The autobiography of Calvin Coolidge by Calvin Coolidge
"The autobiography of Calvin Coolidge" by Calvin Coolidge is an autobiography written in the early 20th century. It charts Coolidge’s journey from a rural Vermont upbringing through schooling, the law, and Massachusetts politics to the presidency, reflecting on character, public duty, and constitutional principles. Readers can expect a restrained, plainspoken account focused on work, self-discipline, and the practical mechanics of government. The opening of this memoir depicts Coolidge’s Vermont roots: the geography
of Plymouth Notch, his Puritan forebears, a childhood over a country store, and a father skilled in trade, farming, and local law enforcement. He recalls a tight-knit, frugal community, early lessons from town meetings and courts, seasonal farm labor, and simple recreations, alongside the formative loss of his mother (and later his sister). Schooling progresses from a district school to Black River Academy, where civics and classical studies take hold, and then to Amherst College, where history, mathematics, and especially Professor Garman’s philosophy shape his ethics—truth, duty, work, and service. After graduation he reads law in Northampton, is admitted to the bar, builds a practical practice, and enters local politics as councilman and city solicitor. He marries Grace Goodhue, starts a modest household and family, wins election to the Massachusetts House, and then becomes mayor of Northampton. By the end of this opening section he has moved into the state senate, begun to influence major committees, and is on the cusp of broader leadership. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 29024633 |
| Title | The autobiography of Calvin Coolidge |
| Original Publication | New York: Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, 1929. |
| Note | en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Calvin_Coolidge |
| Contents | Scenes of my childhood -- Seeking an education -- The law and politics -- In national politics -- On entering and leaving the presidency -- Some of the duties of the president -- Why I did not choose to run. |
| Credits | Sean/AB, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 67.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | E740: History: America: Twentieth century |
| Subject | Presidents -- United States -- Biography |
| Subject | Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933 |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 76649 |
| Release Date | Aug 8, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 290 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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