Opinion of Calvin Coolidge

[Senator Snowstalker]

HP, and not someone I'd expect real libertarians to admire.

[Formerly Californian Tony]

HP. Useless and absolutely not fit of the office he occupied.

[ChairmanSanchez]

One of the best Presidents we have ever had.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

One of the best Presidents we have ever had.

[Rooney]

I also fail to understand why libertarians admire Coolidge (and especially Harding). While he is definitely one of the least Constitutionally destructive presidents this nation has had (especially when compared to his immediate successors) he is by no means a "libertarian president." His administration supported American entry into the World Court, backed the fairly useless Kellogg-Briand Act, intervened in European affairs in terms of the Dawes Act, failed to curb the excessive lending of the Federal Reserves and supported a high tariff which greatly undermined trade with Europe.

I contend that Coolidge was one of the reasons why the Great Depression occurred, unlike most libertarian minded thinkers, but I contend that it is because his administration was far too engaged in the economy, not lacking in engagement. The Dawes Plan established an artificial inflationary boom in Europe, his Fed policies sustained an artificial Bull Market on Wall Street and his tariff rates isolated Europe and led to high prices. Additionally, he ignored Commerce Secretary Hoover when he called on him to not send more marines to Nicaragua and that continued misadventure brings forward shades of Iran-Contra..when a man who placed Coolidge's portrait in the Oval Office would be at the helm of state.

All of this said, Coolidge still ranks in my own top ten presidents list. He vetoed the WWI Veteran Bonus Bill and farm relief, repealed WWI Era excise taxes and gutted the power of the Federal Trade Commission (established by Grover Cleveland, another bizarre libertarian hero). The fact that someone with such a checkered history must be placed in the top ten of presidents reflects the low caliber of men who have attained the highest office in the Land of the "Free."     

[opebo]

Father of the Great Depression, so, yes, he should be a libertarian favorite.

[Communists For McCain]

Meh, not really as libertarian as he's made out to be.

But, which president really is anyway?  It's not like we have a ton of choices.

FF, relatively speaking.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

[Emperor SJoyce]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

Even William Henry Harrison? One could argue that he was the most libertarian of all Presidents as he did absolutely nothing while in office (which some say would set a good precedent for future administrations).

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

Even William Henry Harrison? One could argue that he was the most libertarian of all Presidents as he did absolutely nothing while in office (which some say would set a good precedent for future administrations).

He was President for a month.

[Communists For McCain]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

Even William Henry Harrison? One could argue that he was the most libertarian of all Presidents as he did absolutely nothing while in office (which some say would set a good precedent for future administrations).

Except force an unwilling group of bystanders to listen to a three and a half hour speech on a cold March day in the rain?

FASCIST!

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

FF:

[Putting the 'red' in 'redneck' since 1991]

Makes Ronald Reagan look like a liberal. HP.

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

Massive FF for supporting laws that gave full citizen rights for American Indians.

[Putting the 'red' in 'redneck' since 1991]

Massive FF for supporting laws that gave full citizen rights for American Indians.

While also enacting a racist immigration law and not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

Makes Ronald Reagan look like a liberal. HP.

[wormyguy]

not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

You're confusing Coolidge and FDR bro.  (Coolidge repeatedly asked Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, FDR the principled strict constructionist was adamantly against such legislation on the grounds of being "unconstitutional").

[Simfan34]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

Perhaps that should prove that "Libertarianism" is not natural to this country or our political culture.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

There has never been a "Libertarian" President. They've all done incredibly anti-Libertarian things. But as far as out-weighing the bad with the good goes, Coolidge was somewhat "Libertarian."

Perhaps that should prove that "Libertarianism" is not natural to this country or our political culture.

No, that should prove that Libertarianism is not natural to Presidential politics because Libertarians tend not to be inherently charismatic; only inherently correct.

[Rooney]

You're confusing Coolidge and FDR bro.  (Coolidge repeatedly asked Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, FDR the principled strict constructionist was adamantly against such legislation on the grounds of being "unconstitutional").

I will be honest, sir, that pwnage was quite epic. I applaud your efforts.

[Communists For McCain]

not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

You're confusing Coolidge and FDR bro.  (Coolidge repeatedly asked Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, FDR the principled strict constructionist was adamantly against such legislation on the grounds of being "unconstitutional").

