On Being Calvin Coolidge

While recent years have produced some fine performances of Lincoln, Washington, Adams, Jefferson and other “big names” in Presidential history, the thirtieth President and his beloved First Lady are not without a list of impersonators. ImageHere Herbert A. Turner of Cohasset, deliberately emulating President Coolidge, campaigns through Quincy during the 1924 campaign.

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For the President’s security, a body double was used from time to time. This man hailed from Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Of course, Grace had a body double also. This woman was from Boston.

ImageThen there were those, like actor Lucien Littlefield, who were persuaded to pose as the President after a fellow cast member observed the resemblance to Coolidge while they filmed Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1927. Littlefield gladly obliged to be Calvin Coolidge for the photographer.

ImageSince then, Ian Wolfe took up the role of President Coolidge in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell in 1955. Wolfe had portrayed a Chief Executive eight years before in California (1947), playing James K. Polk.

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In 1979, a TV mini-series called Backstairs at the White House depicted life through eight administrations, including a brief look at the Coolidge era. Ed Flanders played the President and Lee Grant Mrs. Coolidge.

ImageLast, but by far, the best portrayal of being Calvin Coolidge belongs to Jim Cooke. HavingĀ  studied “Silent Cal” so devotedly over four decades, he proves how worthy his subject is for a renewed appreciation, perhaps now more than ever. He is not merely “another impersonator” but is a teacher, a dear friend and a good man. There is no quantifying the good influence he continues to exemplify for me and many others, through keeping the flame lit for so undeservedly an underrated President. His “More Than Two Words” presentation of a not-so-silent Cal restores a “lost” and worthy chapter of our history from an institutionalized neglect in far too many history classes. Please visit his fascinating page at http://www.crankyyankees.net.

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“I’ve been out of town”

Home at 21 Massasoit Street, Northampton, with Coolidge's favorite place - the front porch - and rocking chair in plain view.

Home at 21 Massasoit Street, Northampton, with Coolidge’s favorite place – the front porch – and rocking chair in plain view.

Coolidge, having just been elected Governor of Massachusetts, met an elderly neighbor on the street back in Northampton. “How d’ye do, Mr. Coolidge? I ain’t seen ye about lately,” said the man. Without a thought of self-importance, Coolidge matter-of-factly replied, “No, I’ve been out of town.”

Once, after hosting a large gathering of supporters as the second highest executive official in the state, he told Frank Stearns, “I am apt to forget that I am Lieutenant Governor, but they don’t seem to. The fact is that I don’t feel any different to-day than when I was a barefoot boy on the farm.” Such words, especially disclosed in private to someone as astute as Mr. Stearns, were not attempts at self-promotion, pretending to be what he thought resonated with voters. It was simply Coolidge being himself, unspoiled by the praise and power of office.

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“I held the stakes”

This was Governor Coolidge’s response to an exasperated woman who had tried and failed at drawing out from him some colorful story of his college days. He had no lurid skeletons in his past and no interesting secrets to reveal. In desperation to fill her magazine article, she asked, “Surely, Mr. Coolidge, you must have taken some part in athletics at the college.”

Coolidge, without ever breaking a smile, replied, “Yes, I did, an important part.”

Entirely lured in to the prospect that she had her story, the journalist breathlessly followed up, “Oh, that is fine, and what part did you take, Governor Coolidge?” To which he answered with the words above.

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