TIME: Almanac 1993/TIME Almanac 1993.iso/time/election/24elect/24elect.001

Text File | 1992-10-19 | 9.8 KB | 233 lines

                                  5<                                          ╚August 13, 1923

THE PRESIDENCY

The End


     At the westernmost edge of the country, having completed
something more than half of his great tour of the nation and
having served something more than half of his term of office,
President Harding died.

     The ptomaine poisoning, which had compelled him suddenly
to abandon his tour, was followed by a slight attack of
pneumonia. For a day or two it did not seem as if he were
throwing off the poison. Then gradual improvement followed. His
temperature abated, his pulse approached normal. The bulletins
of physicians in attendance had at first pronounced his
condition "serious." Succeeding bulletins gave more and more
encouragement to the hope that he would recover. Public
apprehension was allayed.

     On Thursday, Aug. 2, the physicians announced: "While
recovery will inevitably take some little time, we are more
confident than heretofore as to the outcome of his illness." The
President showed an active interest in his plans. He inquired
whether he could not start for Washington in two or three days.
He asked for some "old- fashioned blackberry juice." During the
day his sister, Mrs. E. E. Remsberg of Santa Ana, paid him a
short visit.

     Towards evening the President seemed in good health. Mrs.
Harding and a woman nurse were with him. Mrs. Harding was
reading aloud. Without warning a tremor shook his frame and he
collapsed. Physicians were summoned. It was announced that the
President had died of cerebral apoplexy at 7:30 p.m., Pacific
time.

     Mr. Harding's final illness was undoubtedly brought on by
his strenuous exertions on the last few days of his trip,
especially his arduous day at Seattle after landing from his
Alaskan journey. Indirectly his death at this time may
undoubtedly be traced to excessive work which fell to his lot
as President. His death, following the severe illness of
President Wilson produced by the same cause, has led to many
suggestions that the duties of the Presidency be divided so that
they should not fall with their full heaviness upon one man.

     Messages of condolence to Mrs. Harding poured in from
hundreds of people in public life in this country and abroad.
Those who had known the President personally expressed their
grief at the loss of a friend, kindly, honest and sincere.

     Twenty-four hours after the President died, his body was
conveyed from the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, with simple
ceremonies to the special train which had carried him on his
outward journey. On a fast schedule it started across the
continent to Washington. Plans were made for formal obsequies
in the Rotunda of the Capitol on Wednesday and interment at
Marion, Ohio, on Friday. Calvin Coolidge, who succeeded to the
Presidency, appointed that day for national mourning.


Resume

     A brief review of Mr. Harding's career and achievements in
office follows:

     Born at Blooming Grove, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1865, the son of Dr.
George T. Harding physician, and Phebe Elizabeth (Dickerson).
He was the first of eight children.

     Purchased the Marion Star in 1884, aged 19.

     Married Florence Kling, of Marion, in 1891.

     Elected to his first political office, as Ohio State
SEnator, 1898, and held office till 1903.

     Elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1903, holding
office till 1905.

     Defeated for election as Governor of Ohio in 1910.

     Elected U.S. Senator in 1914.

     Made a speech renominating President Taft in the
Republican National Convention of 1912, and supported him
throughout the campaign against Roosevelt and Wilson.

     Made the "keynote" speech in the Republican National
Convention of 1916.

     Nominated for the Presidency at the Republican National
Convention in 1920, on the tenth ballot, receiving 692 1/2
votes, to 156 for Wood, 111 for Lowden, 80 1/2 for Johnson.

     Elected 29th President of the United States on his 55th
birthday, Nov. 2, 1920.

     Inaugurated March 4, 1921.

     Died Aug. 2, 1923, having served two years, four months,
29 days.

     His achievements in office include:

     The conclusion of separate peace treaties with the Central
Powers.

     The Washington Limitation of Armament Treaty.

     The veto of the bonus.

     To him may also be attributed in part the Fordney-McCumber
tariff and the Esch-Cummins Railroad Act. He also advocated a
ship subsidy bill which failed to pass in the last Congress,
and participation by the U.S. in the Permanent Court of
International Justice, which, up to the present time has not
been approved by the Senate.


