This week are delighted to highlight a political figure of yesteryear who was an unwavering advocate in the search for truth, our 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge.
Coolidge was a leader defined by quiet strength, unwavering principles, and a steadfast belief in limited government. Born on July 4, 1872, in the small town of Plymouth Notch, Vermont, Coolidge grew up in a modest, hardworking environment that shaped his character.
Known for his reserved demeanor and sharp wit, he earned the nickname ‘Silent Cal. Yet, as can be seen below, he well could also have been known as ‘Truth Seeking Cal.’ Moreover, his actions spoke volumes. Rising through the ranks of Massachusetts politics, Coolidge gained national recognition as governor when he firmly handled the 1919 Boston Police Strike, reinforcing his reputation as a man of law and order. He unexpectedly became president in 1923 following the sudden death of Warren G. Harding, taking the oath of office by lamplight in his family’s farmhouse.
As president, Coolidge championed economic prosperity, tax cuts, and reduced government intervention, guiding the country through the booming Roaring Twenties. Despite his popularity, he chose not to seek re-election in 1928, retiring to a quiet life in Northampton, Massachusetts.
When it comes to truth, President Coolidge serves as a shining example. He believed that embodying the virtue of truth in everyday life is a deeply spiritual principle—a belief he consistently spoke about throughout his presidency.
During a speech on October 15, 1924, Coolidge stated:
“The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute the authority of law for the virtue of man.”
On October 6, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, he said:
“We cannot place our main reliance upon material forces. We must reaffirm and reinforce our ancient faith in truth and justice, in charitableness and tolerance. We must make our supreme commitment to the everlasting spiritual forces of life. We must mobilize the conscience of mankind.”
In an address given in Washington on September 21, 1924, he declared:
“The Constitution and laws of our country are adopted and enacted through the direct action of the people, or through their duly chosen representatives. They reflect the enlightened conscience of our country. They ought always to speak with the true and conscientious voice of the people. To support the Constitution, to observe the laws, is to be true to our own higher nature.”
President Calvin Coolidge reminds us that to preserve and strengthen the greatest nation the world has ever known our focus must not be on wealth or material gain but on truth. Truth is the foundation of a just and effective society—it cannot be imposed by external forces but must be cultivated within the hearts and minds of the people.
Coolidge believed that truth is the bedrock upon which laws are written, adopted, and upheld; without it, they crumble. If we aspire to build a more perfect Union, we must recognize that progress is impossible without truth at its core.
As this week’s Positive Profile, reflecting on Calvin Coolidge’s life allows us to journey back in time and appreciate the profound importance that wise leaders of the past placed on truth.
