The Quotable Calvin Coolidge: Sensible Words for a New Century

by Peter Hannaford, Peter Hannaford

Calvin Coolidge has long been dismissed as silent, and with little to say. This collection of over 250 quotations reveals the concise, direct, even eloquent way he stated his views on issues still relevant to the interests of contemporary America. The quotations cited by date and circumstances are organized alphabetically for use by speakers, writers, researchers, and policy makers – in fact, anyone with an interest in American history. Also included are Milestones in Coolidge's life, a Selected Bibliography, and a listing of Coolidge Archives headed by the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation in Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

Genres: Politics, History, Presidents

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ambrose Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone recently asked who my favorite president was. Over the years I've had a few, but eliminated them when I read more about them. For the longest time I thought it was Teddy Roosevelt, but read how once he was out riding his horse and a dog barked at him so he shot and killed it. From there it went down hill fast. The family favorite was Calvin Coolidge. He and my great grandfather, who lived in the next town, wrote each other on numerous subjects. I grew up gazing at some of these letters framed on my grandparents wall. So to answer the question, I read the Quotable Calvin Coolidge and found him likable. Will Rodgers endorsed him. What a deal! Good book.

[Read1000books · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little book (177 pages) with quotations on topics arranged alphabetically, and ranging from single sentences to a short paragraph in length, each with where the quotation can be found. For those with an interest in our 30th president, this set of statements will give a good overview of Coolidge's character, political priorities, and main motivations in life and in office. The book also includes a short but thorough sketch of Coolidge's life AND an enlightening section on whom NOT to trust among the subjects' biographers.
A few brief examples from the book follow:
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..."
"The real standard of life is not one of quantity but of quality; not of money but of character".
"Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business". [personal note from this reviewer: May his tribe increase!]

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly all presidents acquire some form of a bad rap while in office. For Calvin Coolidge, the label was “Silent Cal,” due to his penchant for minimum speaking. Yet, in many ways such an attitude would be a welcome relief in the modern world, where every word a president utters is magnified and dissected. Yet, Coolidge did speak often and with focus, just not to hear himself speak and gather attention. Coolidge was a genuinely humble man, unlike the self-centered people that are the set of modern presidents.
The quotes in this book contain a great deal of wisdom and reflect both Coolidge and the times when he was president. The automobile age was just beginning, and the world had yet to experience the Great Depression. It was a time of great optimism, and it was reasonable to think that the best role of the national government was to stay out of the way as much as possible.
Coolidge was also someone that had genuine empathy for the people with real problems of poverty, health issues and even those of another color. If you have no in depth knowledge of Coolidge, you will be surprised at how liberal his views were regarding welfare. While brief, it reveals much about the man that history calls “Silent Cal.”

[Elizabeth Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I bought while visiting the Plymouth Notch homestead of President Coolidge. I expected it to be boring, but wanted to see what he had to say about VT. It turned out to be truly fascinating. So much of wht this man said in 1920s America could apply today, all over the world. If you enjoy presidential history, list of quotes or are looking for inspiration, this is a good book to read.