Evening star., 1933-04-08
BY DOLLY GANN.

BY DOLLY GANN.
There was no doubt from the first
that the country trusted President
Coolidge. My brother Charles was as
sistant leader and whip of the Senate
while Mr.. Coolidge was filling out the
Harding term, and leader the ensuing
four years. The President relied upon
him and consulted him on legislation,
and their close relations were back of
the unanimity between Congress and
the White House. At the Inauguration
of 1925 brother was the Senator Sc
lected to ride with Mr.. and Mrs.
Coolidge
The harmony between brother and
Mr.. Coolidge continued unbroken. In
1928, after Charles election to the
vice presidency, President Coolidge
urged him not to resign from the SEN
ate. He said he needed brothers help
to put his remaining program through.
Though Charles was under pressure
from Kansas to resign, so the Gov
ernor could appoint a regular Repub-
Hcan to the vacancy, he stayed lin the
Senate as long as Mr.. Coolidge was in
the White House.
Our family's association with the
Coolidges was as happy In a social way.
There was long, hot Summer, when
we had picnic parties. In the group
would be Vice President and Mrs. Cool
idge, their sons, Senator and Mrs. Cap
per, Mr. and Mrs. David Mulvane,
Judge and Mrs. McChord, my hus-
band, Billy, and myself
When he became President, Mr.. Cool
1dge telegraphed brother, who, with
70
fer with him. I called Immediately at
the Willard, where the President and
Mrs. Coolidge were staying. Mrs, Cap
per, close friend Of Mrs. Coolidge, went
with me. When the new President
entered we stood up, as always In the
presence of the President and his wife
when they are standing.
you don't have to do that until
am In the White House." said Mr..
Coolidge.
A man not coached on the rules
visited the White House. When he
thought it time to leave he rose, not
knowing a guest should never rise
until the President had given the hint
Mr.: Coolidge shook warning finger
and said:
Don't you pop up till do"
Whereupon the visitor sat down
again.
Some Coolidge Stories.
Mr.. Coolidge could not have origi-
mated tithe of the sayings attribu-
ted to him, but the true stories Of his
humor would fill a big book. He de-
served his reputation as a man of
silences-.most of the time. But how
he could talk when the notion struck
him! After Mr.. Coolidge's death q
Southern newspaper owner said:
He could ask more questions than
any man ever knew"
OF all the stories showing his brev-
ty coupled with humor, like best the
one about his first pay check as Presi-
dent. A messenger laid on the desk
an envelope containing the check, and
started out. As he was disappearing,
the President called:
Come again!"
A pretty young woman visited the
the President If he would visit her home
town, Atlantic City, With enthusiasm
she described Atlantic City, saying she
would guarantee Mr.. Coolidge "the best
fishing in the world
Surely you don't mean going out on
the ocean and fishing from boat?" ex-
claimed the President.
well, Mr.. President, the ocean is the
only water we have"
MY dear young lady," he said, don't
you know am an expert with q trout
rod? You couldn't expect me to fish In
an ocean"
The conversation ended with his as
surance that, despite the ocean, he
would like nothing better than to see
Atlantic City If all its inhabitants were
ike his caller. Mr.. Coolidge could turn
a compliment.
ports OF the White House roof had de-
cayed, the engineers reported to Mr..
Coolidge that he must vacate imms-
diately, as it would be dangerous to
stay.
:! guess you needn't worry" was the
reply. There are plenty of men VINO
would be glad to take the risk"
During the repairs the Coolidges
stayed with Mrs. Eleanor Patterson, the
editor. 1t was in this temporary
White House that Col. Lindbergh was a
guest during the official welcome after
Llndbergh's flight to Paris.
No Presidential Salute.
All were struck by the tenderness of
Mr.. Coolidge toward the aviator. It
seemed that the President, in this m-
conscious display of affection, must
be thinking of his own boy Calvin.
l observed the Presidents fondness
for animals on yachting party with
the Coolidges. On deck with Mrs.
Coolidge as the Mayflower got under
way noticed no presidential salute was
fired. I asked why. She replied Mr.
Coolidge had ordered 1t so. The salute
would frighten Tim, the pet chow.
A breakfast guest at the White House
was aStonished to see Mr.. Coolidge pour
his coffee from cup to saucer. Not to
be outdone, the guest followed suit. The
President added cream and sugar, in the
sauces, and tasted the mixture with the
spoon. The guest was initiating him
when the President set the saucer on
the floor for the dog!
We attended the funeral of young
Calvin Coolidge, the son. I have never
seen such elf-control, nor yet such un-
mistakable marks of pain, as on the
faces of the President, Mrs. Coolidge
and John Coolidge, the other son. With
the family were Mr. and Mrs. Frank w.
Stearns.
The association of Mr. Coolidge and
Mr.. Stearns was a friendship upon
which a great novel might be written.
The Boston capitalist adored Mr.
Coolidge. They met when Mr.. Coolidge,
as head of the Massachusetts, Senate,
was visited by the merchant asking a
favor. 1t was refused. Some techni-
cality stood in the way. Mr.. Stearns
was furious. Later, without saying a
word, Coolidge put through the Stearns
plan with an efficiency that impressed
the merchant. who became his admirer,
then his friend, finally his idolator.
(Tomorrow: Hoover and Curtis)
Copyright, 1893. BY MANA, Inc, and
Dolly Gam