The Coolidge Administration: ( ) * Republican Major Political and Economic Aspects Background & Personality: National recognition when he used the National Guard against the Boston police strike Harding heart attack  Coolidge  Pres. “cleaned house” – prosecuted Harding appointees; Coolidge reps. “normalcy” and honesty

Harding & Coolidge (w/ wives)

“Silent Cal” Dorothy Parker (writer) & Calvin Coolidge Dorothy Parker (writer) & Calvin Coolidge

Election of 1924: Republicans: “keep cool w/ Coolidge” Credit for prosperity Democrats:  ballots Nominate: John W. Davis attacked Harding Scandals * both candidates disappoint reform groups

Election of 1924: Progressive Party:  Robert La Follette proposed reforms: – –(1) more aid to farm workers – –(2) curb injunctions in labor disputes – –(3) govt. ownership of RR’s and waterpower resources – –(4) higher income taxes Victory:  Coolidge +15 million votes

John W. Davis & Battlin’ Bob

Election of 1924

Coolidge & Business Administration: Government to encourage business; regulate little as possible favored: reduced govt. spending; low taxes vetoed: govt. aid to farm workers & govt. ownership of water works No effort was made to restrain stock market speculation Contributes to Great Depression

The Rise of Nativism 1924: President Coolidge declared, “America must be kept American.” 1924: President Coolidge declared, “America must be kept American.” Fear that foreign hordes would outbreed, outvote, & overwhelm the old “native” stock Fear that foreign hordes would outbreed, outvote, & overwhelm the old “native” stock Pushed for passage of  Pushed for passage of  The Immigration Act (1924): tightened restrictions

The Rise of Nativism Nativism - suspicion of foreigners Immigration restriction: Immigration restriction: Native-born white Protestants fear Jews and Catholics from southern or eastern Europe (peasant stock) Native-born white Protestants fear Jews and Catholics from southern or eastern Europe (peasant stock) 1) Emergency Quota Act of ) Emergency Quota Act of ) Immigration Act of ) Immigration Act of ) Japanese are “aliens ineligible for citizenship” 3) Japanese are “aliens ineligible for citizenship”

Other Important Domestic Legislation: Soldiers’ Bonus Act (1924): passed over Coolidge veto; provides WWI vets w/ paid up life insurance policies

Significant Foreign Affairs: War Debts: France and Britain owe $10 billion for WWI Can pay w/ exports to US or reparations from Germany Dawes Plan (1924): money to Germany  Britain & France  US Bad feelings Kellogg-Briand Pact (Pact of Paris) of 1928: “Outlawed” war; no provision for enforcement

Charles Gates Dawes

Frank B. Kellogg (US Sec. of State)

Aristide Briand Kellogg-Briand Pact (Pact of Paris)

Kellogg-Briand peace pact

Famous Quotes “I have no trouble with my enemies … But my damned friends … they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights” – –President Harding After waking from one of his legendary naps, this president asked, “Is the country still there?” – –President Coolidge “The chief business of America is business” – –President Coolidge