“No man was ever meanly born. About his cradle is the wondrous miracle of life. He may descend into the depths, he may live in infamy and perish miserably, but he is born great. Men build monuments above the graves of their heroes to mark the end of a great life, but women seek out the birthplace and build their shrine, not where a great life had its ending but where it had its beginning, seeking with a truer instinct the common source of things not in that which is gone forever but in that which they know will again be manifest. Life may depart, but the source of life is constant” — Vice President-Elect Calvin Coolidge, January 23, 1921.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge with Suzanne Boone at John Ringling’s circus
death
“The Republican Ideal” by Mark Steyn
“The Republican Ideal” by Mark Steyn
After his recent visit to Plymouth Notch, read the indomitable Mark Steyn’s thoughts on the home and legacy of President Coolidge. An excerpt reads, “I do believe it’s the coolest grave of any head of state I’ve ever stood in front of. It moves me far more than the gaudier presidential memorials. ‘We draw our presidents from the people,’ said Coolidge. ‘I came from them. I wish to be one of them again.’ He lived the republican ideal most of our political class merely pays lip service to.” All too true, Mr. Steyn. It is one of the most powerful reasons to take another look when it comes to Calvin Coolidge.
Calvin Coolidge to Edward K. Hall, February 26, 1928
Mentioned on our blog in the recent past, this is a facsimile of Coolidge’s inscription to Ed Hall of Dartmouth College, Hanover, written and signed in a copy of Coolidge’s early speeches, “Have Faith in Massachusetts.” Composed after both men had lost sons, and as Mr. Hall was establishing the library of Dick’s House at Dartmouth (in honor of his late son), Coolidge says:
To Edward K. Hall,
In recollection of his son and my son who have the privilege by the grace of God to be boys through all eternity.
Calvin Coolidge
The Importance of the Obvious 