Customer Reviews

Calvin Coolidge: Thirtieth President of the United States (Encyclopedia of Presidents)

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Zachary Kent has done a wonderful job bringing Calvin Coolidge back to life in this book. The black-and-white photographs and illustrations which are scattered profusely throughout the book greatly assist in telling Coolidge's story. Not only does the story provide key dates in Calvin's life, but there is an excellent timeline in the back of the book that puts events in perspective. Coolidge's parents were a hardworking Puritan couple who instilled values such as self-control into Calvin at a young age. After graduating with honors at Amherst, he set out with a goal to "be of some use in the world." He decided to pursue becoming a lawyer, but things were going slowly and he turned to politics in his spare time. He exercised prudence and caution, traits that were to be hallmarks of his presidency, and slowly but surely climbed the political ladder. His sense of duty led him to accept the vice-presidential nomination, and after President Harding's death, he became the thirtieth President. Despite his continuing popularity and the national prosperity during his full term, Coolidge decided not to run again. He would be remembered for his dry wit and restoration of dignity to the White House. I really enjoyed this book.