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Silent Cal's Almanack: The Homespun Wit and Wisdom of Vermont's Calvin Coolidge
A treasury of the wit and wisdom of Calvin Coolidge, America's surprisingly eloquent 30th President.
You may ask "Why Coolidge?" Everyone asks "Why Coolidge?"
We are quite used it. Here is my sound-bite answer (or, at least, one of them): Every politician that comes down the pike, promises you four or five of the same things. He or she will cut taxes, reduce unemployment, spur growth, balance the budget, and suppress inflation. They all promise such things. They never do them--and we fall for it every time.
Calvin Coolidge accomplished all of the above--and the historians say he was in office for five years and never did a damn thing. It's time to set the record straight.
"Silent Cal's Almanack" "He wrote simply, innocently, artlessly," H. L. Mencken once noted regarding Coolidge's prose, "He forgot all the literary affectations and set down his ideas exactly as they came into his head. The result was a bald, but strangely appealing piece of writing-a composition of almost Lincolnian austerity and beauty. The true Vermonter was in every line of it."
Supreme Court Justice David Souter recently wrote of Calvin "The simple beauty of his English prose exceeds anything I could say in praise of it."
Featured on the Glenn Beck Show and C-SPAN's BookTV.
You may ask "Why Coolidge?" Everyone asks "Why Coolidge?"
We are quite used it. Here is my sound-bite answer (or, at least, one of them): Every politician that comes down the pike, promises you four or five of the same things. He or she will cut taxes, reduce unemployment, spur growth, balance the budget, and suppress inflation. They all promise such things. They never do them--and we fall for it every time.
Calvin Coolidge accomplished all of the above--and the historians say he was in office for five years and never did a damn thing. It's time to set the record straight.
"Silent Cal's Almanack" "He wrote simply, innocently, artlessly," H. L. Mencken once noted regarding Coolidge's prose, "He forgot all the literary affectations and set down his ideas exactly as they came into his head. The result was a bald, but strangely appealing piece of writing-a composition of almost Lincolnian austerity and beauty. The true Vermonter was in every line of it."
Supreme Court Justice David Souter recently wrote of Calvin "The simple beauty of his English prose exceeds anything I could say in praise of it."
Featured on the Glenn Beck Show and C-SPAN's BookTV.
214 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
14 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
David Pietrusza
36 books31 followersDavid Pietrusza’s books include 1920: The Year of Six Presidents; Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series; 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America's Role in the World; 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies; and 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR—Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal, and Unlikely Destiny. Rothstein was a finalist for an Edgar Award in the Best Fact Crime category, and 1920 was honored by Kirkus Reviews as among their "Books of the Year." Pietrusza has appeared on Good Morning America, Morning Joe, The Voice of America, The History Channel, ESPN, NPR, AMC, and C-SPAN. He has spoken at The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the Harry S Truman library and Museum, and various universities and festivals. He lives in Scotia, New York. Visit davidpietrusza.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2011
It's amazing to me just how much this man could say without using an avalanche of words. Politicians today should take notice!
The only way I could have liked this book better is if the biography section were more extensivce.
The only way I could have liked this book better is if the biography section were more extensivce.
May 25, 2009
This was a fine book, full of political wisdom. Coolidge for president in 2012.
March 29, 2011
Although my rating doesn't show it, I actually absolutely and unabashedly LOVED the wit included in this book. Old Cal was quite the card!!! Who knew? Not I! However, the rest was blah. So, for a guaranteed smile, limit your perusal to pages 23-36 and forget the rest. (Actually, the introduction wasn't bad either.)
August 11, 2025
I have a soft spot for small-g government politicians and I think Calvin Coolidge may just be my favorite, not just for his commitment to economy but also his social awkwardness, which I very much relate to. Coolidge was able to cut taxes and balance the budget while shrinking the size of the government. He believed that every dollar that the government spent was a theft from the working class and he was absolutely right.
This book is not a political doorstopper. It is more like a pocket reminder that humility and limited government once had a place in the Oval Office. A quick, refreshing read that leaves you wishing more leaders knew when to keep quiet and let the people keep their money.
Coolidge put it best: “I think the American people want a solemn ass as a president and I think I’ll go along with them.”
I wish I could vote for him in 2028.
This book is not a political doorstopper. It is more like a pocket reminder that humility and limited government once had a place in the Oval Office. A quick, refreshing read that leaves you wishing more leaders knew when to keep quiet and let the people keep their money.
Coolidge put it best: “I think the American people want a solemn ass as a president and I think I’ll go along with them.”
I wish I could vote for him in 2028.
August 19, 2021
A compendium of delivered speeches...use as a reference.
I love Mr. Pietrusza's books, but this one is just a collection of Mr. Coolidge's delivered speeches. This book could be used as a reference if someone were studying the President and needed background material. I thought there might be some narration by the compiler of these speeches, but there was none. A hard read that I ceased after about the fifth speech.
I love Mr. Pietrusza's books, but this one is just a collection of Mr. Coolidge's delivered speeches. This book could be used as a reference if someone were studying the President and needed background material. I thought there might be some narration by the compiler of these speeches, but there was none. A hard read that I ceased after about the fifth speech.
April 20, 2016
Great quotes and sensible decision making for a man who achieved to the Presidency. Oh that we had people with attitudes of service and humilty!
June 21, 2014
Interesting book. Gives insight into the 30th president of the United States.
August 1, 2013
Simply a collection of Coolidge's witty remarks and some of his speeches. Fantastic stuff!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews