Calvin Coolidge dedicated his presidency to advancing the values of free markets, individual responsibility, limited government, federalism, thrift, civility, and humble service. So, it’s no mystery why our nation’s thirtieth president is held in such great esteem by the Bradley Impact Fund, or why the foundation that keeps his legacy alive is so popular among our members.
Based in Silent Cal’s hometown of Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation was formed in 1960 by his son, John, along with a group of fellow Coolidge enthusiasts, to advance his values and to conduct original research examining his policies and legacy. Its flagship publication, The Coolidge Quarterly, maintains a range of scholarly and popular resources and highlights work from free market scholars who continue to advance Coolidge’s legacy and apply it to challenges the country faces today.
The foundation’s primary initiative, the Coolidge Scholars Program, is among the most competitive and generous undergraduate awards in America. “The Coolidge” is a full-ride, four-year scholarship that can be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States. Selection is based entirely on merit and is awarded regardless of race, gender, or background. Last year, more than four thousand students studied President Coolidge’s time in office and read his autobiography through the course of applying for the scholarship (students spend an average of about thirty hours studying and preparing applications).
If America is to flourish for another 250 years, our leaders should heed the example of a presidency like Coolidge’s.
They applied President Coolidge’s policy ideas of balanced budgets, deregulation, and lower, flatter tax rates. Other popular programs include the Coolidge Senators Summit and expanding Coolidge Cup National Debate Championship program for college and high school students to learn from Silent Cal’s example and apply their learning to current events. This debate program is invaluable in an era where civic discourse and persuasion are in short supply.
Each year, the Foundation hosts a national conference at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and organizes lectures, symposia, and public programs in Plymouth Notch and at the Coolidge House in Washington, D.C., offering opportunities for Americans to learn from Coolidge’s example.
One of Coolidge’s most ardent and prolific scholars is Coolidge Foundation Chairman and Bradley Prize winner Amity Shlaes, who spoke at the Impact Fund’s Winter Retreat last year. If America is to flourish for another 250 years, our leaders should heed the example of a presidency like Coolidge’s. If successful, it will be in no small part thanks to the work of the Foundation and the allied community of supporters and scholars who are keeping alive the legacy and values of one of our nation’s greatest leaders.