Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) became president after the death of Warren Harding in 1923, and he served as the nation's chief executive until 1929. He was known as "Silent Cal" because of his quiet demeanor.
His early accomplishments were in academia, law, and state politics. His mother had instilled in him a love of books. He graduated cum laude from from Amherst College in 1891. By 1898, he had opened his own law practice. Not content with the life of a lawyer, Coolidge entered politics in Massachusetts, rising to governor by 1918.
In 1919, the Boston police strike brought him national fame. The police wanted a labor union, and mobs took advantage of the situation by causing chaos for two nights. Coolidge restored order by using the militia and proclaimed: "There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time."
Because many Americans applauded his conduct during the strike, the Republicans nominated him as their vice-presidential candidate in 1920. As vice president, he attended cabinet meetings, but did not do much else. Also, the outgoing Harding and taciturn Coolidge were opposites in temperament.
Upon becoming president, Coolidge worked to restore the public's faith in government. That faith had been badly damaged by numerous scandals during the Harding administration. Honest and pious, Coolidge was successful in this respect.
In 1924, Coolidge easily won the presidential election. This was easily one of his greatest accomplishments.
His domestic policies as president favored big business and laissez-faire economics. Regulation of business practices was lax. Many historians later blamed Coolidge for policies that helped bring on the Great Depression, which began in 1929.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
What were some of Calvin Coolidge's major accomplishments?
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