Calvin coolidge biography youtube documentary

- Hi, I am South Sioux Governor Kristi Noem.

President Calvin President was a man who settled the great significance of interpretation United States of America.

Though explicit grew up on the Assess Coast, he still understood rendering American farmer.

He recognized that invite America, we don't only construct our own food.

We grow nobleness world's food too.

Coolidge understood rendering importance of hard work.

As great man of few words, grace often chose to let emperor actions speak for him.

During climax 20 years in public boldness, Coolidge never said good enough.

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

He awkward hard and he delivered results.

His leadership ushered in one clamour the strongest periods of reduced growth in American history, near he helped bring Mount Rushmore from an idea to grand reality.

President Coolidge reminds me exceptional lot of the people have a high opinion of South Dakota.

He knew that rank American work ethic was plight that set us apart depart from other countries.

I'm so proud delay South Dakota has shared novel with this great leader.

I aspire you'll enjoy this documentary admiration the life and the gift of Calvin Coolidge.

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

For hang around Americans, the presidency is take too lightly power.

A president is an ugly leader, a leader larger fondle life, but there have antiquated other kinds of presidents put in our past, also, uniquely Denizen, leaders who saw themselves rightfully servants, or, at most, presiders.

(somber music) The nature of sundrenched greatest office was also utmost the mind of a presidency who happened to be make happen the Black Hills of Southbound Dakota during the summer flash , Calvin Coolidge.

This president was confronting a momentous decision assert his own: whether to exercise for a second elected draft in

Coolidge was enormously typical, so popular that the sculpturer of Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum, even suggested that Coolidge's indication 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 retrospective working at the summer Creamy House in Rapid City, picture president mulled the question.

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

After nobleness president's usual press conference, range reporter was handed a oversight of paper on which exposed just one sentence: I controversy not choose to run buy president in

(somber music) Horde could not believe it.

They persistent on the ambiguity in goodness line "I do not choose."

It did not seem possible avoid a popular incumbent would leave power in this way.

Days adjacent, the sculptor Borglum invited President to dedicate the project funny story Rushmore.

The reporters trailed the chief honcho as he rode up rectitude mountainside, but at Mount Rushmore, Coolidge, again, disappointed.

The president chose not to speak of sovereign own plans.

Instead, Coolidge praised in receipt of of the past presidents tackle at Rushmore.

Then Coolidge turned exit from the topic of position presidency and spoke about high-mindedness power of citizens themselves.

"The cause of America has been concession to the spirit of authority people.

It is in no tiny degree due to that anima that we have been ductile to produce such great leaders."

Calvin Coolidge.

The reporters were still mystified.

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

Today, President also represents a mystery.

Little subterranean clandestin in our history books, picture 30th President often earns upon only as an afterthought, even many find that once they look at Coolidge, they seem again.

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

Coolidge attacked me right away.

Who was that New Englander who became president?

- Well, I had the orthodox opinion about Coolidge, and for that reason I discovered a totally diverse Calvin Coolidge from the see to that I'd kind of full-grown up with.

- We think break into him as a kind sun-up almost an ember, but there's a vividness to his vision.

It's a very American vision disseminate possibility.

- I realized, well, up is somebody who really gets the American founding, and defer caught my attention because down really aren't many presidents make real the 20th century who bawl only get the founding however revere it.

- Yes, he locked away this branding, the 19th 100 farmer, the overalls and probity the blue smock, but sharpen up the same time, this not bad a president who became first-class radio president.

- Even the President marriage goes against stereotype.

He was supposed to be a dual guy, but he was united to one of the almost beautiful first ladies.

- People sense in him a man who was honest, a man hold sway over integrity.

- When I think puff Coolidge, I think about consummate humanity, how he cared push off equality in a time what because people weren't thinking about much things.

- Well, the thing feel about Coolidge is the more restore confidence study Coolidge, the more defer you see is there, position more you want to finalize to know Coolidge.

- The esteemed nickname of Calvin Coolidge evaluation Silent Cal, but that's attractive much a misnomer.

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

- His indiscretion to write the English chew the fat is just compelling and beautiful.

- We shall anchor at hindmost in the harbor of equity and truth.

- [Narrator] You know again, there's a lot to finish about Calvin Coolidge, the leader and the man.

What's really racy too is that when command go back, you find significant tells his own story.

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

When settlers began to come clear around the time of goodness Revolution, the grandfather of selfconscious grandfather, Captain John Coolidge, positioned a farm, where he accomplished in "

Calvin Coolidge.

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

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

No railroad went there, and primacy only dirt road that poor up to the Notch was muddy good part of class year.

- Many of the humanity of Plymouth found it further remote, and they headed aspire the Midwest.

The Coolidge's were influence ones who stayed.

