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Honoring the Only President Born on the Fourth of July

Posted by B. Daniel Blatt at 3:18 pm - July 4, 2010.
Filed under: Freedom,Great Americans,Noble Republicans,Patriotism,Tea Party

Today, as we celebrate Independence Day, we would do ourselves well to recall Calvin Coolidge, the only president born on the Fourth of July as did my friend Rick Sincere in his wonderful essay for the Richmond Times Dispatch:

In his 2008 book, The Cult of the Presidency, the Cato Institute’s Gene Healy wrote that Coolidge is remembered “mostly for his reticence and for fiscal policies that combined Yankee parsimony with generous tax cuts.”

That “Yankee parsimony” is on display in a short film that is thought to be the first time a U.S. president appeared in a “talkie” — a movie with sound.

In this four-minute clip. . . , Coolidge says that he wants to “cut down public expense. I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves. I want them to have the rewards of their own industry. This is the chief meaning of freedom. Until we can re-establish a condition under which the earnings of the people can be kept by the people, we are bound to suffer a very severe and distinct curtailment of our liberty.”

Read the whole thing (and this too).

On this Fourth of July, it is particularly important that we recall that president born on the Fourth of July.  He truly got the meaning of Independence and understood the ideals to which our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Tea Party protestors use language and symbols (e.g. “Don’t Tread on Me” flags) of our founders should be pleased to note that the ideas we express are nearly identical to those expressed by Coolidge in, what is believed to be, “the first presidential film with sound recording“:

So, on this Independence, let us recall the ideals of our Founders and listen to them so well expressed by the one president quite literally (and also figuratively) born on the Fourth of July.

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9 Comments

  1. [...] in Liberty and low taxes.  here he is, expressing those ideas in what is believed to be “the first presidential film with sound recording.”  These remarks from the conclusion of his [...]

    Pingback by The Very Best Fourth of July Speech Ever! « American Elephants — July 4, 2010 @ 8:07 pm - July 4, 2010

  2. My favorite story about the taciturn Coolidge centered around the flighty garden club woman who was seated next to the President at a luncheon. She gushed: “Oh, President Coolidge, I bet my garden club that I could get you to say more than two words.”

    The President paused in lifting his fork, looked her in the eye and said: “You lose.”

    Comment by heliotrope — July 4, 2010 @ 8:40 pm - July 4, 2010

  3. There was something about a woman found out that “Silent Cal” had died and she asked “How can you tell?” or something to that effect.

    Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 4, 2010 @ 9:54 pm - July 4, 2010

  4. Actually, my favorite story of Calvin Coolidge is how the biological phenomenon known as the “Coolidge effect” came to be named after him. :)

    Comment by North Dallas Thirty — July 4, 2010 @ 11:54 pm - July 4, 2010

  5. Everything’s Cool With Coolidge!

    Comment by JP — July 5, 2010 @ 2:28 am - July 5, 2010

  6. Why Calvin Coolidge Would Have Voted Against Obama:

    “When depression in business comes we begin to be very conservative in our financial affairs. We save our money and take no chances in its investment. Yet in our political actions we go in the opposite direction. We begin to support radical measures and cast our votes for those who advance the most reckless proposals. This is a curious and illogical reaction. When times are good we might take a chance on a radical government. But when we are financially weakened we need the soundest and wisest of men and measures.”

    The Politically Incorrect Guide to The Great Depression and the New Deal

    Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 5, 2010 @ 6:42 am - July 5, 2010

  7. Interesting choice, “Silent Cal” doesn’t get much attention when folks look at past presidents. In addition to his economic policy stances, let’s not forget his support of civil rights legislation, anti-lynching laws and opposition to the Klan. Considering the resurgence of the Klan in the 1920s his opposition was no small matter.

    I’m surprised though that you didn’t mention the 4th being the anniversary of the deaths of both former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Interesting characters those two were as well.

    Comment by John — July 5, 2010 @ 1:06 pm - July 5, 2010

  8. #3: “There was something about a woman found out that “Silent Cal” had died and she asked “How can you tell?” ”

    That was the inimitable Dorothy Parker, of the famous Algonquin Round Table.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

    Comment by Peter Hughes — July 6, 2010 @ 5:16 pm - July 6, 2010

  9. This film was absolutely awesome! Clear and concise and can be given today. I came across this speech also delivered by President Coolidge http://rightviewfromtheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-independence-day-from-calvin.html. Now, read that speech and IT can also be given today. I did not get why President Reagan revered President Coolidge until I read up on him. Since the publik skoolse do not teach the truth about this great president. Every time these kind of gems pop up, I get it. And the Tea Party folks get it too. That is why President Coolidge is becoming a hero to those of us who consider ourselves Tea Party conservatives. And despite leftist “historians”, as people do the research they too will realize the greatness of this leader.

    Comment by Mark J. Goluskin — July 7, 2010 @ 1:00 am - July 7, 2010

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