Portrait by Hermann Hanatschek, 1927. Photo credit: Mead Art Museum, Amherst College.

Though belated, how can we let National Redhead Day pass too far without recognizing one of our most underappreciated redheaded Presidents — #30: Calvin Coolidge?

A graduate of Amherst College (the motto of which is terras irradiant: “Let them enlighten the earth!”), Coolidge once, it seems, responded to a classmate ridiculing his auburn pate with this irrefutable line: terras irradio (“I enlighten the earth!”) proving that Cal could deliver a joke in multiple languages.

Happy Redhead Day (plus 1), Mr. President!