Today is the Presidential Preference Primary in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona.

As each state has already or has still to hold primary or caucus shares in the experience through the weeks ahead in advance of the nomination conventions, keep Coolidge’s words with you (perhaps even pick up a print, Kindle or audio copy of the book Keeping Cool on the Campaign Trail these come from as well):

“When we vote for anything but the best, we cheat ourselves, our families and our country.” — Calvin Coolidge, October 28, 1930

“Persons who have the right to vote are trustees for the benefit of their country and their countrymen. They have no right to say they do not care. They must care. They have no right to say that whatever the result of the election they can get along. They must remember that their country and their countrymen cannot get along, cannot remain sound, cannot preserve its institutions, cannot protect its citizens, cannot maintain its place in the world, unless those who have the right to vote do sustain and do guide the course of public affairs by the thoughtful exercise of that right on election day.” — Coolidge, radio broadcast from the White House, November 3, 1924

“With a careless, indifferent, uninformed electorate a republic will deteriorate into a very bad form of government. It will fall into the hands of the incompetent and the vicious. Good government under our system depends on the ballot box…We cannot receive what we do not give. Put good government into the ballot box.” — Coolidge, October 25, 1930

The Coolidges cast their votes, 1920.

President Coolidge casting his vote, 1928. Photo credit: Alarmy.