CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY AUGUST 2, 2023
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY, PRESIDENT WARREN HARDING DIED AND CALVIN COOLIDGE BECAME OUR 30TH PRESIDENT.
HARDING WAS POPULAR WHILE IN OFFICE BUT AFTER HE DIED SEVERAL SCANDALS WERE REVEALED, INCLUDING AN OUT OF WEDLOCK BIRTH, THE PAYING OF HUSH MONEY TO COVER-UP EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIRS AND CRIMIINAL ACTIVITY BY CRONIES. SOUND FAMILIAR?
COOLIDGE WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY. HIS VALUES WERE DRUMMED INTO HIM AS A CHILD. IN ADDITION TO HIS MORAL UPRIGHTNESS, HE SAID A LOT OF PROFOUND THINGS WORTHY OF OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
TWO OF MY FAVORITES: “YOU DON’T BUILD UP THE WEAK BY TEARING DOWN THE STRONG.” AND AT ITS HEART THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS A “SPIRITUAL DOCUMENT. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE RESULTS OF WE NEGLECT AND ABANDON THE CAUSE.”
COOLIDGE OPPOSED THE KLAN, AND INTEGRATED THE MILITARY.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE 1920S, HARDING, COOLIDGE AND TREASURY SECRETARY ANDREW MELLON CUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET BY ONE-THIRD. INDEED, COOLIDGE LEFT OFFICE WITH A BUDGET LOWER THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, AN ACHIEVEMENT OF GREAT SKILL AND PERSEVERANCE GIVEN THAT AMERICA GREW STRONGLY IN THAT DECADE.
OUR LEADERS COULD LEARN A LOT FROM CALVIN COOLIDGE, IF THEY WOULD. I’M CAL THOMAS.
