By the Light of the Kerosene Lamp
Calvin Coolidge’s presidency is notable for being the last time that the United States federal government cut spending.
Coolidge served as president for 5 years. Probably influenced by his young son’s tragic death during his first full term, Coolidge did not seek reelection in 1928.
Portrait of Calvin Coolidge taking the oath of office
Warren Harding did not choose Coolidge to be his vice president. At the time, in the Republican party the presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate were chosen independently at the party’s national convention. The party establishment successfully got Harding elected to be the Republican candidate, then most of them left to celebrate. Not enough establishment delegates stayed behind, however, to elect their VP pick. To the establishment’s horror, the remaining delegates elected Calvin Coolidge as the vice presidential candidate.
Warren G. Harding’s cabinet, many of whom were known as the “Ohio Gang,” corrupt politicians from Harding’s home state that rode his coattails. Harding is on the far left; Coolidge is the man in the furthest back, in front of the left door. Most of these men were removed once Coolidge became president.
Calvin and Grace Coolidge attending the viewing of Warren Harding’s body in August 1923