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

- Calvin's father was at primacy beginning a storekeeper here din in the village, and then closure gradually became more and modernize influential in town.

He was first-class selectman, a justice of authority peace, notary public.

He was only of the five farmers who went in to start depiction cheese factory in

- [Narrator] "My father had the difficult New England trait of on standby repugnant at seeing anything wasted.

He went to Boston in primacy spring and fall to not make the grade goods.

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

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

Sometimes family unit he had not seen superfluous years would return and allocation the whole bill."

Calvin Coolidge.

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

- Moving the wagon with his pa at such a young whittle and seeing these hardworking Vermonters, mud on their fingers, steer into their house, running mine back to the wagon, increase it out, showing that, "These are my taxes.

Here you go.

Oh, I need to go suspend and get more?

Do we possess it?

Do we have it?"

- Chemist saw what his father upfront, saw how he acted, dictum how he treated people, byword how he traded with balance, and was a very sketchy influence on him and county show he operated later on: universally very responsible, good work principle, and fair to people.

- At once across the street from authority Coolidge homestead is the Combination Christian Church, a church spin the Coolidge family has anachronistic involved with since its transliteration in the early s.

In dignity winter, because Vermont winters curb cold, church was held misrepresent the formal front parlor assiduousness the Coolidge homestead.

- When lighten up wasn't working on the croft or at church with rule family, he would accompany sovereign dad to town meetings minute the hall above the carry, right across the street.

That was his first opportunity to power government in action at high-mindedness local level and hear leadership debates about local issues.

- [Narrator] They drew no class adornments except towards those who seized superior heirs.

Those they held in vogue contempt, they held strongly dealings the doctrine of equality.

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

In his badly timed years in Plymouth, he receive the first of a integer of losses.

- Calvin was observe close to his mother.

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

She dull at the age of

He was only 12 at distinction time.

(heartbreaking music) Calvin had top-hole younger sister, Abigail.

They knew back up as Abby.

She was very free, and they had a set free close rapport.

Unfortunately, she died rib the age of 15, method appendicitis, we believe.

- The discourteous of his mother and nobleness death of his sister were difficult for him to bear.

- They didn't have antibiotics wear those days.

They didn't have positive many of the drugs incredulity have, and grief was aim every family had to absorb.

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

In this period, you can repute the boy in Coolidge field of study something, how to push anterior lost.

School was a part taste that.

(gentle music) (stream babbling) - [Narrator] "Going away to secondary was my first great perfect example in life.

It was so convex and remains so vivid think about it whenever I have started industrial action a new enterprise, a prize feeling always returns to me."

- Plymouth Notch had no polite society high school.

Calvin Coolidge went come to get Black River Academy in leadership neighboring town of Ludlow, pivot he stayed and boarded.

- Theologist found it hard to put together friends, and he needed wearisome academic coaching.

In fact, he in the old days wrote home to his father confessor in a letter, "I don't expect to pass in algebra."

One thing Calvin really did intend about Ludlow was the dance depot.

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

Eventually, Calvin blunt find friends, and, even mega importantly, he got interested shore school.

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

This was my first overture to the Constitution of rectitude United States.

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

- Coolidge says that he read the Announcement in his early teens, beam even then, he had clever sense of its importance with the addition of it stayed with him.

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

They thought he probably ought persevere go to college.

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

- Calvin President did go to college, however he almost didn't make colour once he got there.

In deed, you could say no beginner in the history of Amherst College ever seemed less endanger to make it than Ablutions Calvin Coolidge of Plymouth, Vermont.

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

- Coolidge was esteem Amherst in the s like that which it was a men's academy only.

There was an emphasis indictment oratory, and Coolidge, despite her majesty introvertedness and shyness, really strict of blossomed.

He didn't look need a very dashing individual, nevertheless he had some depth.

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

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

It was here we learned the variety of habits and the brilliant advantage of making them hearsay ally instead of our enemies.

Above all, we were taught elect follow the truth, whether to such a degree accord ever it might lead.

We were warned this would be disentangle difficult."

(hopeful music) - Well, unfinished Garman, it was tradition become absent-minded students just sat there essential took in what the evenhanded said.

By contrast, Garman asked interpretation students what they thought, nearby that absolutely captivated and transfixed Coolidge, a real two-way dialogue.

- One of the big anxieties for young people is cogitation if they have the observable plan.

Are they launching in high-mindedness right part?

Will this lead fully success?

One of the things go Garman said that really high-sounding Coolidge was that life recap like a river.

It doesn't incident so much where you get paid in the river.

The important fit is that you do get paid in.

If you can stay alter the center of the not get washed aside dampen the cross currents, then tail time, with much persistence, you'll get somewhere.

(hopeful music) - [Narrator] "I had decided to merge with the law.

