On Entering and Leaving the Presidency explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• The Burden of the Presidency

  Coolidge describes the personal costs of the office, including the deaths of his son and father, and the emotional toll of leadership.

• Family and Paternal Influence

  The role of Coolidge's father in administering the oath and the sacrifices made for his son's education and career.

• Humility and Self-Awareness

  Coolidge states he never felt qualified for the presidency and that a president must know he is not a great man.

• Hard Work and Industry

  Coolidge emphasizes that success comes only to the industrious and that application is key to solving important problems.

Characters to notice

• Calvin Coolidge

  Reflects on his own qualifications, the death of President Harding, taking the oath of office, and the personal costs of the presidency.

• President Harding

  His death triggers Coolidge's succession to the presidency; Coolidge expresses sympathy for Mrs. Harding.

• Mrs. Coolidge

  Present during the oath-taking and shares in the grief over President Harding's death.

• Captain John Coolidge

  Administered the oath of office to his son; later died after overtaxing his strength hosting visitors.

• Grace Goodhue

  Mentioned as Calvin Coolidge's wife before marriage, supporting him during his presidency.

• Mrs. Harding

  Coolidge sends a telegram of sympathy and notes her bearing during the funeral.

• Abbie Moor

  Coolidge visits her grave before leaving for Washington; her death is recalled as a personal loss.

Key passages

• “Any reward that is worth having only comes to the industrious. The success which is made in any walk of life is measured almost exactly by the amount of hard work that is put into it.”

  Valuable rewards are earned through hard work, and success is directly proportional to the effort invested.

  Coolidge's core belief in industriousness as the key to achievement.

• “It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man.”

  A president's awareness of his own limitations is beneficial and protects the nation from overreach.

  Coolidge's humility and view of presidential power.

• “The ways of Providence are often beyond our understanding. It seemed to me that the world had need of the work that it was probable he could do. I do not know why such a price was exacted for occupying the White House.”

  Divine plans are mysterious; Coolidge felt his son had much to offer but could not understand why his death was the cost of being president.

  Reflection on the personal tragedy of his son's death during his presidency.