On this day in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge was the first U S President to
deliver a radio address from the White House.
President Coolidge is often nicknamed "Silent Cal" because he was somewhat reticent about being long winded. Many people could learn a lot from him.
There is the old story of Dorothy Parker, that wit of the Algonquin Round Table, who knew she was to be seated next to the President at a formal dinner. When she was, she turned to him and said, "Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say more than two words to me at dinner!" He smiled and said, "You lose." And that was all.
What fun!
As far as having good things to say, however, you will be hard pressed to find a body of work by any US President's writings and speeches of as fine a quality as Coolidge's. Look some of them up and you will see what I mean. To this day they are filled with insight and wisdom.
President Coolidge was also fond of all kinds of unusual hats. From that alone, we know that there was a good sense of humor behind the sometimes silent exterior.
Coolidge was a good churchman, and a Congregationalist - the denomination that is now the UCC or United Church of Christ and traces some of its roots back to the Pilgrims.
President Coolidge is often nicknamed "Silent Cal" because he was somewhat reticent about being long winded. Many people could learn a lot from him.
There is the old story of Dorothy Parker, that wit of the Algonquin Round Table, who knew she was to be seated next to the President at a formal dinner. When she was, she turned to him and said, "Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say more than two words to me at dinner!" He smiled and said, "You lose." And that was all.
What fun!
As far as having good things to say, however, you will be hard pressed to find a body of work by any US President's writings and speeches of as fine a quality as Coolidge's. Look some of them up and you will see what I mean. To this day they are filled with insight and wisdom.
President Coolidge was also fond of all kinds of unusual hats. From that alone, we know that there was a good sense of humor behind the sometimes silent exterior.
Coolidge was a good churchman, and a Congregationalist - the denomination that is now the UCC or United Church of Christ and traces some of its roots back to the Pilgrims.
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