Feb 22, 2016
The search for the funniest president continues!
There’s no question that Calvin Coolidge was funny – stories of his wit have survived the test of time. But what makes him fascinating is the way he used his natural humor strategically. “Silent Cal” was a true innovator in packaging and selling his personality to the public, in a way that advanced both his popularity and his policy agenda.
Our guide this week is arguably the leading Coolidge scholar of her generation. Journalist / author / historian Amity Shlaes has written four New York Times best-sellers, including “Coolidge,” a 2013 biography of the 30th president. She’s also the chairman of the board for the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. Coolidge himself would have wanted this whole thing off the record, but get ready to enjoy the silence.
Music: Hail Columbia, "My Silent Love" by Isham Jones and His Orchestra, "Plymouth Rock" by the Benny Carter Orchestra
Next week: Ulysses S. Grant tells us about Ulysses S. Grant.