Thing for today and not super easy and crypto exact isnt a very computationally efficient for that. So crypto is a wonderful thing and. Its an answer searching in search of a question and well see what the question turns out to be and im certain that no Government Agency is going to figure out what that question ought to be. All everybody looks mostly settled. So welcome again here in the afternoon. My name is . Jarod rhodes. Im the speech and debate director for the Coolidge Foundation. Our program is an exciting. We give we provide opportunities for High Schoolers to, engage in speech and debate, and thereby learn and develop and practice the skills of oratory and rhetoric, civil engagement, research. You have to do a lot that in writing your own speeches as well. Of course, along the way we give them a big dose of coolidge material as well. And so they learn quite a bit about our 30th president as of our program. You might be how its structured. We have tournaments across the nation. Weve in idaho this year. Weve been in dallas in december, just came back north carolina. We have tournaments all all across the country and we qualify students essentially to the coolidge cup, which is our championship tournament that we hold each july in plymouth, vermont and in the coolidge historic site, we i know its been its been noted that we have our 1890 society here and we have about 17, only about 51, 1890 Society Members that ever been inducted. We had about a third of our all of inductees here at this conference today. Want to give a little bit of a hand for that representing. The 1890 society is our debater society. So these are its its something that you get inducted to in your senior year. If youre a particular standout in include speech and debate, hopefully youve had a chance to, you know, maybe converse with them in, you know, in between the breakfasts and the lunches and so on and so forth. If you got into a debate with any of them, my apology is, you know, maybe we should you lost and so we probably should have given a little bit of a warning. No, but they they are quite good at what they do. And were were really proud to that theyre that theyre on our team and that we are able to send them out into the world with with such great skills. Speaking of a we have one 1819 Society Member here who is going to a coolidge declamation. So allow me to call up coolidge cup champion, a native of rock, texas, and a current robertson scholar, matthew sweet. And come on out, matthew. In 1890, a Young Calvin Coolidge looked out upon his audience at the black River Academy and delivered a speech for his high school graduate. Its theme was oratory in history. The year 1890 was fit for our society then for three reasons. First, this was the moment at which coolidge stepped into his role as a powerful and commanding orator. Second, it was spoken to school students, the same age group that competes at these incredible tournaments. And finally the speech was about the rich american of history. With that, i would like to thank the Coolidge Foundation for putting together a network of some of the brightest most intellectually curious in principled Young Leaders that ive had the chance interact with. Thank you all so much for that. On august 1922, Calvin Coolidge spoke to the American Bar Association in san francisco, california the topic of his speech was the of the law. In this excerpt, Calvin Coolidge speaks to the balance between state action and social responsibility. His words echo with truth. Today, the growing multiplicity laws has often been observed. The national and state legislatures pass acts. Their courts deliver opinions, which each year run into the score of thousands a part of this is due to the increasing complexity of an advancing civilization. As new forces come in to existence, new relationships are created new rights and obligations arise which require establishment and definition by legislation and decision. These are all the natural and inevitable of the growth of . Great cities . The development of steam and electricity . The use of the corporations in is the leading factor in the transact of business and the attendant regulation and control of the powers created by these new and mighty agencies. The effort and insistent desire for an equitable distribution of the rewards industry for a justice, for a more righteousness in human affairs, is one of the most stimuli leading and hopeful of the present era. There ought to be a militant public demand for progress in this direction. The society which is satisfied it, is lost. But in the of these ends, there needs to be a better understanding of the province of legislation in judicial action. There is a danger of disappointment and disaster. Unless there be a wider comprehension of the limitations of the law as the standard of civilization rises, there is a necessity for a larger and larger outlay to maintain the cost of its existence as the activities of government increase, as it extends its field of operations. The initial tax it requires becomes manifold at many times over when it is finally paid by the ultimate consumer. When there is added to aggravated financial condition, an increase in the amount of regulation in police control. The burden of it all becomes very great behind very many of these in activities lies the untenable theory that there is some shortcut to perfection, that it is the conceit that there can be a horizontal elevation of the standards of the nation immediate and perceptible by, the simple device of new laws. This has never been the case in human existence. Progress is slow in the result of a long and, arduous process of self discipline. It is not conferred the people. It comes from the people. In a republic, the law reflects rather than makes the standard of conduct in the state Public Opinion real. Reform does not begin with the law. It ends with a law. The attempt to dragoon the body when it is needed to. When the need is to convince the soul will only end in. Under the attempt perform the impossible. There sets a general disintegration. When legislation fails, those who look upon it as a sovereign remedy simply cry out for more legislation. A sound in wise which recognizes and to abide by its limitations will undoubtedly find itself displayed by that type of public official who promises much talks, much legislation, much expends, much, but accomplishes little. The deliberate and sound judgment of the country is likely to find. It has been superseded by a popular whim. The independence. The legislator is broken down. The enforcement of the law becomes. The courts fail, in their function of speedy and accurate. Their judgments are questioned. And their independence is threatened. The law changed, changeable on slight provocation, loses its sanctity and its authority. A continuation of this condition. The road to chaos. It is time to supplement the appeal to law, which is limited with an appeal to the spirit of people, which is unlimited. Some un settlements disturb, but they are temporary. Some fatuous elements exist. But they are small. No. Of the material conditions americans can warrant anything but the highest courage and the deepest faith. No, upon the National Character has ever been betrayed. No survey goes below the surface, can fail to discover a solid and substantial foundation for satisfaction. But our countrymen must remember they have and can have no dependance save themselves. Our laws are their laws. It is for them to enforce support in. If in this they fail are none who can succeed the sanctity of duly constituted must be maintained and allegiance to Public Authority must be required with the citizens ship which voluntarily establishes in these the cause of america is secure. Without all else is of little avail. Thank you. Well, now move to our final panel. The conference. Session seven titled Mount Rushmore and the presidency. Our moderator this afternoon is spalding. Dr. Spalding is the kerby professor and constitute government at hillsdale college. And as the dean of hillsdale has been will graduate school of government in washington, d. C. Dr. Spalding is the author of numerous, including the bestselling book we still hold these truths rediscovering our principles, reclaiming our future. Please join me in welcoming dr. And our panelists to the stage. Which. Thank you all. Good afternoon. I want to begin by thanking amity, the great work of the Coolidge Foundation, for what theyre doing, restoring coolidges standing, but also spreading and teaching his his message. Our panel today is weve called the Mount Rushmore panel. And thats not just because of our chiseled good looks and granite features. But as an attempt, assess coolidges larger president ial legacy. Coolidge spoke at the dedication ceremony at mt. Rushmore in the summer of 1927, when that work was just beginning to take shape. There he spoke briefly about four president s to be inscribed to the memorial washington, the foremost disciple of ordered liberty, not outranked by any mortal greatness. Jefferson, whose wisdom ensured that government should be entrusted to the administration of the people. Lincoln, who demonstrated the permanency of our union and extended the principle freedom to all the inhabitants of our land. Theodore roosevelt, who saw the principles for which these three men stood, might be still more firmly established. Future American School age concluded will know the figure of these president s has been placed there because by following the truth they built fraternity. The fundamental principles which they represented been wrought into the very of our country. The question where does Calvin Coolidge fit in our president ial pantheon . I want to begin briefly by suggesting reconsider a higher standard. There was a bit of a back in the 1980s, thomas silver, a colleague of mine and dr. , argued the time in his book Calvin Coolidge and historians that such a of coolidges is difficult given the damaging attacks made by partizan critics of his time, which thereafter became a key narrative in the new deal. Historians read the accounts of. Alan evans or can you still consider above all . Alexander excuse me Arthur Schlesinger jr and you will see this mythology part of the official narrative of modern liberalism passed down to later historians who prejudiced. Repeat the same stories more generally. Our assessment of president ial greatness shaded today by modern Sciences Success and displays in the old model of politics with the modern theory of leadership first laid out by progressive archetype, our only professional academic to be president woodrow. We are today ruled more by expertise and following models of bureaucratic making and live under the administration of politics rather, look to the deliberation and judgment, prudence and political wisdom of statesmen. And yet, despite the modern historians and academic theorists strikes me just as it strike any close reader and any student of actual history that coolidge has more common with washington and, lincoln than any other modern president. When reagan famously Thomas Jeffersons portrait in the cabinet room with that of Calvin Coolidge spurring that early revival 30th president i it was not a displacement of jefferson as much as a recognition that coolidge may well be the best representative of the 20th century jeffersonian ism. Thats because coolidge, unlike the dominant intellectual and political presses of his day or our day, for that matter, understood deeply the trans historical ends and open purposes of the american regime, especially as expressed in the declaration of independence after lincoln who was following washington and jefferson. Coolidge was most significant and substantive interpreter of those concepts. The progressives understood politics to be determined by the spirit to the changing times to progress and the need for progressive leadership. Coolidge thought that things the spirit would come first and that no or progress can be