Calvin Coolidge: Silent
2023-09-17
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Calvin Coolidge.
3He was the vice president under Warren Harding.
4When Harding died suddenly a little more than two years into his term, Coolidge became president.
5Coolidge is linked to two opposing ideas.
6The first idea is quiet restraint.
7The president's nickname was "Silent Cal."
8He rarely took part in casual conversation.
9And as a leader, he often thought the best action was not to take any action.
10Many voters liked his "cool" style.
11Coolidge quickly earned a public image as a serious man who did not spend money or words easily.
12But Coolidge is also linked to a period in U.S. history known as the Roaring Twenties.
13In those years, the 1920s, the American economy was generally good.
14Many people spent money on exciting things - such as the still-new automobile - and on entertainment, including alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and dancing.
15Creative expression such as jazz and Art Deco architecture became popular.
16Calvin Coolidge is often given credit for helping fuel the Roaring Twenties with his pro-business economic policies.
17But some historians caution against remembering Coolidge's business freedom policies too fondly.
18They say he helped create the conditions for the severe economic depression that followed his presidency.
19Calvin Coolidge and his sister were born and raised on a farm in the northeast state of Vermont.
20Coolidge spoke highly of both his parents.
21His father owned a store, and also held local political offices.
22He had a public image for honesty, public service, and thrift.
23Young Calvin Coolidge helped his father in the store, and hoped to be just like him.
24Coolidge also admired his mother's strong character.
25He was 12 years old when she died, and he wrote that losing her was "the greatest grief that can come to a boy."
26Six years later, his sister also died.
27Their deaths made young Calvin Coolidge even more serious than he already was.
28But Coolidge was also known for his wit - a kind of humor that often depends on word play or intelligence.
29As a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts, Coolidge became known as an able and funny public speaker.
30That skill helped him rise in politics.
31He began with lower-level offices in Massachusetts, and later served as that state's governor.
32Along the way, he married Grace Anna Goodhue, a teacher for the deaf.
33She was known to be warm and social, and the couple were reported to have a loving marriage.
34They went on to have two sons.
35In 1920, the Republican Party nominated Coolidge to be its vice presidential candidate.
36In general, voters liked the Republican ticket.
37They were ready for a change after the reform policies and international engagement of Democrat Woodrow Wilson.
38Sure enough, the Republicans won the election in a landslide.
39But Coolidge did not enjoy the office of vice president very much.
40He had little power in the government. During meetings, he often remained silent.
41One summer night he and his wife were on vacation in Vermont.
42His father, Colonel Coolidge, woke them up in the middle of the night with some dramatic news: President Harding had died.
43Reporters quickly gathered at the small farmhouse.
44Colonel Coolidge had not put electricity in the house.
45So everyone watched by the light of an oil lamp.
46Colonel Coolidge was a public official.
47He used the family Bible and a copy of the Constitution to swear in his son as the 30th U.S. president.
48Then the country's new leader did a very sensible thing: he went back to bed.
49President Coolidge believed in limited government, especially limited federal government.
50He permitted state and Cabinet officials to decide as many issues as they could.
51Coolidge used his authority to focus mostly on the country's economy.
52At the time he took office, the U.S. was at the start of an economic boom.
53Coolidge tried to maintain that prosperity.
54He did not regulate businesses too much, and he sharply reduced taxes, especially on the wealthy.
55By nearly every measure, the economy grew.
56But the policies also widened the divide between rich and poor Americans, and put the country's economy in a risky situation.
57More and more people began to invest their money in the stock market.
58Some put their dollars in dangerous investments.
59And business owners produced more goods than most members of the public could really afford.
60Increasingly, people borrowed money on credit to pay for luxury goods.
61At the same time, the economic situation of many American farmers was getting worse.
62The weather had been unusually dry in some places.
63And the price of food was falling.
64Farmers asked the federal government for assistance.
65But Coolidge rejected several bills that might have helped them.
66The bills had other problems, Coolidge reasoned, and he did not think that the federal government should intervene in the situation.
67So the farmers continued to suffer.
68But most voters remained supportive of Coolidge.
69Even though the president was considered a quiet person, he spoke often on the radio, appeared in a talking film, met with reporters regularly, and posed in funny costumes for photographers.
70He easily won elected in 1924.
71Historians believe he could have won another term, too, in 1928.
72But Coolidge chose not to seek office.
73Some believed he was too saddened by the death of his teenaged son.
74Shortly after Coolidge became president, the boy had been playing tennis and slightly wounded his toe.
75The wound became infected.
76The infection spread to the boy's blood.
77A few days later, he died.
78Although Coolidge continued his presidency, he later said the joy had gone from the job.
79But when he decided not to seek re-election, he did not talk about his feelings.
80Instead, he simply wrote a note to reporters saying: "I do not choose to run for President in 1928."
81His secretary of commerce, Herbert Hoover, was elected instead.
82Coolidge retired to his home in Massachusetts and led a quiet private life.
83President Coolidge was well-liked by most Americans.
84Later presidents - including Ronald Reagan - sought to follow some of his economic policies.
85But many historians have questioned those policies.
86They say that Coolidge did not pay enough attention to the situation of farmers.
87And they say the stock market was rising too fast.
88Seven months after Coolidge left office, the U.S. economy collapsed.
89The country was still deep in the Great Depression when Coolidge passed away.
90He died - quietly, of course - during an afternoon nap at the age of 60.
91His will was but a single sentence.