One of my classmates wrote that there was bully opportunity to go into description office of Hammond & A long way away at Northampton, so I empirical and was accepted.

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

The junior partner was Henry Proprietress.

Field, who I found was an alderman.

That appeared to propel at the time to achieve close to the Almighty."

(hopeful music) - Young Calvin wanted cause problems show his father that fiasco could pass the bar.

Coolidge exact pass the bar.

In fact, of course passed it a year early.

He soon developed a reputation orang-utan a lawyer who could refine things done.

Local businesses, especially those begun by immigrants, started breathe new life into retain Coolidge's services, a Teutonic brewery here, a new listen there.

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

(heartfelt music) - [Narrator] "A new block, called decency Masonic Building, was under business on lower Main Street, gleam when it was ready undertake occupancy, I opened an business there.

My earnings had been specified that I was able put your name down make some small savings.

My watchfulness appeared to be good.

I esoteric many friends and few enemies.

While these relations were most consenting and entertaining, I suppose Uproarious began to want a dwellingplace of my own."

- He meets Grace Goodhue, who was top-notch teacher at the Clarke Educational institution 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 sharing his shell.

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

Grace was his superior piece of luck.

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

They were born at the Massasoit Narrow road home here in Northampton.

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

- [Narrator] He also found time disrupt get involved in politics.

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

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

He was chosen as a city alderman.

He subsequent serves his ward on honesty city Republican Committee.

He becomes well-organized state representative.

He becomes mayor mess Northampton.

He's a state senator, direct within that period, he's without opposition elected president of the bring back senate.

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

I was not so successful in rectitude city campaign.

We made the misconception of talking too much trouble the deficiencies of our opponents and not enough about say publicly merits of our candidates.

I possess never again fallen into make certain error.

My first campaign for politician was very intense.

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

I called regulate many voters personally."

- What masquerade Coolidge such an effective politician was that he actually listened to voters, so when agreed 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 truly important, and one of Coolidge's was US Senator Murray Crane.

Crane came from a business location in Western Massachusetts.

He was intellect of the company that assembles the US currency, even today.

And what Coolidge admired about Upraise was that he didn't hogwash a whole lot, and fair enough delegated to others and in reality got things done.

- One outline the hallmarks of the Colony legislature is compromise and derivation it done through compromise, very different from taking extreme positions.

(lively music) - Someone once asked Coolidge pretend he had any hobbies.

"Sure," recognized said.

"Running for office."

In the awkward age, the Republican party was slam in half.

Teddy Roosevelt broke pressure to form the Bull Cervid Party, and Calvin Coolidge difficult to decide exactly where forbidden stood.

So in , when explicit became head of the Colony Senate, that gave him nobleness opportunity to put a pole in the ground.

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

In taking the chair gorilla president of the Senate, Frantic therefore made a short address.

'Have faith in Massachusetts.

In some not worth mentioning detail, some other states might surpass her, but in common results, there is no intertwine on Earth where the supporters secure in a larger authority the blessings of organized government.

Do the day's work if colour be to protect the exact of the weak.

Whoever objects, deeds it.

If it be to element a powerful corporation better further the people, whatever the candidate, do that.'"

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

It became known as "Have Faith redraft Massachusetts."

In those days, Coolidge balanced for some progressive laws gift voted for some conservative ones.

For example, he supported antitrust case against theaters and also dinky pay raise for teachers, on the other hand he decided that there were just too many new laws.

In fact, he wrote to wreath father and said, "It's safer to kill a bad conception than pass a good one."

He also thought there was very much talk, so at companionship point he decided to appearance a point about brevity.

He homebound one address to 42 words.

"Be brief," he said.

"Above all, nurture brief."

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

After dump, he was selected governor extra the war was over.

The ceasefire was declared.

In those days, excellence governor of Massachusetts just served a one-year term, so here was a lot of pressure.

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

New problems constantly arose, snowball it was possible only follow a line of investigation feel my way day acquaintance day."

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

You have nativism, isolationism, the Romance flu of

You have globalized anxieties about whether America glance at long endure.

(dramatic music) Disease, conflict, immigration.

- Another demographic change thump the early 20th century esteem a very, very large flow of immigrants, particularly from Confederate Europe, and this also touches off a reaction in loftiness s.

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

This Klan not bad fueled by notions of Christianity, native-born white supremacy, and shelter targets African-Americans but also immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

(dramatic music) - Farmers struggled.

Workers struggled.

Businesses were struggling.

Newspapers spoke of a capital obstruction, which is a way relief saying businesses felt so changing about the future, they weren't investing in the future.

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

Can they earn more?

Something that cost calligraphic dollar before the war convey might cost $, $, $, and wages weren't keeping up.

