Americans yearning for
the leadership of former presidents is quite the common occurrence in today’s
tumultuous political times. “If only we had another Abraham Lincoln or George
Washington,” people wistfully say. While this is certainly an admirable wish, there
is another president they should look to. Perhaps the kind of man really needed
to lead the country today is neither Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, nor even
Roosevelt. Perhaps the ideal president for this era of crippling debt, absurdly
complex regulations and miles of red tape, tense international relations, and endless
partisan bickering is a man perhaps most known for his propensity to say as
little as possible. In a time when politicians rant, rave, and constantly make
wild accusations on national television (or Twitter), perhaps what is needed is
a president who once said, “The words of a President have an enormous weight
and ought not to be used indiscriminately.”
By now it has become
abundantly clear to whom this refers. Indeed, what average American would not
have instantly guessed that the above refers to the 30th, and last genuinely
fiscally conservative president, John Calvin Coolidge Jr.?
Now, before you laugh, hear
me out.
It is true that the
average person likely knows very little about Calvin Coolidge, and that is undoubtedly
just how he would have wanted it. However, the general lack of familiarity with
the Coolidge presidency is certainly no indicator that his accomplishments were
few. In fact, quite to the contrary, Calvin Coolidge, though he said very
little, acted slowly, and with much deliberation, did a great deal of good
during his six years as president. And the best part about Coolidge is that
both sides of the aisle could probably find something to appreciate in his
policies.
Limited government
conservatives of today would adore President Coolidge. It was noted that
Coolidge's propensity for doing nothing was exactly what made him so popular. The
Father of Modern Journalism, Walter Lippmann, once said of Coolidge, “This
active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country
admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone....
And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this
country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...” Coolidge firmly
believed that the best government was a small government, and governed as such,
perhaps even to a fault. Coolidge famously vetoed the McNary–Haugen Farm Relief
Bill not only because of its high cost, but also because he believed that
agriculture should exist “on an independent business basis,” rather than being
propped up by the government. Unsurprisingly, the size of government actually
shrunk during Coolidge's time in office. This fiscal restraint allowed the
United States to pay off one fourth of its national debt. Imagine for a minute,
policies today that would allow the United States government to pay off $5
trillion of its debt!
In President Coolidge,
the “taxation is theft” crowd would find a true champion. Silent Cal took
office in 1923 and by 1927 he had completely eliminated income tax for all but
2% of the population. How is that for tax cuts?
Many conservatives
question the power and influence of the United Nations. Coolidge would have as
well. As president, he blocked the United States from entering into the League
of Nations because he believed that it did not serve American interests. He
also helped enact tariffs to protect American businesses from predatory foreign
influences.
Coolidge favored a
non-interventionist approach to foreign policy. While he was not an
isolationist, it was clear that he preferred for America to keep to itself
unless absolutely necessary. America ratified the Kellogg-Briand Pact during
the Coolidge presidency, which, while it ultimately failed in its purpose of
preventing another war, ended up serving as a basis for post-World War II
international law.
“Silent Cal” is perhaps
most recognized for his advancement of civil rights in America. In a time when
African-Americans were subject to widespread and often violent discrimination,
Coolidge was a champion of civil rights. In his first State of the Union
address he said, “Numbered among our population are some 12,000,000 colored
people. Under our Constitution their rights are just as sacred as those of any
other citizen. It is both a public and a private duty to protect those rights.
The Congress ought to exercise all its powers of prevention and punishment
against the hideous crime of lynching […].” What a stark contrast to a few
years prior when Woodrow Wilson publicly advocated for segregation. During
Coolidge’s presidency the Ku Klux Klan gradually faded into obscurity. In 1924,
he signed the Indian Citizenship Act, giving United States citizenship to all
Native Americans, further cementing his status as one of the earliest
supporters of civil rights.
If all these arguments
are still unpersuasive, consider the fact that Calvin Coolidge is still the
only president to have been born on Independence Day. He was clearly destined
for greatness. (Note: reportedly, sources close to the family have said that
there were indeed fireworks and multiple bald eagles present for his birth.
This claim is being further investigated, but the author has found no reason of
yet to doubt its veracity.) On a non-political note, Calvin Coolidge was a
noted animal lover and once said, “Any man that does not like dogs and want
them about does not deserve to be in the White House.” On top of all that, his
taciturn and mysterious ways earned him what is assuredly the greatest nickname
of any president: The Sphinx of the Potomac.
Over the last several
decades Republicans and Democrats alike, anxious to advance their respective
agendas, have drastically increased the size and influence of government. Even
Lincoln and Reagan, men who are very nearly worshiped by conservatives, had a
hand in this; Reagan increased government spending and Lincoln increased
government influence. Maybe it is time to look to a new example of conservative
ideals. Conservatives wax eloquent about the benefits of small government, so
perhaps it is time to look to the example of a president who actually shrunk
government, practiced true fiscal restraint, and believed that the best
government was a limited one. Calvin Coolidge got government out of Americans’
way, and as a result the country enjoyed one of its most prosperous decades to
date. Calvin Coolidge is exactly the president this country needs today.
