The Washington times., 1924-06-02
ARE
ALL RADIO
FANS
Set Especially Designed BY
Navy Engineers Is Used
at White House
By THoMAs sTEyENsoN!O

Radio will hold its audience at
the White House this summer des-
pite the decreased attention It may
receive in other homes throughout
the country. President Coolidge is
becoming more interested in radio
every day and Mrs. Coolidge is
already an ardent fan. John and
Calvin jr., who win return from
college late in June are both
enthusiastic amateurs.
Almost every evening between 5
and 10 o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Cool
idge can be found sitting before
their set in the Presidents study
listening to the programs of
nearby or distant stations. 1t was
not 50 long ago when the Presf-
dent did not care particularly for
radio. Close friends Of his credit
Mrs. Coolidge with having accom-
plished the conversion.
Mr.. Coolidge is said to have found
special pleasure in radio during his
recent illness. Confined to the
White House with a severe cold
and pressed on all sides by cares
involved in administering the
executive affairs of the nation, Mr..
Coolidge was able to tune in on his,
radio set and to some extent forget
his job in enjoyment of the pro
grams provided.
Has Special Set.
The White House is now equipped
with a receiving set specially de-
signed and developed at the Wash
ington Navy Yard after extensive
research work covering consider
able : period of v1me The Navy.
fe.A
to test out several standard sets
from which one could be selected for
| use on the south portico. of the
White House this summer. Radio
engineers of the Navy Department
have already completed these tests
and three standard sets, each haV-
ing eight tubes with a loop antenna,
will be carried to the White House
for Mrs. Coolidge to choose from.
The Presidential yacht sMayfIower
| is also equipped with a new ana
| improved radiophone receiving set
| for use by Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge
and their guests during frequent
trips on the Potomac.
The White House has been par
ticularly fortunate In the class Of
| service provided by its set. 1t is
| only on rare occasions that there
| Is static or. interference enough to
spoil the programs. Whenever the
static OF interference is particularly
bad, Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge do not
bother trying to tune it out, since
neither knows very much about
how to accomplish such a result.
| In this connection, Mrs. Coolidge
is said to be more expert in manip.
ulating and adjusting the set than
is Mr.. Coolidge.
Like Local Programs. a.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge are gen.
orally satisfied with the programs
provided by the local broadcasting
stations and do not try to reach
outside of Washington for their
entertainment. Occasionally, how
ever, when there is a particularly
| good program being broadcast from
New York, Pittsburgh or some other
distant station, an attempt is made
to pick it UP on the White Housa
set. AS Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge
10th retire early, they seldom listen
In on their set after 10 p. m.
John and Calvin, jr., when home
during the holidays, picked UP quite
number Of distant stations on
the White House set. But as their
mother and father are firm be-
levers in the old .adage early TO
bed, early to RISE" they were never
permitted to sit up late at night
In an effort to pick /, up western
stations. Es3I
Mr.. Coolidge is saidsto be aware
of the tremendous possibilities of
radio from political point of.
view. He is said to believe that
radio, if, properly regulated and
conducted should bring about
unity OF thought and action in this
country that win link the various
States together to the same extent
accomplished by the railroads, tele-
phone and Telegraph.
The radio set now doing service
at the White House was specially
designed for President Harding.
4