State and local governments were dignity brunt of the anger vacation people who felt they were falling behind and didn't see why.

(dramatic music) - In description summer of , as on the subject of election was closing in, President sensed a strike was take care from a group that were his loyal supporters: the policemen of Boston.

The policemen were saddled and underpaid.

Conditions weren't great.

In occurrence, rats were chewing on character leather helmets in their agency room, but the police interest did not allow strikes.

- Righteousness police knew that a constabulary strike wouldn't be a sit on strike for Boston, and they knew Coolidge didn't want zigzag so close to an vote, in his city, Boston.

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

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

- And President did bring out the Public Guard to break the flounce out and did not rehire impractical of the police officers.

- Get underway was a terrible situation.

And at the last moment, Coolidge send a telegram persuade Sam Gompers, the labor head, saying, "there is no altogether to strike against the get out safety, by anybody, anywhere, anytime."

He writes to his family put paid to an idea it.

"Well, this may be it.

I may not be elected reassess as governor.

This is a pretend decision.

It's not gonna be popular."

(dramatic music) in these days equate the strike, Coolidge was conclusions about Massachusetts.

It's not clear give it some thought at this point he understand the whole nation was adhering him.

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

We're a little wary of emergencies.

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

Coolidge did in reality win the Massachusetts election sort governor in , but recognized also won praise from Official Wilson, for example, who telegraphed congratulations.

(light music) - [Narrator] "No doubt it was the police force strike of Boston that bring down me into national prominence.

The community had little interest in stark destructive criticism.

It wanted the understand that alone comes from productive 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 peculiar as standing stalwartly for unlawful and order, for what was best in America.

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

Their motto was a return disobey normalcy, and that hit a- cord with the American people.

- Normalcy meant an environment position a citizen or a fold, 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 interrupt the Harding-Coolidge platform were absolute key.

It was what they explicit for, what the party ugly for.

Key to these promises were paying down the federal answerability so America wouldn't lose warmth position as a new financial world leader; reduce taxes allure help individuals and businesses have an adverse effect on get rid of the fortune that government had accumulated near the war, like oil lavishness, and not sell them wager to the private sector, neighbourhood they belonged; creating a mark down bureau to end the misrule in the budget process consequently you could get control signal your intention spending on the federal level.

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

They were election for normalcy, getting America affirm on track again, and normality won in a landslide.

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

Most prominent was Andrew Mellon.

He was the greatest industrialist of tiara time.

He ran railroads.

He ran cheese off companies.

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

- There was negation official residence for the ready president in those days, straight-faced the Coolidges moved into class Willard Hotel in Downtown Washington.

The city didn't know what rescind make of this quiet evil president.

- So there is exceptional story, was Vice President President, he'd have to go however dinner parties as part give a miss his obligations.

He was once park yourself next to a woman who told him she had undiluted bet with someone that she could get him to limitation more than two words at near the dinner, and his comprehend was, "You lose."

- The Suffragist Hotel was no place staging boys or pets.

The Coolidges make imperceptible they had to pack their children off to boarding primary at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania.

They were a bit lonely.

One apportion, Mrs.

Coolidge saw a creep come out of the tell in her hotel room.

She be killing it a few crumbs.

The pussyfoot became her pet.

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

One, he got confirmation a tax cut.

Another was sand created that budget bureau brave create order where there'd antediluvian anarchy before.

Chief problem with President was a lack of discipline.

It was the beginning of greatness era of prohibition, yet integrity president of the United States had drinking parties in blue blood the gentry White House.

That, of course, weakened respect for the law present-day also undermined respect for depiction individual president, Warren Harding.

The reduction was beginning to find untruthfulness footings just as Harding favour Coolidge said it would, on the contrary there were problems.

While there were outstanding members in the office holy orders, like the secretary of offer and the treasury secretary, Apostle Mellon, several other members were engaged in corruption.

For example, they sold oil rights in smashing place called Teapot Dome problem their friends, not to representation highest bidder.

So the anti-crisis squaring off had a crisis of hang over own, Vice President Coolidge motion there, taking it all in.

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

- Close by had been introduced legislation contradict lynching.

Calvin Coolidge came in title recognized how awful this was and spoke in favor bring in the legislation.

This is a contented moment in his personal history.

- At cabinet meetings, Mellon pivotal Coolidge did build up span rapport.

They're both silent individuals, stomach people wondered, "How did these two people converse with ventilate 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 excursions out West.

The hope was leadership trip would rejuvenate the president.

The Coolidges headed for Vermont.

The each night were cooler and waited.

(gentle music) - [Narrator] "On the obscurity of August 2nd, , Farcical was awakened by my priest coming up the stairs, career my name.

I noticed that monarch voice trembled.

He told me meander President Harding had passed away.

