National Affairs: A Public Character

For the first time since March 4, Citizen Calvin Coolidge returned to the Washington news spotlight. He enjoyed the experience immensely. From Northamp ton to the capital he had journeyed over night to attend the White House promul gation of the General Treaty for the Renunciation of War, creature of his own administration (see col. 1). Observers studied him sharply for changes, found that he talked more freely, smiled more benignly, looked a little less plump, a little less wrinkled about the eyes than when he had left the White House. If he had any regrets on revisiting the scenes of his political triumphs’ he muffled them under a flow of small-bore conversation.

Citizen Coolidge arrived at the Union Station at 7 a.m. President Hoover sent his secretary, George Akerson, to greet him. They drove to the Willard Hotel, Citizen Coolidge did not register. He shook hands with his old friend Mack Vogel, elevator operator. On the third floor he entered suite No. 328, the one with light blue and gold decorations, which he had occupied free of cost as Vice President. Here he breakfasted with his one-time secretaries and bodyguards. Afterward came callers—Senator Smoot, Secretary of Labor Davis, Tariff Commission Chairman Marvin, Federal Farm Board Chairman Legge, many another. They all addressed him as “Mr. President.”

Toward noon he put on formal attire. drove to the White House, was greeted briefly by President Hoover, on whose right he sat during the East Roomceremonies. After the luncheon he returned to the Willard.

At 4 p.m. some 60 newsmen were ushered into his hotel room. He had sent for them. In a well-fitting cutaway, Citizen Coolidge rose from an armchair placed behind a table, shook out his trouser legs, laid down his cigar holder, smiled. Then, without promptings or interruptions, he proceeded to interview himself for minutes while newsmen blinked their astonishment at his garrulity. Regardless of its other merits, what he said was worth $2,000 at the prices for which he now writes about himself. He began:

“I suggested to Mr. Sanders that he inform the members of the press that I would be glad to see them. I did that not because I wanted to see you professionally but because you might want to see me professionally. . . . I wanted to see you personally. . . .

“It is a pleasure to come back to W ashington … but it is a great relief not to have to assume the duties of an office. . . . I suppose you are interested in what I have been doing while I have been away. . . . I have done a little writing that’you can read if you want to—I have read some of your writing [laughter]. And of course I have done a little fishing. I think I have caught 200 speckled trout this spring. . . .

“Mrs. Coolidge would have come with me … but she is not able to leave her mother. Mrs. Goodhue, who is very ill— so ill that I should not be surprised to get a report that she has passed away.

“I was at the White House ceremony this early afternoon and the luncheon. The ceremony was particularly impressive. … I look upon it as a great historical event. I was delighted to see Mr. Hoover again—I am referring now to the President. . . .* I was especially glad to see Mr. Kellogg. He is looking hale and hearty. I notice he has taken on some flesh. . . .

“The long-standing controversy over Tacna-Arica has been settled substantially m accordance with the plan Mr. Kellogg laid down. … A great deal of credit should be given to the tireless efforts of Ambassador Moore.â€

The country seems to be in very good shape. I was delighted to see the large surplus that remained in the Treasury . . . which was substantially the last fiscal year of my administration. .

“I sometimes wish all the newspaper men I come in contact with were as well trained … as the newspaper men in Washington. I still feel I am sufficiently of a public character that I do not like to give exclusive interviews to one newspaper. . . . Sometimes it is hard to be courteous to newspaper men. When I am courteous and talk to them at all, they want to print everything I say. If I tell them I have nothing to say, they then take some other method of finding a story. . . .”

Later in the afternoon Citizen Coolidge called again at the White House, this time to convey to Mrs. Hoover “the message of love and good wishes Mrs. Coolidge sent.” That night, a thoroughly contented man, he took a train back to his Northampton retirement.

* A distinction necessitated by the presence at the White House of Chief Usher Irwin Hood (“Ike”) Hoover.

†Ambassador Alexander Pollock Moore of Peru, returning last fornight to the U. S., gave full credit for the Tacna-Arica settlement to Herbert Hoover.