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Calvin Coolidge Recordings

The 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge was the first to effectively use the new technology of Radio to reach the people.

Calvin Coolidge

13 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 3 hours, 1961 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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1 Audio CDs


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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Calvin Coolidge
(1872 – 1933)

Calvin on the Mic

Calvin Coolidge has been dismissed as being a 'do nothing' President. Whether this characterization is fair could be debated endlessly by historians, but by all appearances, he was the President that America needed when he assumed the Office.

As Warren G. Harding's Vice President, Coolidge was one of the few from the Administration not to have been brushed by scandal. Harding had no problem appointing close friends to Federal positions and his administration would be rocked by the Teapot Dome Scandal, back-room maneuvering at the Justice Department, corruption at the Veterans' Department, not to mention the President's involvement in extramarital affairs. Nonetheless, when Harding suffered a fatal heart attack while on a tour of the West Coast, a trip which may or may not have involved a rendezvous with his mistress.

Calvin Coolidge

Vice President Coolidge, who was visiting family in Vermont, received word of Harding's passing at half-past two on the morning of August 2, 1923. By the light of a kerosene lamp, John Calvin Coolidge Sr., acting in his capacity as a notary public, used the family bible to administer the Oath of Office to his son. 

Born on July 4, 1872, John Calvin Coolidge Jr. had deep roots in New England, where ancestor John Coolidge had emigrated from England to Watertown, Massachusetts, around 1630. His great-great-grandfather had been an officer during the Revolutionary War. Coolidge studied Law at Amherst College and hung his shingle in Northampton, Massachusetts, after apprenticing with the firm of Hammond & Field.

Like most New Englanders at the time, Coolidge joined the Republican Party. He worked his way up from the Massachusetts House to Mayor of Northampton to the State Senate, eventually leading to the Lieutenant Governorship under Samuel McCall in 1915. They were reelected in 1917, and in 1919 Coolidge was elected as Governor. 

That fall, the Boston Police Department went on strike, hoping to gain recognition for their Police Union. Governor Coolidge helped to break the strike by calling up the State Militia to maintain order in the lawless city. His efforts gained national attention and wee a setback to Labor during what would be remembered as the first Red Scare.

Facing up to the suspected "Red Menace" was not lost on the party bosses at the 1920 Republican National Convention in Chicago. They handily defeated the Democratic ticket of James Cox of Ohio and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Calvin Coolidge

Harding was unique among Presidents in that he invited his Vice President to regularly attend Cabinet meetings, but for the most part "Silent Cal" was seen but not heard at the meetings. The Vice President and his vivacious wife, Grace, were popular on the Washington social circuit. At one party, a guest told Coolidge that: "I made a bet today that I could get you to say more than two words". Coolidge replied, "You Lose!"

After Harding's passing, Coolidge saw it as his duty to "restore the dignity and prestige of the Presidency when it had reached the lowest ebb in our history". Leaning toward a laissez-faire economic policy, Coolidge called for an isolationist foreign policy, tax cuts, economy and frugality, and limited aid to farmers. He won reelection in 1924 with 54% of the popular vote.

Although in many ways, President Coolidge continued to cultivate his "Silent Cal" reputation, however, he definitely earned the moniker as our first "Radio President" as well. Four months after assuming the Office, Coolidge made his first Joint Address of Congress on December 6, 1923, and microphones were set up in the House Chamber. The broadcast-quality was surprisingly good; listeners in St. Louis telephoned their local broadcaster to ask about the annoying rustling noise coming over their speakers, it turned out to be the pages of the President's speech as he turned them.

Newspapers were still the administration's primary means of getting its message to the American People, but "Silent Cal" made at least forty broadcasts during his Presidency. Like so many Old Time Radio broadcasts, many of these have been lost to time. This collection includes recordings from Coolidge's campaign for Vice President, as well as his greeting to St. Nicholas at the beginning of the 1930 Christmas Seal Campaign.

Although he was still a popular President, Coolidge chose not to run for a third term in 1929. The Republicans nominated Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover for the Presidency. Although he did not want to cause division in the Party, Coolidge hesitated to endorse Hoover, stating privately that "for six years that man has given me unsolicited advice—all of it bad."

As it became obvious that Hoover had little chance of reelection in 1932, several in the Party began floating the notion of having Coolidge run again, a notion the former President quickly squashed. Calvin Coolidge died unexpectedly on January 5, 1933, from a sudden coronary thrombosis. He was 60.

Calvin Mic

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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    One unusual aspect of Coolidge's presidency was his aversion to giving speeches and public appearances. He was often described as reserved and aloof, and he was known for delivering short, succinct remarks rather than long, elaborate speeches. Some people found this behavior unusual for a President, but it was consistent with Coolidge's personality and approach to leadership.

    Cliff

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 1961 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 3 hours, 1961 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows – total playtime 3 hours, 32 minutes
    2. Calvin Coolidge 200000 American and the War.mp3
    3. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Equal Rights.mp3
    4. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Law and Order.mp3
    5. Calvin Coolidge 200000 The Duty of Government.mp3
    6. Calvin Coolidge 200302 Law and Order.mp3
    7. Calvin Coolidge 200704 Governor Coolidge for Vice President.mp3
    8. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge.mp3
    9. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Taxation and Government.mp3
    10. Calvin Coolidge 250000 Amherst College Class of 1895 Reunion.mp3
    11. Calvin Coolidge 250304 Inauguration Excerpts.mp3
    12. Calvin Coolidge 270000 Charles Lindbergh's Return US.mp3
    13. Calvin Coolidge 300000 Greeting Santa Clause.mp3
    14. Calvin Coolidge 990927 American Presidents Series.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 1961 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    97 MB – total playtime 3 hours, 32 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows – 97 MB – total playtime 3 hours, 32 minutes
    2. Calvin Coolidge 200000 American and the War.mp3
    3. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Equal Rights.mp3
    4. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Law and Order.mp3
    5. Calvin Coolidge 200000 The Duty of Government.mp3
    6. Calvin Coolidge 200302 Law and Order.mp3
    7. Calvin Coolidge 200704 Governor Coolidge for Vice President.mp3
    8. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge.mp3
    9. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Taxation and Government.mp3
    10. Calvin Coolidge 250000 Amherst College Class of 1895 Reunion.mp3
    11. Calvin Coolidge 250304 Inauguration Excerpts.mp3
    12. Calvin Coolidge 270000 Charles Lindbergh's Return US.mp3
    13. Calvin Coolidge 300000 Greeting Santa Clause.mp3
    14. Calvin Coolidge 990927 American Presidents Series.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    13 recordings on 1 Audio CD. Total playtime 0 hours, 56 min
    13 recordings on 1 Audio CD
    total playtime 0 hours, 56 min

    Calvin Coolidge Disc A001

    1. Calvin Coolidge 200000 American and the War
    2. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Equal Rights
    3. Calvin Coolidge 200000 Law and Order
    4. Calvin Coolidge 200000 The Duty of Government
    5. Calvin Coolidge 200302 Law and Order
    6. Calvin Coolidge 200704 Governor Coolidge for Vice President
    7. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge
    8. Calvin Coolidge 240000 Taxation and Government
    9. Calvin Coolidge 250000 Amherst College Class of 1895 Reunion
    10. Calvin Coolidge 250304 Inauguration Excerpts
    11. Calvin Coolidge 270000 Charles Lindbergh's Return US
    12. Calvin Coolidge 300000 Greeting Santa Clause

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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