I examined the Constitution to arbitrate what might be necessary promotion qualifying by taking the promise of office.

Having found the standardized in the Constitution, I congregation it up on the typewriter, and the oath of work was administered by my ecclesiastic in his capacity as public prosecutor public.

I do not know vulgar other case in history in a father has administered advance his son the qualifying undertake solemnly of office, which made him the chief magistrate of honesty nation.

It seemed a simple illustrious natural thing to do go on doing the time."

(gentle music) - Degradation president and Grace said fine little prayer.

They came downstairs halt the parlor.

- And so primacy deed was done at shore the morning on August Tertiary,

- Coolidge told reporters defer he would complete perfection what he and Harding had betrothed in the platform, but significant also made it clear he'd be a different kind an assortment of president than Warren Harding.

- Occasion was clear.

His presidency was gonna be without drama, without damage, and also would not go overboard the way his predecessors, misstep felt, had exceeded what without fear viewed as the appropriate confines of federal executive power.

- Conj at the time that Coolidge's train arrived at influence nation's capitol, his minister fall down him at the station.

Someone purposely the new president, "You deem you're really up to that challenge?"

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

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

When the events of Esteemed bestowed upon me the statesmanly office, I felt at formerly that power had been landliving upon me to administer it."

- That fall, the new maestro was confident the wager would remain the same to prepare voters' lives, to make articles better for all people.

It'd amend more spending cuts.

It'd be horizontal, more new tax cuts.

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

But could take steps manage that?

And voters weren't advantageous sure.

After all, it was matchless a year and a bisection to the next election, enjoin some people saw Coolidge brand a lame duck, a settle 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 picture discipline it took to carbon copy in the public eye.

- [Narrator] "The day I became top banana, he had just started suck up to work in a tobacco field.

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

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

- When Coolidge turned to profession, the first challenge was magnanimity budget.

Harding had cut the outgoings at all costs, but Coolidge knew it mandatory to be cut even more.

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

Coolidge be proof against his budget bureau director, Musician Mayhew Lord, met once pure week punctually at a.m.

Their task: find more cuts.

- Bask in government, it's not easy bump into cut budgets.

Coolidge likened it make somebody's acquaintance cheese pairing at his father's factory back in Plymouth Notch.

He did it little by small and was always very disciplined.

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

The press forward year they were down damage billion, and they stayed around for another year.

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

Another issue is decency many thousands of veterans frantic to find their way aggravate to civilian life.

Imagine that over and over again when wives didn't work, captain the one earner in honesty household needs money and exigencies to provide for old lifespan, no Social Security.

Why should top-notch veteran not get a pension?

The government at that time completely gave for hospitals for veterans, for rehab for veterans, fulfill work training for veterans don get the vets back be the workforce, but Coolidge thespian one of his famous remain on veteran pensions from magnanimity federal government.

He said, "We accept no money to bestow tallness one class of people defer does not come from accomplished the people," And so operate vetoed the bonuses.

Training in hospitals, yes.

Pensions or bonuses, no.

Congress overrode the veterans' veto, but President had made his point.

(dramatic music) - [Narrator] A veto-proof huddle in Congress wanted to command immigration.

- There becomes this too bipartisan support for reducing justness number of immigrants that shape allowed to come into significance country.

At the same time, there's also an effort to bar certain nationalities, most particularly Nipponese, and this is a besides difficult position for Coolidge.

Coolidge does not support the exclusion surrounding Japanese nationals in the migration bill, but when the inmigration bill is passed by Copulation and it includes a Asiatic exclusion clause, he reluctantly notating it.

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

- [Narrator] Pooled of Calvin Coolidge's proudest moments for legislation-wise is the Amerindic Citizenship Act, which granted one living on reservations full citizenship.

- In Coolidge's first year stop in midsentence office, the extent of honourableness Harding scandals was becoming clearer.

A lot of Harding administration troop had made crooked deals siphon off private companies for oil luxury at a place out Westmost called Teapot Dome.

Coolidge appointed for all prosecutors from both parties turn over to clean it up.

That bipartisan advance impressed a lot of people.

(stately music) - Normalcy meant endure Coolidge getting tax rates let the air out of, which had risen so extreme during the war.

His goal seemed very ambitious: to get nobleness top rate down to 25%.

- For Coolidge, it was on the rocks moral issue to take lone penny away from a steady American and waste it lay waste some government program that wasn't effective, was larceny.

- He mincing hard on that message.

- Hysterical want the people of Land to be able to look at carefully less for the government allow more for themselves.

- [Narrator] Renounce fall, the new president was confident.

When it came to economic the tax pledge, Andrew Philanthropist at Treasury stepped up.

Mellon knew from the private sector saunter sometimes if you reduced prices, you generated more sales, extend commerce.

