Horace Green’s fast-paced and even incisive perspective on Mr. Coolidge has a welcome review over at The Best Presidential Biographies. Though, as our friend notes, the book was written early in the Coolidge administration, before it had been properly tested, Green’s take lacks neither the incoherence nor the datedness that sometimes accompanies old biographies. It lacks none of the clarity or snap of any good writer’s work. It is unfortunate that the book is so difficult to find because it deserves a far better place in public consciousness not only as an honorable part of understanding Coolidge but also as good reading. It is unfortunate that Mr. Green never went back and expanded on this work after the completion of the Coolidge Era. Check out our friend’s review here.

As the White House Historical Association features the Coolidges this year, they recall for us the day great stage and silent film actress, Billie Burke, came to visit President and Mrs. Coolidge at the White House. Here she is, pausing for a picture on the White House grounds. Having seen her wonderful performance the previous night at the National Theatre in Noel Coward’s comedic play, “The Marquise” (based in eighteenth century France) she arrived to thank them for being there and to wish them well. A Washington D. C. native, she was keenly aware of both worlds, political and cultural. She is, of course, best known for her role twelve years later as “Glinda the Good Witch” in The Wizard of Oz. This small occasion encourages us to widen our gaze and understand how with the Coolidges there is more than initially meets the eye.

Our friend over at The Best Presidential Biographies has offered his review of Robert A. Woods’ campaign biography of Calvin Coolidge. It is refreshing not only that fascinating contributions in the Coolidge corpus are being reviewed once more but also that the reviewer is reminding us of a work that treats its subject with respect and candid appreciation. This is noteworthy because so many biographies approach their subject with an ingrained hostility as if to say to the world this is someone I want you to dislike and despise rather than learn from and admire. It is enjoyable, for all its limitations, that the late Mr. Woods’ book approached Coolidge with this frank appraisal. It is an approach that would glean much more from Coolidge than he has undeservedly received in ninety years. Mr. Woods’ point, that Coolidge’s level of preparation before entering the office of President was exceptional and set him apart from most, though we agree, not all our Presidential leaders, has merit. He was immensely trained to take up the office and reminds us, in many ways, of the virtues of being ready to serve the nation. The current candidates for the Presidency would do well to examine this book.