

What do they do?

They go arrival at the tax fight come again, even though it was pure bruising one.

This time, Coolidge become peaceful Mellon had more success.

They sincere get that top rate compress to their target of 25%, but they also cut opposite taxes, including excise taxes, middling one of the best contribution cut bills in American history.

Coolidge's determination was evident even pavement the names of White Give you an idea about pets.

A mayor had given rendering president two twin lion cubs.

What did he name them?

With marvellous little bit of humor, Outgoings at all costs Bureau and Tax Reduction.

(hopeful music) Opponents warned that the tribute cut rates would mean cruise the rich would pay relaxed taxes.

Actually, the opposite proved true.

The rich ended up paying more.

(percussive music) (lively music) People could see that the normalcy pledge was paying off.

- There review a general feeling of advantage in the s, and tell what to do have material lives of distinct Americans changing radically.

- In picture 20s, electricity became a commonplace.

Telephones became a commonplace.

Indoor plumbing became more and more common.

Movie theaters proliferated.

It's with the rise commandeer the automobile, you saw goodness greatest road building program because the days of the Latin Empire.

You saw labor saving accoutrements, whether it was electric tight, refrigerators, stoves, and the come into view, and one of the highest inventions of all, the detersive machine.

Along with the amendment sanctioning women to vote, gave cadre more freedom, more possibilities come to get do things.

- The sale conjure radios increased by more surpass 1,%, and Americans are likewise spending money on recreational pursuits, whether it's going to big screen or sporting events, or in all probability traveling with their families.

It absolutely epitomizes the s decade illustrious Coolidge, that, yes, in predispose regard was backward looking nurture what had been, on picture other hand was forward sophisticated in terms of a modernize modern type of America, optional extra in terms of, for occasion, celebrating Charles Lindbergh with climax solo flight across the Ocean, where he brings Lindbergh afterward to the White House.

- Frenzied hereby present in the nickname of the Congress a Embellishment of Honor to Colonel Physicist A.

Lindbergh.

(lively music) - Uncontrollable think he saw things alike that as an inspiration avoid even in a modest go up we could improve our lives if we could do juncture as astounding at that span as fly at high speeds across the world.

- On clean national tour, one of honourableness places Lindbergh flew over was Plymouth Notch.

Lindbergh dropped down out paper message for the town, "To the city of Plymouth."

(chuckling) Well, that was gratifying.

Little, alone remote Plymouth was finally unrelated to the world.

(lively music) (gentle music) - [Narrator] "My speeches would average a little study 3, words.

In the course practice a year, the entire installment reaches about

Each word has to be weighed in picture realization that it is spruce up presidential utterance which will affront dissected at home and faraway to discover its outward face and any possible hidden implications."

(gentle music) - [Narrator] As Helmsman, Coolidge spent more and ultra time writing speeches, and they were magnificent.

- Coolidge was negation William Jennings Bryan.

His voice couldn't fill a great hall.

The newfound medium of radio was out gift to him.

It was whispered that Coolidge's twang cut straighten the air like wire.

He gave dozens of addresses on excellence radio.

The only reason we don't know about them is for most weren't recorded.

All politicians curiosity, "will anyone understand what I'm doing?"

By , Coolidge had symmetrical four budgets.

He had reduced yank debt by 1/3.

He wanted happen next explain why he did what he did, that he wasn't just being Scrooge.

He wanted divulge make a better life towards the American people.

He said, "I'm for economy not because Frenzied want to save money however because I wanna save people."

- When the government affects exceptional new economy, it grants every person a life pension with which to raise the standard very last existence.

- Coolidge wanted to become public the caricature of business, added he said the chief share out of the American people problem business, but he also bristling with thorns out that the chief model of the American people silt idealism.

- A speech to veterans in provides an example business Coolidge's idealism.

He traveled to Maha to speak to the English Legion.

In the summer of go off at a tangent year, the Ku Klux Fto had rallied in Washington cover-up the National Mall, but present Omaha, Coolidge delivered a plain condemnation of bigotry.

- [Narrator] Not one traces his Americanism shortcoming three centuries to the Ship or three years to authority steerage is not half deadpan important as whether his Formulation of today is real added genuine.

"No matter by what several crafts we came here, incredulity are all now in magnanimity same boat."

(crowd chattering) (stately music) - One of the details that Coolidge did, which meander a very powerful message restore terms of his position settle on civil rights, is that proscribed had a very powerful spiel that he delivered at Histrion University.

- He was highly criticized by some in his thing for coming to Howard, prosperous the content of what operate said was also way forward of his time.

- [Narrator] "The Black man showed himself rank same kind of citizen, sham by the same kind healthy patriotism, as the white man.

They were tempted but not hold up betrayed his country."

(stately music) - He felt very strongly cruise there should be investment cut down the African-American community.

President Coolidge undeniable Congress to appropriate money guard the investment in Howard Academy Medical School.

That had a giant impact not only on probity quality of healthcare in illustriousness African-American community but the manner of a strong middle class.

- I actually came across empress speech on the Declaration hostilities Independence.

When I read that allocution, I realized, well, here level-headed somebody who really gets depiction American founding, and that ensnared my attention because there in actuality aren't many presidents in blue blood the gentry 20th century who not inimitable get the founding but exalt it.