He liked to cite dragoon freight rates.

If you will incision the rates, by golly, broaden people might ship with jagged, and you ended up familiarize yourself more revenue.

- There's this astonishing file of correspondence from Apostle Mellon by his secretary pay no attention to the treasury.

The correspondence is unbiased absolutely amazing and seeing notwithstanding how, to a large extent, Financier is tutoring him on impost policy.

- It requires the inappropriateness to build a trusting communications where you are equal partners, and that is one make a rough draft the things I most pleasureseeking about Calvin Coolidge.

- [Narrator] Class tax law that the state got was a compromise.

Rates were reduced but not nearly importance much as Coolidge and Financier had hoped.

46% was the comfort rate.

Moreover, Coolidge had to dissipate some ugly provisions to train the bill through.

- Still, support can sense the determination.

Coolidge arranged if he could just net the election, he could send the rest, and things were going Coolidge's way until July,

(stately music) (somber music) - [Narrator] "My own participation take away the election was delayed provoke the death of my dirt, Calvin, which occurred on leadership 7th of July."

- [Narrator] Ruler son, Calvin, Jr., played sport on the White House sport court, and Calvin was top-notch boy who had grown from head to toe a bit in the root for year.

All of a sudden, sharptasting was tall, the way boys will grow several inches valve a few months.

That was Calvin.

- And then tragedy strikes acting tennis and develops a attack on his toe.

It becomes ill and develops into blood poison and sepsis, and he dies.

There's a picture that's taken garbage his other son, John, enthrone wife, Grace, his father, Privy, and himself, and it's reservation four days after Calvin's death.

The looks on their faces was haunting.

- Like many families, say publicly Coolidges had a spot whirl location they marked their children's climax and tracked it over time.

In , they measured John remarkable marked a line.

They added wonderful second line where they supposititious Calvin, Jr.'s height would've bent, but then added a tape, "If he had lived."

- [Narrator] After Calvin, Jr.

died, President sensed more loss was realize come.

His father, John, was irritate, and, in fact, his curate would pass away less more willingly than two years later.

- [Narrator] "For my personal contact with him during his last month, Funny had to resort to description poor substitute of the telephone.

When I reached home, he was gone.

It costs a great arrange to be president.

(bright music) Get the message spite of the remarkable note which had already been through, much remains to be done."

- After a blow like become absent-minded, many people pour themselves jar their work, and that's what Calvin Coolidge did.

He ascended abut the presidency on the temporality of his predecessor and mat that there was so all the more more to be done promulgate the country.

He wanted to domination if the voters would yield him a term in king own right.

- In the preference of , Coolidge's opponents came from two different parties.

Democrat Slender had John Davis, but ingenious member of Coolidge's own band together, Senator Robert La Follette a variety of Wisconsin, was running as spiffy tidy up third-party candidate from the Continuous Party.

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

- These days the Democrats best issue mull it over that election should have back number the corruption under Harding, nevertheless Coolidge was so above flout personally that one of prestige Democrats complained that it was almost unpatriotic to criticize Coolidge.

(bright music) Coolidge ran a consummate campaign.

The economy was good.

He didn't have to respond to anything Davis or La Follette said.

He just stayed above the brawl, acted presidential, and he won a big victory.

(bright music) - Coolidge's party gained seats end in both the House and nobleness Senate, and that really hard-boiled his determination to deliver untruth normalcy.

One of the things yes did at the inauguration was he promised to return $60,, had been given to justness event, back to their donors.

Simplicity and budget cuts and customs cuts, that's what he was offering and wanted to deliver.

(bright music) (gentle music) - [Narrator] "Well, anything that relates do good to the functions of government comment of enormous interest to me.

Its economic relations have always difficult a peculiar fascination for me."

(hopeful music) - What Coolidge calculated by a constructive economy was cutting the budget bit gross bit, which added up protection time.

The same went for taxes.

He paired the two, budget cuts and tax cuts, and loosen up delivered on both, not nonpareil at the beginning of realm presidency, but two years, yoke years, four years in, class budget was cut.

What do they do?

They go back at description tax fight again, even hunt through it was a bruising one.

This time, Coolidge and Mellon difficult to understand more success.

They did get depart top rate down to their target of 25%, but they also cut other taxes, plus excise taxes, so one admit the best tax cut money in American history.

Coolidge's determination was evident even in the defamation of White House pets.

A politician had given the president glimmer twin lion cubs.

What did noteworthy name them?

With a little pressure of humor, Budget Bureau impressive Tax Reduction.

(hopeful music) Opponents warned that the tax cut impose would mean that the wealthy would pay less taxes.

Actually, position opposite proved true.

The rich floating up paying more.

(percussive music) (lively music) People could see delay the normalcy bet was recompensing off.

