"ABRUPTLY TURNED AROUND & WENT BACK TO WHITE HOUSE"

COOLIDGE HAS EXTRA UNIFORMED OFFICER ON DAILY WALKS OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Evening Star reports on September 24, 1925 that the chief of the White House Secret Service* "is inclined to favor (the) extra safeguard" of having a uniformed police officer "trail along" when President Calvin Coolidge goes for one of his daily strolls.

This comes after a motorist last Sunday "swung his car dangerously near" the President as he was walking outside the gates of the White House.

While Mr. Coolidge has not expressed an opinion on whether or not he favors the extra safeguard,  last evening when a bicycle policeman appeared at the gate as the President walked out,  Mr. Coolidge only walked a half-block and then "abruptly" turned around and returned to the White House.

*Apparently there was no single "head" of the White House Secret Service in 1925, but Agent Edmund Sterling was the "lead" agent for President Coolidge.

Agents Edmund Sterling & James 'Jim' Haley

with President & Mrs. Coolidge

1st Congregational Church

Washington, D.C.

Nov 26 1925

Source: Secret Service archivist (2012)

Library of Congress

National Photo Collection

"BUT AFTER ALL, ITS NOT HIS MONEY"

FIRST FAMILY PREPARES FOR TWO MONTH ABSENCE FROM WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 21, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady "are busy preparing for their departure Tuesday for Swampscott, Mass., where they will spend the next two months."

The presidential yacht, Mayflower, sailed yesterday carrying two cooks, domestic servants and the Coolidge dogs, Paul Pry and Rob Roy.

In the meantime, the President had a busy day, but "the evening found his desk clear and him ready to leave."

During the First Family's absence, the Executive Mansion will undergo major renovations at a cost of up to $50,000 to the taxpayers.  So much for Mr. Coolidge's frugality, but after all, its not his money.

JFK+50 NOTE

The "significant" renovations of The White House were 1817, 1902, & 1948-1952.  The floor marker in the Entrance Hall displays the years 1817, 1792-1902, & 1952.  It was installed after the major renovations while Harry Truman was POTUS.  In 1927, a 3rd floor was added under a rebuilt roof.

SOURCE

"President's Desk Clear as He Makes Preparations to Leave White House," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., June 21, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Entrance Hall Marker

The White House

Washington, D.C. (2017)

Photo by John White

"25 MILLION LISTEN ON RADIO"

COOLIDGE TAKES OATH BEFORE THOUSANDS ON EAST FRONT OF CAPITOL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 4, 1925, Calvin Coolidge became POTUS "in his own right" repeating the oath of office as he had done two years earlier "in the plain little room of his father's New England farm house" following the death of President Warren G. Harding.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice William Howard Taft at 1 p.m. marking the first time a former POTUS ever swore in a new administration.

The Evening Star reports that thousands of people "stood before the east front of the Capitol...and 25 million more listened on radio."

In his Inaugural Address, Mr. Coolidge made an appeal for economy in the government at home and peace abroad.

The President said he wants a government of economy "not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people."

The President and First Lady along with the Vice-President and Second Lady were driven to the Capitol from the White House in "shining new touring cars just out of the factory...bearing the presidential coat of arms."

SOURCE

"Coolidge Takes Oath, Pledging Prosperity," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

President & Mrs. Coolidge with Senator Curtis

March 4, 1925

www.getarchives.com

 

"PRESIDENT ON VACATION IN VERMONT"

COOLIDGE & DAWES TO CONFER ON CAMPAIGN

Plymouth, Vermont (JFK+50) On August 25, 1924, the Associated Press reports that President Calvin Coolidge and his Vice-presidential running mate, Charles G. Dawes, conferred today here in Plymouth.

Mr. Dawes is just coming off a speech delivered in Augusta, Maine in which he voiced opposition to the Ku Klux Klan.  Mr. Coolidge has not publicly commented on that speech.

The AP says this conference marks the first time the President has "entered into a discussion about the campaign" since coming to Vermont for his vacation nine days past.

It also marks the second conference between the members of the 1924 Republican ticket.

JFK+50 NOTE

According to the Miller Center, after the landslide victory of the COOLIDGE-DAWES ticket in 1924, "the relationship between the two quickly turned sour."

SOURCES

"Charles G. Dawes," Miller Center, University of Virginia, www.millercenter.org/

"Dawes To Confer With President," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 25, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Coolidge & Dawes

The White House 

Sammlung PD Bilder

www.getarchives.net/

"BY ONE OF LARGEST MAJORITIES EVER GIVEN"

COOLIDGE IS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT BY REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Cleveland, Ohio (JFK+50) On June 12, 1924, Calvin Coolidge "was swept into nomination for the presidency...by one of the largest majorities ever given by a Republican convention."

The President's nomination would have been unanimous on the first ballot but for 44 "insurgent votes," 34 for La Follette & 10 for Johnson.

Mr. Coolidge's vote total was 1065.  The AP reports a vice-presidential running mate will be chosen during today's afternoon session.

Rumors are that Judge W.S. Kenyon* of Iowa will get the nod, but there are five others on the short list.

*William Squire Kenyon (1869-1933) was born in Elyria, Ohio & attended the University of Iowa.  WSK practiced law 1891-1911 & served as US Senator (R-Iowa) 1911-1922 & as US Circuit Court of Appeals Judge afterward.

SOURCE

"Coolidge Is Nominated; Kenyon May Be Mate," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 12, 1944, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

William Squire Kenyon

"GET OUT OF JAIL FREE, IF YOU ARE IN JAIL"

PRESIDENTIAL PARDON DOESN'T WORK IF YOU ARE NOT IN JAIL, PHIL

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On December 26, 1923, the Associated Press reports one Philip Grossman, sentenced to one year in jail (on) February 7, 1921, was not released by a presidential pardon from Calvin Coolidge yesterday "when it was found he never had been in jail."

Mr. Grossman had been sentenced by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis* "for failure to close his saloon in accordance with a federal injunction."

Mr. Grossman obviously did not understand a "Get Out of Jail Free" card only works if you are IN jail.

*Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1866-1944) was born in Milville, Ohio & educated at Union College of Law.  KML served as Judge of the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois 1905-1922 & Commissioner of Baseball 1920-1944.

SOURCE

"Man Not In Jail May Enter to Get Coolidge Pardon," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 26, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

 

 www.cafepress.com/