FROM VERMONT FARMIf you were asked to name

several Vermonters who areknown nationally. CalvinCoolidge would surely be onyour list. However, few of usknow too much about the lifethat shaped our 30th president.

Calvin Coolidge was born onIndependence Day, 1872, in thesmall building attached to therear of the Plymouth NotchGeneral Store. The Notch com­munity was small. Besides theCoolidge store and post office,there were only four farms,three houses, a blacksmithshop, a church, and a one-roomschool. A shoemaker and abutter tub maker lived nearby.

Calvin was a shy boy. He hada sister, Abigail, who was fouryears younger than he. Both sheand Calvin's mother died whenCalvin was still a young boy.Today modern medicine couldhave saved both of their lives.

This is also true of Calvin's son, Calvin, who diedwhen a teenager from blood poisoning as a result ofan infected blister.

Besides working on the family farm, Calvin at­tended the local one-room school through the eighthgrade. Calvin worked very hard, but was never thetop student in his class. He continued his educationat the Black River Academy in Ludlow and at St.Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury. He went on toAmherst CoUege in Massachusetts and practiced lawin that same state when he graduated.

He met a Burlington, Vermont, woman, GraceGoodhue, and married her in 1905. They had twosons. Calvin soonbecame involved in politics and held numerous

offices, including state representative and senator.He was elected Governor of Massachusetts and be­came famous across the nation for his settlement ofthe Boston police strike in 1919. Shortly thereafter,he was elected Vice-President as Harding's runningmate.

I

Calvin Coolidge as a young boy

The year was 1923. Calvin Coolidge was servinghis term as Vice-President of the United States underPresident Warren Harding. In August Calvin and hiswife Grace visited his boyhood home in PlymouthNotch, Vermont.

The night of August 2 was hot and humid. TheCoolidges had all gone to bed. They were unawarethat President Harding, who had been ill, had died.Getting word to Vice-President Coolidge was noteasy. The only telephone in Plymouth Notch was inthe general store which had closed for the night, sono one answered it when it rang. The telephoneoperator in the nearby town of Bridgewater had herhusband drive to Plymouth to deliver the news toMr. Coolidge when she was unable to reach him onthe phone. It was almost midnight when a knock washeard at the door, awakening Calvin's father. Hewas handed the telegram with the news of PresidentHarding's death. Colonel John Coolidge immediate­ly woke his son with the news and gave him theofficial report that had just been delivered. He was

TO THE WHITE HOUSEthe first to address Calvin as the President of theUnited States.

Soon several reponers and local politicians arrived.One of the visitors. Congressman Dale, remindedCalvin Coolidge that the country was without aPresident and suggested that he waste no time intaking the oath of office. They phoned the AttorneyGeneral in Washington, D.C. (by this time they hadawakened the proprietor of the store and were able touse the telephone), to check the exact wording of theoath.

At 2:47 on the morning of August 3, 1923, in themodest Coolidge home in rural Vermont, history wasmade. By the dim light cast by the family's oldkerosene lamp in the Coolidge's silting room, CalvinCoolidge was sworn in as the thirtieth President ofthe United States by his father, a notary public, whoacted in place of the Chief Justice of the UnitedStates. Not before or since has a father administeredthe oath of office to his son qualifying him to

OATH OF OFFICE ROOM, PLYMOUTH, VT

become chief executive of the United States ofAmerica.

In 1924 after completing Warren Harding's tennas President of the United States, Coolidge waselected to serve another four years in the WhiteHouse. He chose not to run for another tenn andwas succeeded by Herben Hoover.

Calvin Coolidge died at 60 years of age on January5, 1933, in Northampton, Massachusetls. He isburied with the rest of his family in the PlymouthNotch cemetery. Calvin Coolidge was the only nativeVermonter to be elected President.'

Calvin Coolidge is remembered for his Vennonthumor, honesty, and willingness to fight for what hebelieved. What stories do you know about "SilentCal"?

'Vice-President Chester Arthur of North Fairfield,Vermont, became President on July 2, 1881, whenPresident James Garfield died. He was not electedfor a term of his own.

humid - moist and hot temperatureproprietor - owner

modest - humble or simplerural - countrynotary public - a public officer authorized by law to

certify documents and administer oaths

WHAT ELSE WAS GOINGON IN AMERICA?

Many events of importance or interest oc­curred in America during Calvin Coolidge'syears in the White House. Here are several thatyou may be familiar with. What other eventsfrom this period do you know about?

-Mickey Mouse becomes a star-Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlan-

tic Ocean nonstop from New Yark to Paris-Jazz music becomes the rage-Gangster AI Capone terrorizes Chicago-Baseball player Babe Ruth hits 60

home runs-The first movies with sound tracks are

produced-Congress approves a law to make

all Indians citizens-First woman elected Governor - Nellie Ross

of Wyoming-First liquid fuel rocket launched-The 1927 flood strikes Vermont-First electric neon advertising sign installed in

New York City-First ice cream cone machine patented-The eight hour day, five day work week is

introduced by Henry Ford-First potato chips are manufactured in

Albany, New York-First household electric toaster is marketed