Born: 1879
Died: 1957
A cherished only child from Burlington, Vermont, Grace Coolidge was her husband's alter ego. While he was taciturn and frugal to a fault, she was fashionable, generous, and gay, far more attuned than Calvin to the styles and mores of the Jazz Age. After college, Grace taught deaf children in Northampton, Massachusetts. There she met Calvin, a lawyer and aspiring politician seven years her senior. They wed in 1905 and as Calvin rose in state politics, Grace raised their two sons. During his tenure in Boston as Lt. Governor and Governor, he left his family in Northampton to save on expenses. A legendary tightwad, Calvin's one indulgence was buying stylish clothes for his wife.
The Harding-Coolidge victory of 1921 brought the Coolidges to Washington where Grace quickly became the darling of capitol society. Her warmth and humor then charmed the nation after Calvin inherited the Presidency. By poking fun at Calvin's famous reserve, Grace made him appear more likeable. But she herself avoided politics, becoming a symbol of compassion even as her husband earned a reputation for steadfast indifference to social causes and the growing gap between rich and poor. Calvin's win in 1924 was overshadowed by the recent sudden death of his teenage son. Though both Coolidges put up a brave front, they were relived to retire to Northampton at the end of the term.
Thirtieth President
Calvin Coolidge
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