Born: 1879
Died: 1957

A cherished only child from Burlington, Vermont, Grace Coolidge was her husband’s alter ego. While he was taciturn and frugal to a fault, she was fashionable, generous, and gay, far more attuned than Calvin to the styles and mores of the Jazz Age. After college, Grace taught deaf children in Northampton, Massachusetts. There she met Calvin, a lawyer and aspiring politician seven years her senior. They wed in 1905 and as Calvin rose in state politics, Grace raised their two sons. During his tenure in Boston as Lt. Governor and Governor, he left his family in Northampton to save on expenses. A legendary tightwad, Calvin’s one indulgence was buying stylish clothes for his wife.

The Harding-Coolidge victory of 1921 brought the Coolidges to Washington where Grace quickly became the darling of capitol society. Her warmth and humor then charmed the nation after Calvin inherited the Presidency. By poking fun at Calvin’s famous reserve, Grace made him appear more likeable. But she herself avoided politics, becoming a symbol of compassion even as her husband earned a reputation for steadfast indifference to social causes and the growing gap between rich and poor. Calvin’s win in 1924 was overshadowed by the recent sudden death of his teenage son. Though both Coolidges put up a brave front, they were relived to retire to Northampton at the end of the term.

Thirtieth President
Calvin Coolidge

Born: 1872, Plymouth, VT
Died: 1933

John Calvin Coolidge, the son of a Vermont storekeeper, earned a law degree and moved to Northampton, Massachusetts, where a casual interest in politics soon turned into a career. He was serving as Governor when Harding asked him to be his running mate in 1920. Harding died two years later and Coolidge’s father, a notary public, swore him in as President.

“Silent Cal” had a reputation for honesty that served him well when the Harding scandals came to light. He moved swiftly to restore confidence in the White House, and otherwise followed his conviction that “the business of America is business.” The country was enjoying high productivity and low unemployment when he faced the electorate in 1924, with the slogan “Keep cool with Coolidge.” He won handily, but the dour and frugal tee-totaler from New England was utterly out of step with the Jazz Age. As bootlegging, corruption, and stock-market speculating became rampant, Coolidge, who preferred to lead by example, tended to administrative affairs and quietly trimmed $2 billion from the national debt. He did not seek re-election. On leaving office Coolidge said, “one of the most important accomplishments of my Administration has been minding my own business.”

Thirtieth President
Republican