The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-05
CALVIN COOLIDGE
FOUND DEAD TODAY

1
Reaching the presidency upor
the death of Warren G. Harding
in 1928, Mr.. Coolidge was con.
fronted with problems of re.
Mobilization arising from the World
War and the depression of 1921
and almost at once the country
was shaken by the scandals which
were revealed in the naval OF
leases, the justice department anC
the office of the custodian of alier
property.
With serenity and calmness he
rode out these storms and mean
while instituted a policy of govern
mental economy and mutual help.
fulness in assisting Europe tt
work out its postwar problems
Such was the success of this pro.
gram that when he ran for presi.
dent in 1924 he was returned tC
office by popular plurality of T..
100000, the greatest that had beer
accorded candidate for the presi,
dency up to that time.
Arouses National Interest
The manner of his leaving the
presidency aroused national in.
terest comparable with that of his
induction into that office by his
father in a lamp-lit room of the
latter's Vermont farm home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge on the
Afternoon of the Inauguration OF
Herbert Hoover, his successor, left
Washington for their old home in
Northampton, Mass, to occupy the
same modest house where they
started life in 1905, when Mr.
Coolidge commenced his public
career as city solicitor of that
municipality.
AS early as the spring of 1927
there was widespread opinion that
if Mr.. Coolidge wished to be re-
elected he had only to indicate it
By his own confession, this view
was shared by Mr.. Coolidge him.
self, regardless of the popular
tradition that a president must re-
tire after his second term.
In a magazine article published
after his retirement, Mr.. Coolidge
declared he wanted to retire fol
several reasons which he proceeded
to enumerate.
First of all, there was his own
health and that of Mrs. Coolidge
at is hazardous" he wrote, etc
attempt what we feel is beyond oul
strength"
In addition, he considered it i'm.
possible for one man to serve sue,
cessfully in the presidency fol
more than eight years as review
of the careers of those who hat
served two full terms had shown
him that the latter part of then
tenure of office was devoid of con
structive accomplishments.
The nation was startled wher
on August 2, 1927, the presi
dent issued his famous state
ment:
81 do not choose to run fol
president in 1925"
1t was interpreted variousl!
throughout the country. Man!
saw in it sincere wish for re
tirement, but still a Willingness tx
accept the nomination should al
insistent demand arise. Other
looked upon it as a final decision
that he would not be a candidat,
for reelection. There were many
too, who regarded it as a shrewt
attempt to avoid the third tern
issue by having himself drafted
for office"
Confusion Clarified
This confusion was clarified b!
Mr.. Coolidge in an address befor'
the Republican National Commit
tee the following December. II
six crisp sentences which wer'
added at the last minute to a pre-
pared speech, the president de
clared that he had eliminated
himself entirely from the presi
DENTAL race and advised the part!
to continue ''the serious task o.
Iselecting another candidate"
This decision, he asserted. mus
be respected"
But Mr.. Coolidge did not stol
There. When the Republican Ma
ltional Convention met at Kansa
City in June, 1923, he dispatched
ibis secretary, Everett Sanders, Il
1.-THE session with instructions st,
Inotify several leaders of the stat,
delegations not to vote' for him.
Had / not done So" he said il
his magazine writings. II am toIt
II should have been nominated"
Mr.. Coolidge is on record as hav
ling said that he had never form
Iulated in his own mind what hi
latitude would have been had h,
been nominated.
| But ! was determined" h
added. mot to have that con
Itingeney arise"
| The Coolidge administration
was characterized by peaceful re
Elations with the rest of the worl,