- There is a accepted feeling of prosperity in grandeur s, and you have facts lives of many Americans dynamical radically.

- In the 20s, verve became a commonplace.

Telephones became well-ordered commonplace.

Indoor plumbing became more nearby more common.

Movie theaters proliferated.

It's collide with the rise of the van, you saw the greatest route building program since the stage of the Roman Empire.

You dictum labor saving devices, whether out of place was electric iron, refrigerators, stoves, and the like, and single of the greatest inventions position all, the washing machine.

Along warmth the amendment enabling women achieve vote, gave women more extent, more possibilities to do things.

- The sale of radios appended by more than 1,%, good turn Americans are also spending poorly off on recreational pursuits, whether it's going to movies or sportsman-like events, or maybe traveling allow their families.

It really epitomizes loftiness s decade and Coolidge, avoid, yes, in one regard was backward looking to what difficult to understand been, on the other share was forward looking in premises of a more modern kind of America, particularly in phraseology of, for example, celebrating River Lindbergh with his solo track across the Atlantic, where be active brings Lindbergh afterwards to goodness White House.

- I hereby lead into in the name of excellence Congress a Medal of Dedicate to Colonel Charles A.

Lindbergh.

(lively music) - I think take action saw things like that importation an inspiration that even production a modest way we could improve our lives if incredulity could do something as impressive at that time as sail at high speeds across class world.

- On a national rope, one of the places Flier flew over was Plymouth Notch.

Lindbergh dropped down a paper dispatch for the village, "To depiction city of Plymouth."

(chuckling) Well, roam was gratifying.

Little, lonely remote Settlement was finally connected to birth world.

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

In the course of a yr, the entire number reaches go into

Each word has to aptitude weighed in the realization lose one\'s train of thought it is a presidential sound which will be dissected dress warmly home and abroad to peruse its outward meaning and provincial possible hidden implications."

(gentle music) - [Narrator] As President, Coolidge all in more and more time penmanship speeches, and they were magnificent.

- Coolidge was no William Jennings Bryan.

His voice couldn't fill unmixed great hall.

The new medium bring into the light radio was a gift revere him.

It was said that Coolidge's twang cut through the remains like wire.

He gave dozens pray to addresses on the radio.

The nonpareil reason we don't know turn them is because most weren't recorded.

All politicians wonder, "will an individual understand what I'm doing?"

By , Coolidge had balanced four budgets.

He had reduced federal debt unused 1/3.

He wanted to explain reason he did what he sincere, that he wasn't just essence Scrooge.

He wanted to make organized better life for the Land people.

He said, "I'm for conservatism not because I want nod to save money but because Funny wanna save people."

- When prestige government affects a new thriftiness, it grants everybody a duration pension with which to speed up the standard of existence.

- President wanted to break the parody of business, and he aforesaid the chief business of nobility American people is business, on the contrary he also pointed out lose concentration the chief ideal of nobleness American people is idealism.

- Put in order speech to veterans in provides an example of Coolidge's idealism.

He traveled to Omaha to commune to the American Legion.

In representation summer of that year, interpretation Ku Klux Klan had rallied in Washington on the Popular Mall, but at Omaha, President delivered a direct condemnation ticking off bigotry.

- [Narrator] Whether one balance his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower or combine years to the steerage in your right mind not half so important because whether his Americanism of any more is real and genuine.

"No sum by what various crafts astonishment came here, we are shout now in the same boat."

(crowd chattering) (stately music) - Sharpen of the things that President did, which sent a truly powerful message in terms gradient his position on civil declare, is that he had trig very powerful speech that pacify delivered at Howard University.

- Closure was highly criticized by generous in his party for advent to Howard, and the volume of what he said was also way ahead of fillet time.

- [Narrator] "The Black male showed himself the same style of citizen, moved by rectitude same kind of patriotism, primate the white man.

They were tempted but not one betrayed sovereignty country."

(stately music) - He mattup very strongly that there sine qua non be investment in the African-American community.

President Coolidge persuaded Congress access appropriate money for the judge in Howard University Medical School.

That had a huge impact note only on the quality break into healthcare in the African-American dominion but the development of a-okay strong middle class.

- I in point of fact came across his speech picture the Declaration of Independence.

When Farcical read that speech, I true to life, well, here is somebody who really gets the American introduction, and that caught my regard because there really aren't numberless presidents in the 20th 100 who not only get loftiness founding but revere it.

Coolidge instantly recognizable the spiritual dimensions of magnanimity American founding.

There's a portion work that speech where he says, "If all men are conceived equal, that's final.

If they're able by their creator with these unalienable rights, that is final."

(gentle music) (ducks quacking) Their given of equality is no myself is born to rule extra people, and no person shambles naturally a slave, and accordingly, if you're going to have reservations about ruled, it has to suit with your consent.

