Evening star., 1933-01-06

reveal now that his cup of happiness on
that day was kept from being complete
because his home town, Northampton,
had gone Democratic. He finally dis
posed of that disgrace by saying North
ampton is q peculiar town about poll
tics"
Mr.. Coolidge attached considerable
importance to the newspaper corre-
spondents who were assigned to cover"
him regularly and he always saw to it
that they were included in his personal
party on occasions when he went abroad
and he always insisted that, they be
given everything within reason in the
matter of news.
There is nothing about me or the
goings on at the White House that I
want to be kept secret" Mr.. Coolidge
said on more than one occasion. He
did not mind in the least personal
stories about his peculiarities. Even
when these personal stories were some
times colored he raised no objection, and
usually chuckled over them.
Stories Aided Popularity.
One of Mr.. Coolidge's intimates ex-
planned afterward that he had wisdom
enough to see the value Of these person.
ality stories. Many think they con-
tributed greatly to his popularity. There
is no question about their humanizing
value.
Mr.. Coolidge had no hesitancy in let
ting members of the press know when
he was not especially familiar with GER
tain subjects occupying the headlines,
but regarding matters of history relat-
ing to Vermont or regarding person.
ages OF his adopted State, he was ever
eager to display profound knowledge.
This was demonstrated on more than
one occasion while visiting various
points Of interest in that State during
the Summer of 1925, when he was
spending his vacation at Swampscott
on the Massachusetts, North Shore. Mr..
Coolidge invariably read up on the his
tory of some particular place to be Wis
tied and when the time came he could
impart the information correctly and
literally.
Just how strongly developed was this
trait he displayed during a visit to
Plymouth Rock, Mass After viewing
the rock and listening to Mr.. Coolidge
tell all about its history and the landing
of the Pilgrims the presidential party
visited the burial ground on the bluff
The newspaper men had grown trlf1e
tired and probably bored after looking
at the scores of tombstenes and had col
lected in a little group some distance
away from the President. Figuring
that the President was beyond earshot
one of the newspaper group looked over
in the direction of the President, who
was pointing out some tombstone tc
Mrs. Coolidge, and then said to his as
sociates IT wonder who that old bozo L
Cal is looking at now?"
The words had hardly been spoker
when the President turned and callec
back in answer "I am looking at the
tomb Of the first Governor OF Massa'
chusetts"
Never Played Favorites.
Mr.. Coolidge never played favorites L
the matter of news, and for that reasor
he was liked, If not loYed, by all OF th'
newspaper men who covered" him
He never gave exclusive interviews ant
he never resented any Of the really
mean stories written about him. 1
may have been just his way of appear
ing indifferent, but he frequently sale
regarding really ugly stories, Il dom
read them through When find then
getting disagreeable throw the papel
away and pick up something else Il
read"
He is credited with giving this ad
| vice to Herbert Hoover during the l92'
campaign when things were getting no
toward the end, and the opposition pres
was showing no mercy.
Mr.. Coolidge unquestionably enjoyed
being President. His was nature no
to worry. He was not sensitive and M
matter what great matters were unde
discussion at the time he could alway
enjoy his afternoon nap and could sleel
through the night.
Older associates at the White Hous
agree that in their White House expert
ence there has never been NOR
methodical or easy-going President. h
ran his Office and himself on schedul
and seldom varied it.
He was systematic to a high degree
| Part Of his system was not to ALLOW
himself to be bothered with details n
considered unnecessary and not to d.
the work some one else was supposed b
do. He delighted in having his desl
clear He would dispose Of his routin
business as quickly as possible, S
quickly for that matter that he fre
quently sent word to his secretary t
bring in more papers. He succeeds
well in keeping abreast with his dali
engagement schedule when he receives
his callers. and in this respect he was
master hand at bringing audiences TO
close.
Generally in Good Spirits
He seldom felt indisposed and Will
he was generally in good spirits he wa
never jovial. Few men he addressed b
their first name and only one, to thi
writer's knowledge, addressed him u
public as Cal" That was Tom White
an old Massachusetts, political lieu
tenant. Frank B. Stearns, who was
close friend and spent many months
the White House, always addressed hir
as "Mr. Coolidge" and the latter In re
turn always said 'Mr. Stearns."
In the case of Mrs. Coolidge, he gen