Who was Calvin Coolidge and why does he matter?
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was one of the most principled and successful conservative Presidents of the 20th century. He assumed office in 1923 after the death of Warren Harding, under whom he served as Vice-President, and served as President until 1928.
Coolidge matters today because he is an example of how a principled, conservative leader can be both highly popular and successful in the modern era. Underlying his policies was a proper attachment to America's founding principles. Coolidge was also one of the most important critics of the threat Progressivism posed to those principles.
His conservative economic policies and his constitutional vision helped bring about the prosperity of the 1920s. Harding inherited massive budget deficits and a severe depression from Woodrow Wilson. Coolidge aggressively cut federal spending and income tax rates. In 1922, the top income tax rate was 73 percent. By 1925, Coolidge had reduced it to 25 percent, where it remained until he left office. Harding and Coolidge cut federal spending and helped reduce the debt.
For more on Coolidge, see Julia Shaw's WebMemo "This Fourth of July, Keep Cool with Coolidge."
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was one of the most principled and successful conservative Presidents of the 20th century. He assumed office in 1923 after the death of Warren Harding, under whom he served as Vice-President, and served as President until 1928.
Coolidge matters today because he is an example of how a principled, conservative leader can be both highly popular and successful in the modern era. Underlying his policies was a proper attachment to America's founding principles. Coolidge was also one of the most important critics of the threat Progressivism posed to those principles.
His conservative economic policies and his constitutional vision helped bring about the prosperity of the 1920s. Harding inherited massive budget deficits and a severe depression from Woodrow Wilson. Coolidge aggressively cut federal spending and income tax rates. In 1922, the top income tax rate was 73 percent. By 1925, Coolidge had reduced it to 25 percent, where it remained until he left office. Harding and Coolidge cut federal spending and helped reduce the debt.
For more on Coolidge, see Julia Shaw's WebMemo "This Fourth of July, Keep Cool with Coolidge."