Calvin Coolidge Biography

U.S. President

Name at birth: John Calvin Coolidge

Famed for his taciturn New England attitude and no-nonsense approach to governance, Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States from 1923-1929. As the Republican governor of Massachusetts, Coolidge gained national attention for settling the Boston police strike in 1919. He became vice president under Warren G. Harding, then succeeded to the presidency when Harding died in office in 1923. "Silent Cal" Coolidge was re-elected as president in 1924, but kept a low profile in the White House. Coolidge is the one who said "the business of America is business." He declined to run for re-election in 1928, and was followed by fellow Republican Herbert Hoover.

Extra credit: Coolidge was the 30th U.S. president... He and Chester A. Arthur are the only two presidents to have been born in Vermont... After hearing of Harding's death, Coolidge was sworn in at the family homestead in Vermont at 2:47 a.m., by his father, a notary public... Coolidge announced his decision not to seek another term by releasing a simple statement to the press: ""I do not choose to run for president in 1928"... Coolidge had such a reputation as a man of few words that upon hearing the news of his death, popular wit Dorothy Parker quipped "How can they tell?"

For a complete list of U.S. presidents, please go to Easy Reference for U.S. Presidents.

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