August 3, 1923: Calvin Coolidge Ascends

By Caroline Larson, Intern, National Portrait Gallery

The only U.S. president to be born on Independence Day, John Calvin Coolidge was born in 1872 in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. He graduated from Amherst College and read law with a local firm. He opened his own law office in 1898 and married Grace Anna Goodhue in 1905. Although the couple had opposite personalities—Grace was vivacious and talkative and Calvin was quiet and serious—their marriage was happy, and they had two sons.

Coolidge began his political career when he was elected to the Northampton, Massachusetts, City Council in 1898. He served in various political offices, including the state House of Representatives and Senate. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1915 and became governor in 1918. The most memorable event during his time as governor was the Boston Police Strike in 1919, and Coolidge’s calm handling of the situation propelled him to national prominence. Coolidge was unexpectedly nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of the Republican Party in 1920. He and Warren G. Harding won the election in a landslide victory.

On August 2, 1923, President Harding died. Coolidge’s father, a notary public, administered the oath of office to his son at 2:47 a.m. on August 3, 1923. Though Coolidge supported many of the same causes as Harding, he worked to eradicate the corruption of Harding’s administration. Coolidge was elected for a second term in 1924, campaigning while mourning the death of his younger son, Calvin Jr., who died suddenly after developing blood poisoning.

As president, Coolidge supported business, signed the Immigration Act to limit foreign immigrants, lowered taxes, and reduced the federal debt. He also spoke out in favor of civil rights and helped engineer the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, which was intended to outlaw war. He was known as “Silent Cal,” a nickname best illustrated by an occasion when a woman he was dining with told him she had bet that she could get three words of conversation from him. He solemnly replied, “You lose.”

In 1927 Coolidge announced that he would not run for reelection and retired to his Northampton home. He died of a heart attack on January 5, 1933.The portrait of Coolidge by Joseph E. Burgess conveys Coolidge’s thoughtful demeanor. He is portrayed as being reserved, yet intelligent and determined.

Calvin Coolidge / Joseph E. Burgess, Copy after:  Ercole Cartotto / Oil on canvas, 1956 / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta

Comments

[Crankyyankees]

This Coolidge portrait was painted by Ercole Cartotro. His fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta commissioned the above copy by Joseph E. Burgess. Coolidge recalled that Cartotto now and again requested that he repeat "Tiger! Tiger!" because it produced an expression that the artist wished to capture. He had earlier seen that expression when his subject was cutting taxes.

[PhiGamArchives]

You are corrrect. This portrait is a copy by Joseph Burgess of the Ercole Cartotto original. The original was commissioned The Phi Gamma Delta Club in New York and hung in their library. The Fraternity later commissioned their brother Burgess to make a copy for the headquarters office in Washington DC. When the New York Club closed, the Fraternity put the Cartotto original in the Headquarters and dontated the Burgess copy to the National Portrait Gallery. The original is at the Fraternity headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. A few years ago it was loaned to the Gallery for display during their reopening.

http://www.phigam.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1208

[National Portrait Gallery]

Cranyykankees and PhiGamArchives,
Thanks you for your readership and your comments. The text has been corrected. We do have this correct in our online collections database, but did not have it correct in the blog post. Thanks!

[Greg]

Great American, I imagine the Democrats then were somewhat like the Republicans today.

[Crankyyankees]

This post nears perfection - if, indeed accuracy spells perfection. I continue to puzzle over referring to my man as John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. I don't think he ever signed himself as "Jr." though he was named for his father. The president's son, Calvin got the "Jr." appellation but had no middle name.
It was in August of 1927 (not 28) that Coolidge issued his brief statement: "I do not choose to run for president in 1928."
And, while I hesitate to quibble over one word - I always prefer the story that the lady said, "I've made a five dollar bet that I can make you say more than two (2) words." You see: Since 1985 I have performed a solo history on the 30th President and continue to hope that one day the National Portrait Gallery will bring me in to present "Calvin Coolidge: More Than Two Words."

[National Portrait Gallery]

Crankyyankees -- thanks again for your comment. The text has been corrected.