Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-02
BY JOE FOUNTAIN

in the green Vermont hills,
tomorrow will relive its golden
moment in American history.
1t was 2:47 on a sultry sum-
mer morning, August 3. 1928.
that Calvin Coolidge. Vice Pres
ident of the United States
stood in the lamplit parlor of
his family's homestead while
his father, a notary public.
Swore him in as President.
Only a few hours before,
President Warren G. Harding
had died in San Francisco.
In tomorrow's ceremony,
John Coolidge, son Of the 30th
President, will hand to Gov.
Joseph B. johnson q deed CIV
ing the State title to the house
for a museum.
Already Plymouth. q town
of 348 residents, has become
a tourist attraction. Visitors
from all States are flocking in
They have averaged 1000 q
month this summer.
Made Political History
The townsfolk never cashed
in before on the fact that one
of the most unusual events in
the Nations political history
occurred here. But years. like
distance, seem to lend enchant-
ment.
A decade ago, Vermont State
officials thought something
should be done to perpetuate
the memory of one of its most
famous sons. A move was
started to create Coolidge
memorial at Plymouth. The
deciding of the homestead is the
result.
The ceremony will attract
six New England Governors,
Federal officials representing
President Eisenhower, and
other dignitaries. including
Henry Wallace, former Vice
President.
Mrs. Grace Coolidge, the
Presidents widow, agreed last
year to give the little White
House on a Plymouth side
street to the State. and the
Legislature appropriated $12.-
600 to renovate and restore it
TO its 1928 appearance.
But Mrs. Coolidge did not
live to see the presentation.
She died on July g..
8 Witnesses Still Living
Only three persons are still
alive who saw Col. John C.
Coolidge administer the oath
of ONCE. They are Herbert P.
Thompson Of PittSfield, Mass;
Joseph McInerny of Washing.
ton. and this writer.
Mr.. McInerny was the Cool
idge chauffeur, since retired
from Government service.
Mr.. Thompson. a postofice
worker in Pittsfield, was a
member Of the small group
which heard of Harding's death
and motored from Springfield.
VT, with Porter Dale, then a
Congressman, later to become
Senator from Vermont, and this
writer, who was then editor Of
the weekly Springfield Reporter
and q correspondent for the
Associated Press.
Other reporters-assigned to
Mr.. Coolidge for several days
had been at the scene earlier.
But there was only one tele-
phone in Plymouth, and the
Government had comman-
deered that. so they had headed
elsewhere with their stories Of
how the household was awak-
ened by a messenger bearing a
telegram with news Of Hard
ing's death.
So when Mr.. Dale convinced
the Vice President that he
should take the oath immedi-
ately. / had an exclusive story
and a beat for the APP.
How He Knew
Several days later. I inter-
viewed the Presidents father,
and asked him how he knew he
had the necessary constitu.
tional authority to swear in his
soma ceremony usually re-
served for the Chief Justice Of
the United States.
He was as sparing of speech
as his son. and replied: Il didn't
know that I couldn't"
And he didn't know. because
the Constitution outlines the
form of the oath. but does not
specify who will administer it.
The oath room" has been
restored just at it was on that
historic morning. There Is the
table on which Aurora Pierce.
the housekeeper, had placed a
spotless oil lamp. the only IL
Elimination in the room. Also
on the table was the open
Collidge family Bible. which was