Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
SECLUSION DESIRED
BY CALVIN COOLIDGE
Has No Desire to Be President Again
Charges for Autographs to
Aid Wife's Work.

TO my autobiography. Have you read
| it2" he asked.
I replied that I had not, and his sec
| rotary, Herman G. Beatty who sat near
us during the interview, interrupted:
'You may get it at the book store across
the street and up in the next block"
THAT will give you my answer to that
question" said Mr. Coolidge "and any
thing else you may wish to know, Mr..
Beatty will supply"
That ended the direct interview.
made an appointment with Mr.. Beatty
| for an interview an hour later, then
went to the book store.
THE book costs So. but if you wish
Mr. Coolidge to autograph 1t that will
explained that this dollar for auto
graphing went to Mrs. Coolidges mis-
sionary society of the Jonathan Edwards
| Congregational Church
Mrs Coolidge is a great church
worker" he said. Last Christmas Mr.
Coolidge autographed 900 of these
books and that gave Mrs. Coolidge $500
for her missionary society. 1 suppose
he has autographed fully 800 more
since then, which meant $500 more for
her society. She is just wrapped up in
The work of that church. 1 saw her last
Winter work all day in a booth. selling
things, at fair to help the church.
Coolidge Autographs Books.
when any one buys one Of these
books and it is 10 be autographed /
just send 1t down, Mr.. Coolidge drops
anything he happens to be doing then,
and autographs the book, and the mes
senger returns at once with it."
So, 1 paid the 81, the book went over
to the Office of Mr.. Coolidge and with
in few minutes it came back with his
autograph written on the fly leaf
When l went to his Office later Mr..
Beatty said:
After you had gone away Mr.. Cool
idge remarked that he meant to make
you a present of the book, but I told
him that I thought you would rather
pay for 1t and thus be a contributor
to the missionary society of Mrs.
Coolidge"
And what did he say to that?"
He rather wanted to give you the
book, but he compromised by writing
your name in it together with his
Usually he simply writes his own name
in these books, and does 1t hurriedly;
but if you will look into your book you
will see that he has given it to you,
personally, with his regards
Heavy Toll of Presidency.
Nov, if you will turn to Chapter 7,
Why I Did Not Choose to Run you
will see that his reasons for never
again being a candidate for the presi-
dency are various. He speaks first Of
the heavy toll the presidential Office
takes of those who occupy it and of
their families. He states that he be-
lives no one man could successfully
serve the country as President for a
term of more than eight years He
states that another term would be too
heavy a strain upon Mrs. Coolidge He
believes the people would not have con-
fidence in a man who appears to be
grasping for Office. as he would appear
to be doing If he sought another term
Now read the last paragraph Of the
book" and I read
'It was therefore my privilege, after
seeing my administration so strongly
Endorsed by the country, to retire vol
unfairly from the greatest experience
that can come to mortal man. In that
way, I believe 1 could best serve the
people who have honored me and the
country which I love"
This interesting story of Mr.. Cool
fdge and his pTesent-ddy activities
t1iH be continued in the editorial Sec
ton OF The Star merit Sunday.