Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-04

TIC lOllSly ldlllllIOuoC AaN USNOl
Father Administers Cath
Less than an hour after Mr.. Cool
idge had learned of the death OF
Mr.. Harding, a telephone was IN
stalled in the house, and the presl-
dent had learned direct from Wash
ington the form of the oath of office
and the fact that his father might
have the honor of administering it.
In the meantime Congressman Dale
had arrived from Springfield with
wo federal employees.
As soon as the brief swearlng-ln
CEREMONY was over, the President
nd Mrs. Coolidge retired to gain a
title rest before the trip to Wash
ngton.
The swearing-in formality was
sort and simple. In the little Sill
ing room of the farmhouse, tur-
dshed in homely style like any 9TH
.r Vermont country home, the presl-
lent stood with right hand appraised
1T 80 side of a little table, with
Mrs. coolidge beside him. Across
the table his father, his face beam
ing. read the few words of the oath
Ito preserve, protect and defend the
constitution of the United States"
The fathers voice trembled as he
read. Mr.. Coolidge repeated the
words distinctly and calmly, and at
the end added the solemn affirmation
so help me, God"
CONGRESSMAN Dale, Erwin G. Gels
ser. NJ. Coolidge's assistant secre-
! tary: a. Vermont editor and the two
secret service men were the sole
witnesses other than Mrs. Coolidge.
President Coolidge will pass
through New York at O'Clock TINS
afternoon, eastern standard time, At
was announced. by the New YORK
Central railroad.
Upon arrival there he will imme-
1iatelv be taken by automoplleg 10
the PENNSYLVANIA terminal to eaten
a 'special train for Washington re
is expected to arrive at the capital
at f0:55 o'clock, eastern standard
time.
Coolidge's First Statement
Mr. Coolidge dictated the follow
ing statement as soon as he learned
of the presidents death:
Reports have reached me that
President Harding has gone. Inc
world has lost a great and good man:
T mourn his death. He was my CHIEF
and my friend.
cit will be my purpose to carry
out the policies which he had ne
a1ln. for the service of the Ameri-
can people and for the meeting Oh
their responsibilities wherever they
may arise.
''For this purpose, I shall seek the
cooperation OF ali those who have
been associated with the president
during his term Of office. As for
those who have given their efforts
to assist him, 1 wish them to remain
in office, that they may assist me.
II have faith that GOD will direct
the destinies of our nation"
When Mr.. Coolidge came down
stairs to welcome the newspaper
men. ne held a telegram from Sec
rotary Christian, notifying him OF
the presidents death. He was calm
nlL Mrs. Coolidge, who stood beside
nim. appeared to be on the verge
Of IHeTS.
Mr.. Coolidge stopped to say "ss,eE0
boys," to the neWspapermen. linen
ne dictated the following telegram
to Mrs. Harding:
1--WE offer you our deepest sym
pathy. May God bless you and keep
9SianeO CALVIN COOLIDGE,
GRACE COOLIDGE"
House Without Telephone
Mr.. Coolidge, who had come here
for complete rest, had welcomed
he absence of d telephone from his
fathers home and during the presl
dents illness had walked several
times a. day to the village store tc
receive over the telephone there the
latest word from San Francisco. But
with the news Of the president
death. telephone company officials
Immediately set to work to give Mr.
coolidge every possible facility fol
communicating with Washington
and elsewhere and within an hour
a. telephone had been installed in the
farm house.
n was through a telephone com
nounication with Washington thai
fine vice president obtained the eXac
form of oath which the constitution
reoI1ires the president to take upor
assuming office. Then in the pres
ence of Mrs. Coolidge, Congressman
\ Porter H. Dale and a little party O.
friends and acquaintance, Mr.. Cool
idge. quietly went through the sim
pie ceremony which made him presi
dent. His father read by the Light o
an oil lamp on the table the m
!.