The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-06
CALVIN COOLIDGE
Despite UrgngS of Friends He Refused to Make Ac-
tive Race for Presidential Nomination in 1920
Ruled Over Sena tie With Firm Hand.
A PRESIDENT

first duty Of a Governor was to the
people and the job; that he didn't
intend to use the high office to lift
him into other honors.
Despite CooHdge's disinclination
openly to declare himself for ma
tional Office, his friends opened head
quarters in Chicago and worked for
the cause.
What happened at that convention
need not be repeated. The year 1920
is still too fresh in the minds Of
the present generation.
The hope for both Coolidge and
the late Warren G. Harding lay in
a deadlock. That took place and one
morning, in the still small hours. a
group in which Senator Lodge was
/ a prominent figure. decided that Har-
ding would be the choice.
His name went over the next day.
Then came the nomination. for
the vice presidency. First, the name
Of Senator Lenroot was preached.
It fell nat
Wins Second Place
A man from Oregon arose 70
place the name of Calvin Coolidge in
nomination. The words were scarce
" out Of his mouth when the cry
was taken up by all the delegates,
and on the first ballot Calvin Cool
idge became the nominee of the
Republican party.
Back in Boston. Coolidge and Mrs.
Coolidge were passing A quiet eve
ming aloTe.
The telephone rang.
Coolidge answered.
He was told the news.
I'm" he said. then turning TO
his wife. added in that nasal tone.
so familiar TO the people now. Nom
mated for Vice President.
Harding and Coolidge swept the
country After taking office Har-
ding invited Coolidge to sit in Cab.
met meetings. At first he hesitated,
| but later accepted.
Coolidge ruled the Senate with an
/ impartial hand.
Socially. he didn't fit in with
/ Washington. He was so quiet. so
/ unassuminC. that he wasn't in the
/ ricture' as the saying goes. His
! wife. however, made up for his back
/ w1rdnes3 socially. She was always
/ the center Of interest at a gathering.
After the end Of the sixty-seventh
Congress, Harding decided 10 take
a trip TO Alaska. Coolidge babe him
good-by and then went up 70 Yer
mont for a vacation. Il was the last
time they saw each other.
Becomes President
On Aug. .. 1923. Calvin Coolidge
retired early. He had been receiving
word Of Hard.ng's illness in san
Francisco. and believed that he was
recovering. Shortly before nidniaht
he was awakened by newspaper men
with the WORD that he was now
President; Harding had died.
The Vice President ard his wife
descended the stairs. Mrs. COOLIDGE
went back to fetch a lamp. so that
err husband could better read the
dispatch announcing the death. Cool
ldGe was a study. He said nothing.
affer asking in a low voice: rs :his
Information sUthentic?"
Then after a long pause. he an
ncunced he would prepare state.
ment in which he pledged himself 10
carry on the policies Of the late
president and that he would leave
for Washington that day.
Colonel John Coolidge was \ no.
tary public. and it was Coolidre'e de
sire that his father should admin.
ister the oath Of office.
And so. At half past two on that
morning. the father took the pledge
RON his son that he would UNFOLD
ne Constitution Of the United
states And so Calvin Coolidge was
made President.
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