made beyond the fundamental truths to the declaration. His claim to those things, he famously said, are all our material prosperity will. Turn to a barren scepter in our grasp into the politics of prudence and the necessity of statesmanship. But there can be no without statesmen. While circumstances often reveal greatness, circumstances do not determine the virtue, neither do historians or political scientists. Thanks be to god. While circumstances often reveal it should be any assessment. Thus of Calvin Coolidge requires a higher standard of statesmanship. This, despite the fact that just before speaking at Mount Rushmore, coolidge announced, he would not run reelection in 1928. Well, it is a great to a president and a major source of safety to the country for him to know that he is not a great man. That said, then what, is coolidges legacy. We have a great for you to assess this. I am mostly a historian of washington and lincoln and the early american presidency. Our first speaker today is craig furman, who has studied many president s as writers and the author of author and chief, where he writes about coolidge as one of americas best writer president s great. Thank you, matthew. Thank you to amity and thank you to all of you for coming out. Theres theres a lot of things you could be doing this afternoon, so its really nice that youre spending it with us. Talking about president s and history. Today i want to celebrate coolidges talent and legacy. A president ial writer. Both have been overlooked. Forget the silent cal nonsense. Coolidge built. His career. Not by being quiet, but by being especially between the covers of. Two hugely important books. Books that cleverly capitalized on his new forms of celebrity and commerce. So there are two main categories for political books. The campaign book, which helps you get to the white house and the legacy book which helps you reflect on and cash in on your time. There. Coolidge wrote an all time example of both have faith in massachusetts appeared in 1919, collecting many of his speeches as governor. Coolidge took speech seriously. His wife, grace herself was a superb and underrated writer, remembered him writing those speeches pencil so he could revise them again. And again. None of them was ever wholly satisfactory to him at the time. Grace recalled afterward, he read one and say that was a pretty good speech after all this produced a deceptively simple style. Short sentences elementary and a gift for aphorism that another new england writer, benjamin franklin, would have liked. But prose is only part of a book success. It also needs marketing, distribution, buzz and behind the scenes have received expert help. A famous editor chose the title with a book called base state orations was another option. Have coolidge to the white house. A businessman man used his industry contacts to secure the paper for a speedy reprint just before 1920 republican convention. This era also saw the of advertising shops and Public Relations firms and experts from both professions. Coolidges book in the National Media and on the convention floor. One appreciative reader was a delegate from oregon who nominated coolidge for the vice presidency. I knew the man who wrote those speeches was a patriot. The delegate told reporters after the fact. Coolidges book was his campaign, and his campaign was his book. Once became president , coolidge became a true celebrity. Now, this era also saw the rise of new kind of national star, thanks to radio and magazines and movie theaters. One newspaper introduced coolidge to the National Audience like this, quote, the governor looks like a typical yankee of the movies. Consumers wanted to glimpse the personal and personal lives of their celebrities to know not just what theyd accomplished, but also what brand of cigarets they smoked. One reason coolidge was so popular a politician was that he could appeal to both forms of celebrity at the same time. He came from authentic vermont farmers, but he was also happy to pose on that farm for photographers. Coolidge was also a writer. Still, though, he had less time for it as president during his second term, the New York Times declared him the most literary man who has occupied the white house since 1865, and that the way that when coolidge saw that article, he actually wrote personal letter to the reporter, the correspondent at the times, because that meant so much to him, because he was somebody who really cared a lot about his writing. But lines like that created these expectations that were huge for coolidge. His president ial memoirs, which appeared in 29. The book began as a series of essays in cosmopolitan, was a general interest magazine at the time. Mr. Coolidge, his own story, blared the april cover and the first essay gave readers the personal insights they craved from their celebrities, especially in coolidges account of his teenage son, calvin jr, who died of an infected blister while the family lived in the white house. Coolidges accounts remain not just personal, but beautiful and brutally honest. Im going to read you some lines here that really still hit even today in his suffering, coolidge wrote. My son, he was asking me to make him well. I could not the most powerful man in the world admitted that in this moment he felt powerless. Even years later he remained lacerate and unsure. Quote, if i not been president , he would not have raised a blister. I do not know why such price was exacted for occupying the white house. As coolidge put it in his essays final line. It costs a great deal. Be president. On the morning that issue went on sale, grace went out early to buy it at a newsstand. And it was a good thing because by the end of the day, the issue had essentially disappeared nationwide, even though cosmopolitan had printed hundreds of thousands of extra copies. Scalpers were selling copies for a dollar apiece. Cosmopolitan requests for additional inventory from. 2000 cities. Calvin coolidge, noted Publishers Weekly h