Calvin Coolidge

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1908 Calvin Coolidge Massachusetts House of Representatives

Coolidge inspects militia

Calvin Coolidge (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican known for his quiet demeanor, he became president upon the death of Warren G. Harding, was elected in his own right in 1924, and gained a reputation for his conservative leadership in the midst of the Roaring Twenties.

Early Life and Career

Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, and grew up in a small town where he was instilled with values of conservatism and hard work. He graduated from Amherst College in 1895 and began a career in law in Northampton, Massachusetts. Coolidge entered politics as a city councilman in Northampton before serving as a state legislator, lieutenant governor, and then governor of Massachusetts. His response to the Boston Police Strike of 1919 brought him national recognition and a reputation as a man of decisive action.

Presidency

Coolidge assumed the presidency upon Harding's death in 1923. During his presidency, he emphasized the importance of limited government and laissez-faire economics. Coolidge believed that the government should interfere as little as possible in the lives of its citizens and that prosperity would result from minimal government intervention in the economy.

His administration was marked by significant economic growth, and he is often credited with helping to usher in the modern era of American capitalism. However, his policies have also been criticized for failing to regulate the excesses that led to the Great Depression.

Coolidge's foreign policy was characterized by a reluctance to involve the United States in foreign entanglements. He signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928, which was an attempt to outlaw war as a means of national policy.

Post-Presidency and Legacy

After deciding not to run for a second full term, Coolidge returned to private life. His post-presidency was quiet, and he wrote an autobiography detailing his political philosophy and experiences in office.

Coolidge's legacy is mixed. He is praised for his economic policies that led to a prosperous decade, but also criticized for his lack of action in addressing the economic warning signs that led to the Great Depression. His presidency is often seen as a period of transition from the progressive era to the modern conservative movement. 0