Calvin Coolidge

     In the early morning hours of August 3 an automobile full
of newspaper correspondents sped over Vermont Roads to Plymouth
Notch at the southern end of the Green Mountains. It drew up at
the two-story, white frame house of John C. Coolidge: father of
the Vice President. Word was sent upstairs of the tremendous
news from San Francisco. The Vice President had retired for the
night. In a few moments he had dressed and descended the stairs
with his wife. The scene was in effect, if not in words, a
representation of the ancient theme: "The King is dead: long
live the King!"

     In an unpretentious New England living room Mr. Coolidge,
pale, and silent, read the telegrams telling of President
Harding's death. Then he slowly dictated a statement expressing
his sorrow, and his intention of carrying out the policies of
his predecessor, and also a telegram of condolence and sympathy
to Mrs. Harding, signed "Calvin Coolidge: Grace Coolidge."

     The next morning, the oath of office having been wired
form Washington, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as President of
the United States by his father, a Justice of the Peace.

     Later in the day the new President started by special
train to Washington, where he arrived late in the evening. He
and Mrs. Coolidge went to the Willard Hotel, which has been
their Washington home. He held conferences on succeeding days
in his old offices in the Senate building. He saw Chairman John
T. Adams of the Republican National Committee, D.R. Crissinger
(Governor of the Federal Reserve Board), Chairman Farley of the
Shipping Board, Senator Cummins of Iowa, John Hays Hammond
(Chairman of the Coal Commission), President Samuel Gompers of
the American Federation of Labor.

     Except for the announcement that he would retain President
Harding's Cabinet, and continue his policies, Mr. Coolidge
declined to make public any administrative plans until after
the late President's funeral.

     With sandy hair untouched with gray, with clear, calm blue
eyes, the new President is slow of speech, dry of humor,
sparing of words. He comes from the long line of New England
Coolidges. The first of them, John Coolidge, came to this
country in 1687. The President is descended from another John
Coolidge, a captain in the Revolutionary War, who went form
Lancaster, Mass., to Vermont to re-establish his fortunes after
the war.

     Calvin Coolidge studied law, and entered politics at
Northampton, Mass. He distinguished himself as Governor of
Massachusetts by his declaration against the strikers on the
Boston police force in 1919, and the measures he took to
suppress the strike.

     As Vice President he was noteworthy for "keeping silent in
16 different languages." He has not the geniality of his
predecessor, but those who know him say that there is more
"steel" in his make-up. He is silent, shrewd, slow, firm.


An Ancillary Relation

     When President Coolidge passed through New York on his way
to Washington, he was met and accompanied to the Capital by
Frank Waterman Stearns. Mr. Stearns is, like the President an
Amherst graduate: he is owner of a large department store in
Boston and reputed a millionaire. He is also President
Coolidge's closest friend.

     At once the curious began to ask: "Will Stearns be another
Colonel House!" The facts of the relationship between Mr.
Stearns and the President seem to be simply these: that Stearns
has supported Coolidge through the thick and thin of politics.
That he was Coolidge's right hand man in the settlement of the
Boston police strike. These activities earned Stearns the
titles from political opponents of "Lord Lingerie" and "Cal's
Angel." As far as several able political correspondents can make
out, however, the relation between Mr. Stearns and the new
President is only about as "sinister" as friendship.

     Nevertheless, the name of Frank W. Stearns is on the lips
of more than one politician. The suggestion is made that he may
be appointed to fill some office as yet unnamed, thus becoming
a "Daugherty" rather than a "House."


First Lady

     Grace Goodhue Coolidge, wife of the President, is
universally well spoken of and liked. She is a college woman
(University of Vermont), as was Mrs. Cleveland before her. As
the wife of the Vice President her entertaining was not
extensive or magnificent, but she was known as a gracious
hostess. She made an exceptional number of friends, and has a
remarkable memory for faces and names.

     She succeeded Mrs. John R. Marshall as President of the
Senate Ladies' Club. Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Harding both became
good friends of hers.

     When she enters the White House with her sons, John and
Calvin, for the first time since the Taft administration, there
will be children in the Executive Mansion. Both sons are
students at Mereersburg Academy (Pennsylvania). This Summer
John, 17, is in attendance at a military training camp (Mr.
Coolidge is firm believer in military and naval preparedness),
and Calvin, 15, is working at $3.50 a day on a vacation
(tobacco) farm. Later in the Summer when Mrs. Coolidge enters
the White House, it is understood that her children will join
her.