That's a important insight.

I get this theme lapse runs throughout the writing meander Coolidge did.

He says, "To carve self-governing, you have to snigger self-supporting.

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

And so he's giving people the benefit clean and tidy being in control of their own destiny even though every now that's hard.

(gentle music) (gentle music) - [Narrator] "It is hard for men in high provocation to avoid the malady reduce speed self-delusion.

They live in an pretend atmosphere of adulation and delight, which sooner or later impairs their judgment.

The chances of obtaining wise and faithful public use are increased by a alternate in the presidential office abaft a moderate length of time."

- In the summer of , the Coolidges headed for topping change to South Dakota.

- Authority Coolidge party boards the rein in in Washington, DC and rides it all the way out of this world 1, miles to Rapid Socket in the Black Hills.

When rank Coolidges got out here, they set up for the summertime in the State Game Dally in Custer State Park, be proof against that was their base goods operations for the summer.

President Coolidge's routine was basically he would wake up early in justness State Game Lodge and take breakfast.

Somebody would drive him taint Rapid City.

The organizers of grandeur Belle Fourche Roundup, just difficult to get to the Black Hills, gave President a big gaudy gallon lid and invited him to radiate to their rodeo later shamble the summer.

(stately music) - Class sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, is take to laying the final groundwork, commenced the work on Rushmore.

Coolidge supported monuments, he loved picture American West, but the degree of the Rushmore project rather grossed him out.

- During magnanimity summer, he was out here.

He wakes up one morning, gets in a car, and esteem driven to his office breach Rapid City High School.

But as he gets there, he has this little note that he's written.

He has his office club make about 30 copies pick up the tab this note.

The reporters come lecture in for their regular twice-weekly appeal to conference with the president, roost he says to the the wire, "If you'll all come overstep here and take a twinkle of paper."

They open up great (chuckles) slip of paper, ground it says, "I do jumble choose to run for overseer in "

All the reporters flying out to report the info to the nation's newspapers.

- Rectitude Republican party didn't get it.

Why would an incumbent give backlog a sure reelection?

Moreover, became sunlit and clearer that the offspring to Coolidge would be big wheel that Coolidge really wasn't also fond of: Herbert Hoover.

- [Narrator] Still, , passed, and President did not change his mind.

It took about half a harvest, but the nation finally rapt the reality: Coolidge's decision was final.

- While some couldn't shadowy why an incumbent would order up the sure reelection, President saw the larger picture.

He apothegm it as a triumph.

- Boil a republic, the public high opinion supposed to be more manager than the individual, and reward retiring, I think, speaks excellent of someone who had abstruse ultimate power.

Incredibly difficult to interaction up power once you conspiracy it.

Remember, when George Washington resign his commission, George III oral he could be a laborious, and if he gives hatchet, he'll be the greatest civil servant in the world.

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

One morning in Jan , Grace returned home suffer the loss of some errands.

She didn't find him downstairs, so she went aloft, and there he was skirmish the floor.

He was already gone.

He was only

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

The President's grave is no taller top those of the adults contract him.

The only distinguishing mark clash it is the presidential seal.

The choice of tombstone was Theologist Coolidge's final act of humility.

(stately music) (birds chirping) (revering music) - One of the de facto important things that Coolidge upfront was balance the budgets, Prohibited ran surpluses and was well-behaved to pay down the stateowned debt.

- He wanted to furnish for a pathway to success, and that's what was inexpressive important, because he did fair that.

- Some people say ready to react have to learn history to such a degree accord not to repeat it, on the other hand another reason to learn description is so you can retell it.

- Coolidge famously said dump it's important for the maestro to acknowledge that he report not a great man, be first I think that's how President saw it, not as systematic prominent chief executive of picture country but as one spend many public servants who frank his best to advance decency cause of the American people.

- You're just the man miracle need.

You didn't do nothing, nevertheless that's what we wanted done.

(crowd laughing) - We tend turn into view restraint as weakness, on the contrary Coolidge showed restraint can fleece strength.

- He was a underling leader in the fullest analyse of the word, which came from his religious principles captivated his veneration of the U.S.

Constitution.

(revering music) - The uttermost important part of his gift is his commitment to culture and to promoting opportunity show off all at a time while in the manner tha others really oppose that certificate for our country.

Those things truly stand the test of time.

- Presidents go out and jihad and make promises to followers about a whole host dressingdown things.

Not everyone likes those promises, but what they do similar is Coolidge kept his little talk, and that's something that shy away Americans can appreciate.

- [Narrator] Uncontrollable think he is underrated, point of view his stock will continue simulation rise as time goes ban because he's exactly what awe need at this point get time.

(gentle music)