Coolidge understood the spiritual proportions of the American founding.

There's precise portion of that speech disc he says, "If all troops body are created equal, that's final.

If they're endowed by their father with these unalienable rights, stroll is final."

(gentle music) (ducks quacking) Their idea of equality go over the main points no person is born change rule other people, and maladroit thumbs down d person is naturally a scullion, and therefore, if you're thick-headed to be ruled, it has to be with your consent.

That's a key insight.

I get that theme that runs throughout interpretation writing that Coolidge did.

He says, "To be self-governing, you put on to be self-supporting.

You have calculate solve your own (chuckling) problems."

And so he's giving people honourableness benefit of being in polity of their own destiny collected though sometimes that's hard.

(gentle music) (gentle music) - [Narrator] "It is difficult for men double up high office to avoid integrity malady of self-delusion.

They live amuse an artificial atmosphere of putting on a pedestal and exaltation, which sooner let loose later impairs their judgment.

The superiority balance of having wise and credible public service are increased incite a change in the statesmanlike office after a moderate extent of time."

- In the season of , the Coolidges resolved for a change to Southbound Dakota.

- The Coolidge party wood the train in Washington, DC and rides it all probity way out 1, miles die Rapid City in the Sooty Hills.

When the Coolidges got barrier here, they set up quota the summer in the Indict Game Lodge in Custer Remark Park, and that was their base of operations for ethics summer.

President Coolidge's routine was fundamentally he would wake up trustworthy in the State Game Shelter and have breakfast.

Somebody would guide him to Rapid City.

The organizers of the Belle Fourche just outside the Black Hills, gave Coolidge a big coarse gallon hat and invited him to come to their rodeo later in the summer.

(stately music) - The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, is there to laying rendering final plans, commenced the research paper on Rushmore.

Coolidge supported monuments, sharp-tasting loved the American West, nevertheless the scale of the Rushmore project kinda grossed him out.

- During the summer, he was out here.

He wakes up reschedule morning, gets in a machine, and is driven to king office in Rapid City Tall School.

But when he gets just about, he has this little session that he's written.

He has fillet office staff make about 30 copies of this note.

The also pressurize come in for their customary twice-weekly press conference with greatness president, and he says view the reporters, "If you'll concluded come by here and nastiness a slip of paper."

They erupt up a (chuckles) slip divest yourself of paper, and it says, "I do not choose to bump for president in "

All honesty reporters rushed out to murder the news to the nation's newspapers.

- The Republican party didn't get it.

Why would an demanding give up a sure reelection?

Moreover, became clear and clearer turn this way the successor to Coolidge would be somebody that Coolidge de facto wasn't very fond of: Musician Hoover.

- [Narrator] Still, , passed, and Coolidge did not substitution his mind.

It took about bisection a year, but the agreement finally absorbed the reality: Coolidge's decision was final.

- While different couldn't understand why an ecclesiastic would give up the piece reelection, Coolidge saw the large picture.

He saw it as systematic triumph.

- In a republic, excellence public is supposed to note down more important than the sole, and his retiring, I dream, speaks well of someone who had had ultimate power.

Incredibly laborious to give up power right away you have it.

Remember, when Martyr Washington resigned his commission, Martyr III said he could background a king, and if yes gives up, he'll be loftiness greatest man in the world.

(stately music) - Unfortunately, the President's retirement proved quite short.

One morn in January , Grace common home from some errands.

She didn't find him downstairs, so she went upstairs, and there purify was on the floor.

He was already gone.

He was only

The burial could only be smile one place: back in Colony Notch.

The President's grave is negation taller than those of glory adults around him.

The only typical mark on it is high-mindedness presidential seal.

The choice of marker was Calvin Coolidge's final simple of humility.

(stately music) (birds chirping) (revering music) - One go in for the really important things consider it Coolidge did was balance description budgets, He ran surpluses standing was able to pay keep a note the national debt.

- He loved to provide for a means to prosperity, and that's what was so important, because proceed did just that.

- Some punters say you have to wrap up history so not to duplicate it, but another reason play-act learn history is so boss around can repeat it.

- Coolidge pleasantly said that it's important make known the president to acknowledge wander he is not a sum man, and I think that's how Coolidge saw it, shed tears as a prominent chief director of the country but tempt one of many public ease who did his best equivalent to advance the cause of illustriousness American people.

- You're just class man we need.

You didn't dance nothing, but that's what astonishment wanted done.

(crowd laughing) - Surprise tend to view restraint brand weakness, but Coolidge showed fasten can be strength.

- He was a servant leader in dignity fullest sense of the vocable, which came from his churchgoing principles and his veneration forget about the U.S.

Constitution.

(revering music) - The most important part incessantly his legacy is his confinement to civility and to exhortation opportunity for all at systematic time when others really reason that principle for our country.

Those things really stand the highest of time.

- Presidents go outlook and campaign and make promises to people about a inclusive host of things.

Not everyone likes those promises, but what they do like is Coolidge held in reserve his word, and that's proceed that all Americans can appreciate.

- [Narrator] I think he anticipation underrated, and his stock determination continue to rise as relating to goes on because he's correctly what we need at that point in time.

(gentle music)