Civil rights
Coolidge spoke out in favor of the civil rights of African Americans and Catholics.[127] He appointed no known members of the Ku Klux Klan to office; indeed the Klan lost most of its influence during his term.[128]
In 1924, Coolidge responded to a letter that claimed the United States was a "white man's country":

....I was amazed to receive such a letter. During the war 500,000 colored men and boys were called up under the draft, not one of whom sought to evade it. [As president, I am] one who feels a responsibility for living up to the traditions and maintaining the principles of the Republican Party. Our Constitution guarantees equal rights to all our citizens, without discrimination on account of race or color. I have taken my oath to support that Constitution....[129]

On June 2, 1924, Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted full U.S. citizenship to all American Indians, while permitting them to retain tribal land and cultural rights. However, the act was unclear on whether the federal government or the tribal leaders retained tribal sovereignty.[130] Coolidge repeatedly called for anti-lynching laws to be enacted, but most Congressional attempts to pass this legislation were filibustered by Southern Democrats. Coolidge appointed some African Americans to federal office. He retained Harding's choice of Walter L. Cohen of New Orleans, Louisiana, as the comptroller of customs and offered Cohen the post of minister to Liberia, which the businessman declined.

It's funny how some of these red avatars work:

An openly pro civil rights Republican fails to get anti-lynching laws passed=evil racist reactionary.

A progressive Democrat refuses to touch the issue in fear of pissing off Southerners="judge a man by his times"

[Communists For McCain]

Massive FF for supporting laws that gave full citizen rights for American Indians.

While also enacting a racist immigration law and not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

For the record, Coolidge did voice some frustration with the specific exclusion of Japanese immigrants in the bill.
Also, congressional opposition to the bill was described as "minimal", pretty much meaning that Congress (both Democrats and Republicans) were just as guilty of racism as Coolidge was in this instance.

[Formerly Californian Tony]

not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

You're confusing Coolidge and FDR bro.  (Coolidge repeatedly asked Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, FDR the principled strict constructionist was adamantly against such legislation on the grounds of being "unconstitutional").

Civil rights
Coolidge spoke out in favor of the civil rights of African Americans and Catholics.[127] He appointed no known members of the Ku Klux Klan to office; indeed the Klan lost most of its influence during his term.[128]
In 1924, Coolidge responded to a letter that claimed the United States was a "white man's country":

....I was amazed to receive such a letter. During the war 500,000 colored men and boys were called up under the draft, not one of whom sought to evade it. [As president, I am] one who feels a responsibility for living up to the traditions and maintaining the principles of the Republican Party. Our Constitution guarantees equal rights to all our citizens, without discrimination on account of race or color. I have taken my oath to support that Constitution....[129]

On June 2, 1924, Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted full U.S. citizenship to all American Indians, while permitting them to retain tribal land and cultural rights. However, the act was unclear on whether the federal government or the tribal leaders retained tribal sovereignty.[130] Coolidge repeatedly called for anti-lynching laws to be enacted, but most Congressional attempts to pass this legislation were filibustered by Southern Democrats. Coolidge appointed some African Americans to federal office. He retained Harding's choice of Walter L. Cohen of New Orleans, Louisiana, as the comptroller of customs and offered Cohen the post of minister to Liberia, which the businessman declined.

It's funny how some of these red avatars work:

An openly pro civil rights Republican fails to get anti-lynching laws passed=evil racist reactionary.

A progressive Democrat refuses to touch the issue in fear of pissing off Southerners="judge a man by his times"

Since when is having double standards a distinctive characteristic of democrats ?

[Communists For McCain]

not supporting legislation that would have made lynching a federal offense.

You're confusing Coolidge and FDR bro.  (Coolidge repeatedly asked Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, FDR the principled strict constructionist was adamantly against such legislation on the grounds of being "unconstitutional").

Civil rights
Coolidge spoke out in favor of the civil rights of African Americans and Catholics.[127] He appointed no known members of the Ku Klux Klan to office; indeed the Klan lost most of its influence during his term.[128]
In 1924, Coolidge responded to a letter that claimed the United States was a "white man's country":

....I was amazed to receive such a letter. During the war 500,000 colored men and boys were called up under the draft, not one of whom sought to evade it. [As president, I am] one who feels a responsibility for living up to the traditions and maintaining the principles of the Republican Party. Our Constitution guarantees equal rights to all our citizens, without discrimination on account of race or color. I have taken my oath to support that Constitution....[129]

On June 2, 1924, Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted full U.S. citizenship to all American Indians, while permitting them to retain tribal land and cultural rights. However, the act was unclear on whether the federal government or the tribal leaders retained tribal sovereignty.[130] Coolidge repeatedly called for anti-lynching laws to be enacted, but most Congressional attempts to pass this legislation were filibustered by Southern Democrats. Coolidge appointed some African Americans to federal office. He retained Harding's choice of Walter L. Cohen of New Orleans, Louisiana, as the comptroller of customs and offered Cohen the post of minister to Liberia, which the businessman declined.

It's funny how some of these red avatars work:

An openly pro civil rights Republican fails to get anti-lynching laws passed=evil racist reactionary.

A progressive Democrat refuses to touch the issue in fear of pissing off Southerners="judge a man by his times"

Since when is having double standards a distinctive characteristic of democrats ?

It's not.
It's characteristic of all sides in the political system, including mine .

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

I don't think I can stress how much I think Mechaman is the best poster on this site.