92I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Calvin Coolidge. He was the vice president under Warren Harding. When Harding died suddenly a little more than two years into his term, Coolidge became president. 3Coolidge is linked to two opposing ideas. The first idea is quiet restraint. 4The president's nickname was "Silent Cal." He rarely took part in casual conversation. And as a leader, he often thought the best action was not to take any action. 5Many voters liked his "cool" style. Coolidge quickly earned a public image as a serious man who did not spend money or words easily. 6But Coolidge is also linked to a period in U.S. history known as the Roaring Twenties. 7In those years, the 1920s, the American economy was generally good. Many people spent money on exciting things - such as the still-new automobile - and on entertainment, including alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and dancing. Creative expression such as jazz and Art Deco architecture became popular. 8Calvin Coolidge is often given credit for helping fuel the Roaring Twenties with his pro-business economic policies. 9But some historians caution against remembering Coolidge's business freedom policies too fondly. They say he helped create the conditions for the severe economic depression that followed his presidency. 10Early life 11Calvin Coolidge and his sister were born and raised on a farm in the northeast state of Vermont. 12Coolidge spoke highly of both his parents. 13His father owned a store, and also held local political offices. He had a public image for honesty, public service, and thrift. 14Young Calvin Coolidge helped his father in the store, and hoped to be just like him. 15Coolidge also admired his mother's strong character. He was 12 years old when she died, and he wrote that losing her was "the greatest grief that can come to a boy." 16Six years later, his sister also died. 17Their deaths made young Calvin Coolidge even more serious than he already was. 18But Coolidge was also known for his wit - a kind of humor that often depends on word play or intelligence. As a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts, Coolidge became known as an able and funny public speaker. 19That skill helped him rise in politics. He began with lower-level offices in Massachusetts, and later served as that state's governor. 20Along the way, he married Grace Anna Goodhue, a teacher for the deaf. She was known to be warm and social, and the couple were reported to have a loving marriage. They went on to have two sons. 21In 1920, the Republican Party nominated Coolidge to be its vice presidential candidate. In general, voters liked the Republican ticket. They were ready for a change after the reform policies and international engagement of Democrat Woodrow Wilson. 22Sure enough, the Republicans won the election in a landslide. 23But Coolidge did not enjoy the office of vice president very much. He had little power in the government. During meetings, he often remained silent. 24One summer night he and his wife were on vacation in Vermont. His father, Colonel Coolidge, woke them up in the middle of the night with some dramatic news: President Harding had died. 25Reporters quickly gathered at the small farmhouse. Colonel Coolidge had not put electricity in the house. So everyone watched by the light of an oil lamp. 26Colonel Coolidge was a public official. He used the family Bible and a copy of the Constitution to swear in his son as the 30th U.S. president. 27Then the country's new leader did a very sensible thing: he went back to bed. 28Presidency 29President Coolidge believed in limited government, especially limited federal government. He permitted state and Cabinet officials to decide as many issues as they could. 30Coolidge used his authority to focus mostly on the country's economy. 31At the time he took office, the U.S. was at the start of an economic boom. Coolidge tried to maintain that prosperity. He did not regulate businesses too much, and he sharply reduced taxes, especially on the wealthy. 32By nearly every measure, the economy grew. 33But the policies also widened the divide between rich and poor Americans, and put the country's economy in a risky situation. 34More and more people began to invest their money in the stock market. Some put their dollars in dangerous investments. 35And business owners produced more goods than most members of the public could really afford. Increasingly, people borrowed money on credit to pay for luxury goods. 36At the same time, the economic situation of many American farmers was getting worse. The weather had been unusually dry in some places. And the price of food was falling. 37Farmers asked the federal government for assistance. But Coolidge rejected several bills that might have helped them. The bills had other problems, Coolidge reasoned, and he did not think that the federal government should intervene in the situation. 38So the farmers continued to suffer. 39But most voters remained supportive of Coolidge. Even though the president was considered a quiet person, he spoke often on the radio, appeared in a talking film, met with reporters regularly, and posed in funny costumes for photographers. 40He easily won elected in 1924. Historians believe he could have won another term, too, in 1928. But Coolidge chose not to seek office. 41Some believed he was too saddened by the death of his teenaged son. Shortly after Coolidge became president, the boy had been playing tennis and slightly wounded his toe. The wound became infected. The infection spread to the boy's blood. A few days later, he died. 42Although Coolidge continued his presidency, he later said the joy had gone from the job. 43But when he decided not to seek re-election, he did not talk about his feelings. Instead, he simply wrote a note to reporters saying: "I do not choose to run for President in 1928." 44His secretary of commerce, Herbert Hoover, was elected instead. Coolidge retired to his home in Massachusetts and led a quiet private life. 45Legacy 46President Coolidge was well-liked by most Americans. Later presidents - including Ronald Reagan - sought to follow some of his economic policies. 47But many historians have questioned those policies. They say that Coolidge did not pay enough attention to the situation of farmers. And they say the stock market was rising too fast. 48Seven months after Coolidge left office, the U.S. economy collapsed. 49The country was still deep in the Great Depression when Coolidge passed away. He died - quietly, of course - during an afternoon nap at the age of 60. 50His will was but a single sentence. 51I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 52Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 53________________________________________________________ 54See how well you understand the story of America's 30th president by taking this listening quiz. 55_______________________________________________________ 56Words in This Story 57casual - adj. happening by chance : not planned or expected 58conversation - n. talking in an informal way 59fondly - adv. in a loving way 60thrift - n. careful use of money so that it is not wasted 61grief - n. deep sadness caused especially by someone's death 62wit - n. an ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny 63ticket - n. a list of the candidates supported by a political party in an election 64engagement - n. the act or state of being involved with something 65sensible - adj. having or showing good sense or judgment