Four-Eight-Four [dot org]

Calvin Coolidge has long been one of my favorite presidents, based partially on the (possibly mythical) story wherein a dinner guest at the White House informed him that she’d made a bet that she could get him to say more than two words during the meal, to which he responded “You lose.”

Since I’m the sort of person who spends more time listening to other folks than talking in a conversation, I can appreciate a fellow who earned the nickname “Silent Cal.”

I also remember reading somewhere (though I can’t remember where) that Coolidge served as president out of a sense of duty, rather than having made it his goal to get to that position. I like that attitude. It’s much better than certain other candidates for the office that are now on their second attempt, and seem to have gone on the campaign trail immediately after being elected to the House of Representatives … such as one gentleman from my home state of North Carolina, whose name I won’t mention (but I will say he talks a lot about “two Americas”).

Anyway … here is a favorite from ol’ Silent Cal:

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business. Government shouldn’t play a part in everyday life. Jefferson said that the people should be left to manage their own affairs. His opposition will bear careful analysis, and the country could stand a good deal more of its application. The trouble with us is we talk about Jefferson, but we do not follow him. In this theory that the people should manage their government, and not be managed by it, he was everlastingly right.