Calvin Coolidge

This is an analysis of the inaugural speech of former president of the United States of America, Calvin Coolidge. During his time in office, America was going through the “roaring twenties“, and prosperity could be found almost everywhere. The first world war however was still very present in people’s minds. He states “Our own country is leading the world in the general readjustment of the results of the great conflict.”

Although he mentions how America will have to be wary of this success, he pushes the great economic prosperity saying, “business has revived, and we appear to be entering an era of prosperity which is gradually reaching into every part of the country.”

Coolidge had become president, due to the death of Warren Harding. When he sought election, he ran on the slogan “keep cool with Coolidge”

Coolidge’s traditional thinking is very prominent in his speech, especially when it came to foreign affairs. He reminds America that, “Under the eternal urge of freedom we became an independent nation. A little less than fifty years later that freedom and independence were reasserted in the face of the world, and guarded, supported, and secured by the Monroe doctrine.” This illustrates that he knew what policy had been used before him; however, his conservative and laid back approach quickly demonstrates how he thought international affairs should be dealt with.

This policy is strengthened even more when he says, “we made freedom a birthright. We extended our domain over distant islands in order to safeguard our own interests and accepted the consequent obligation to bestow justice and liberty upon less favoured peoples.”

With these kinds of statements one would believe that Coolidge’s plans, were to follow through with the Monroe Doctrine for issues concerning international affairs. However he was a very laconic individual in words and actions. So why not when dealing with foreign relations? This paper believes, he eloquently puts forward his true desires for international relations in this quotation, “The physical configuration of the earth has separated us from all of the old world, but the common brotherhood of man, the highest law of all our being, has united us by inseparable bonds with all humanity. Our country represents nothing but peaceful intentions toward all earth, but it ought not fail to maintain such a military force as comports with the dignity and security of a great people.”