Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-08
Mrs. Coolidge Diesot 70;
Widowof3 Both President

thPresident
Burlington, VT. she grew up
less than 100 miles from the |
man who was to become her
husband. She was the daugh-
ter of a Democrat. Andrew !. |
Goodhue, a Government steam-
boat inspector.
After being graduated from
the University of Vermont in
1902, where she took a special |
interest in dramatics, she went |
to Northampton. Mass, and for |
three years taught in the
Clarke School for the Deaf
and Dumb. She later became
a board member of the school
and often returned there for
visits.
@"ANN - NAAaANA kJOOA0IS
Mr.. Coolidge went from his
native Vermont to Massachu-
sets to attend Amherst College.
Then he started his law career
in Northampton.
The two began to see each
other at Congregational Church
socials in Northampton. Their
friendship developed into a dig
nified courtship, and they were
married October 4. 1905. She
was 26 then and he was 33.
They lived frugally. Mrs.
Coolidge sewed, knitted and
cooked and became known To-
cally for her BURBERRY pies.
She laughed later in describing
some of the contributions Mr..
Coolidge had brought to their
new household.
One was So pairs of bachelor
socks for her to darn. Another
was a set of silver he had
bought from the receivers of a
bankrupt hotel. Each piece was
plainly labeled with the name
of the hotel.
Their first home was a two
family house in Northampton,
and Mr.. Coolidge wrote of it:
II attended to the furnishing
Of it myself, and when it was
re "a dy, Mrs. Coolidge and /
walked over to it."
They continued to OCCUPY
that home until he became
Vice President and returned to
it when he left the Presidency.
Two sons were born to the
couple. John and Calvin, jr
The latter died in 1924 at the
age of Is. He had developed
blood poisoning from a blistered
toe suffered in playing tennis
When the couple moved to
Washington in 1921. they took
an apartment in the Willard
Hotel. They stayed there until
they moved into the White
House after the death of Presi-
dent Harding in 1923.
Active in Girl Scouts
The schoolteacher who had
become mistress Of the Execu-
tive Mansion never lost the
simplicity that charmed so
m any Washingtonians and
others. An honorary member of
the Girl Scouts while she was
living at the White House, Mrs.
Coolidge was never too busy to
put on her Scout uniform and
JOIN the girls activities.
The first Presidents wife to
receive an honorary college de-
gree. and an honorary life
member Of the Newspapers
Women's Club of Washington.
she helped plant a weeping
birch tree on the White House
grounds. donated as a memorial
to mothers of Presidents.
Mrs. Coolidge was never a
suffragist. but after women
were given the vote, she cast
her ballot regularly as a citi-
zen's duty.
PaSsionately devoted to the
welfare of her sons. she bore
the death of the younger with
quiet fortitude. Five years later,
she wrote an anniversary poem
addressed to his memory which
was published in Good House,
keeping Magazine. The $3.50
paid her by the magazine she
sent to her son John, asking
him to use it in his new home
in some way that his brother
might have chosen we're he
here"
Never a Joiner"
The Coolidges got their first
automobile when they moved to
Washington. It was one pro.
vided by the Government for
the Vice Presidents official use.
Interviewed shortly after she
entered the White House. Mrs.
Coolidge said THE Red Cross
is the only thing to which I be-
long. I'm not a member of
clubs or societies. I suppose a
lot Of women get enjoyment
out Of those things. but / never
cared much for them. have
had two boys and my husband
to look after"
A woman who liked to give
personal direction TO the man.
agement Of her household. Mrs
Coolidge. as wife Of the Cover
nor. had employed only one
parttime servant.
1T takes close managing to
get along these days Of high
cost Of living" she once said.
Although my husband has
moved up. It made no difference