The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge (American Presidency Series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: rediscount rate, United States, White House, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thrust into office with the death of Warren Harding in August of 1923, Calvin Coolidge presided over a nation at play. With the taciturn New Englander in the White House, the country embarked upon the orgiastic decade of over-spending and speculation now known as the Roaring '20s. Indiana University's Robert Ferrell (American Diplomacy: A History and Harry S. Truman: A Life) sums all this up in his brief but useful study of Coolidge's lethargic presidencyAthe first to be published in more than 30 years. As Ferrell shows, Coolidge ignored an overheating economy and thus set the stage for the Depression. At the same time, he dealt methodically, if not energetically, with the Teapot Dome scandal and crises in Mexico, China and Nicaragua. A deep believer in laissez-faire economics, Coolidge was committed to small government. He reduced the national debt (most of it stemming from the expenses of World War I) by a third, but failed to cope with a highly leveraged stock market run-up that invited disaster. "The statistics of what was happening were at hand," writes Ferrell. "The market speculation was clearly under way, but just as clearly Coolidge did not understand it." As Ferrell demonstrates, this failure is the single most important shortcoming of the Coolidge presidency, and the least explicable.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For decades, Calvin Coolidge has been rated by historians as one of the worst presidents of all time. Considered a passive, introspective, and uninterested person and administrator, Coolidge did nothing to control the economic forces that would lead to the Great Depression. But in this new biography, Ferrell (The Dying President, LJ 3/1/98) paints a more sympathetic portrait of our 30th president. Coolidge emerges as a somewhat more complex figure who actually sought out and enjoyed public service, though he didn't find campaigning appealing. But as much as readers will learn about Coolidge, they will also learn a great deal about the times and the major issues faced by his administration. From Coolidge's role in the development of U.S. military air power to his failure to engage actively in developing a coherent foreign policy, Ferrell's research is solid and his writing graceful, making this a very informative and accessible volume.AThomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700608923
• ISBN-13: 978-0700608928
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #475,516 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #34 in

  Books > History > United States > 20th Century > 1900s-1920s

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An objective and well researched account., June 4, 1998

By A Customer

The thirty-second volume in the acclaimed American Presidency Series presents a complex man and his struggles to solidify the economy and use cautious diplomacy in foreign affairs. Contrary to popular opinion, Robert Ferrell argues that Calvin Coolidge worked vigorously to achieve successful legislation and his dedication to public service provided him with a good background for the presidency from 1923 to 1929. The author, however, does recognize that Coolidge sometimes waited out troubles, acted indecisively, and displayed inactivity in foreign relations. For example, Ferrell avers that the president and his ministers incompetently handled political problems in Nicaragua and economic instability in Mexico. Also, the author acknowledges that Coolidge did not grasp the economic currents of his time.

Ferrell raises the question in this study: "Why did Coolidge not do more to deal with economic matters and consult with his advisors?" Perhaps the author answers this question in mentioning the Federal Reserve's reluctance to intervene in monetary policy and stock market speculation. In addition, Ferrell analyzes Coolidge's political philosophy on two counts: his opposition to governmental paternalism and belief in laissez-faire economy. In fact, Ferrell writes that Coolidge cut income taxes drastically; by 1927, 98 percent of the population paid no income tax.

The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge judges the president in an objective manner and uses extensively researched primary and secondary sources. The author, however, does tend to use quotes excessively and this may irritate some readers. Besides, Ferrell gives a vivid account about society in the 1920s, but his information about automobiles appears repetitive at times in this book. Furthermore, Ferrell suggests that to blame Coolidge for lack of foresight in not preventing the holocausts of our time seems unhistorical. Yet, a historian does indeed judge people and historical events both diachronically and synchronically. Overall, Fer! rell admirably addresses Coolidge's strengths and weaknesses in an analytical framework. Finally, the photographs add a realistic vision about Coolidge and his times.

12 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cal's Rolling in his grave over this one, August 29, 1999

By	Chet D (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is an awful book for two primary reasons: 1. It portrays Coolidge in the unfair, stereotypical light that people have done for decades. (thus it lacks any new thought) 2. The book, mechanically speaking, is also poor. It is difficult to read, dry, and gives the reader no incentive to continue reading. The only reason I gave Ferrell a second star is because he is smart enough to pick a good topic to write his book about.