"I do not choose to run" is President Calvin Coolidge's statement to the press about his decision not to run for president in 1928. The statement was ambiguous, and caused considerable debate about his language intentions.
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Coolidge was in the "Summer White House" in the Black Hills when he gave his secretary, Everett Sanders, a piece of paper that read, "I did not choose to run for president in 1928." Sanders supported Coolidge's declaration, and the announcement was scheduled for a 9 am news conference on Tuesday 2 August 1927.
However, to avoid overreaction by the stock market on the east coast, the announcement was moved to midday. At 11:30, Coolidge cut the paper with his statement, and at the conference, handed it to each reporter a strip. Without giving any further information, Coolidge commented, "There will be nothing more than this office today."
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Public
After Coolidge's announcement, the media collected was stunned. The public, too, was surprised by the announcement. Many feel Coolidge can easily win a second full period, based on "Coolidge Prosperity," a booming economy, and a surplus of more than $ 300 million.
Family and colleagues
Early in 1924, Coolidge had explained that he would not run again after his 1924 campaign. He conveyed this to his father after his son Calvin Jr., died. After the election, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. "remember clearly" Coolidge cited his desire not to run anymore, a conversation that Coolidge also documented with Frank Stearns at the same time. Also, Secret Service Agent Edmund Starling, who served in the White House for thirty years, and protects five presidents, said that Coolidge decided "long" not to run for office.
While some people close to Coolidge know he will not run for another term, others are stunned by his announcement, including Sanders, his personal secretary. Then on the day of August 2, Grace Coolidge learned of her husband's announcement from visiting Senator Arthur Capper. He commented, "Is not that just like that guy, he never gave me a single bit of his intention, I do not know."
Reason for statement
After Coolidge's announcement, there was much debate about what he meant in choosing his words. Some take language as a definitive statement that he is not willing to be president any longer. Others think that he hopes to be recruited by the party as a candidate.
Hope to be compiled
Some close to the presidency took the view that Coolidge was looking to be drafted by the party for the 1928 election. Vice President Charles G. Dawes believed that he was "diligent" wanting nominations. Herbert Hoover's trade secretary, he considered the 1928 election offer, asked Coolidge if his decision was "really conclusive," and the president did not give a straight answer. Even one of Coolidge's closest friends, Senator Butler, said of the decision, "I do not know what he wants."
As it was drafted as a party candidate, Coolidge stated that he was "determined not to have that possibility arise."
Desire for private life
Others see Coolidge's message as a desire to return to personal life. In early 1924, Coolidge decided he would not run for president for the second time. The death of his son, Cal Jr., in 1924, greatly disadvantaged the president, which, according to some, led to clinical depression. "When he died, the power and glory of the Presidency went with him," Coolidge later wrote in his autobiography. He also notes that another term would put him in the White House longer than anyone else who's been there, and ten years more time than anyone should spend there.
In addition, Coolidge took several steps to ensure he was not designed for nominations. He said, "I do not approve of the circulation of the petition, as it was reported in the morning press, asking me to run for president in 1928. I do not see that something good can come from it I hope it will be stopped." He also announced in December 1927, "My statement stands, no one should be led to assume that I have modified it." My decision will be respected. " Informing that some of the Massachusetts Republicans were campaigning to get him to win their state presidential election, Coolidge told the Republican presidential chairman "Such an act would be so embarrassing for me... I'm asking that it not be done."
While the language is open to debate, some indicate that it is the language of Vermont Yankees. "Yankee language is based on disparaging and not exaggerated statements," said publisher Charles Thompson.
Respect the two-term tradition
Some people feel that Coolidge respects the two-term tradition set by President Washington. Coolidge argued that a vice president who succeeded in becoming part of another presidential term would not break the rules by then running twice for elections in his own right. This tradition continued in 1952 and 1968, when President Harry S. Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson chose not to look for another term after a disappointing performance in New Hampshire primary. Both succeeded in becoming president after the death of his predecessor and only elected once. Theodore Roosevelt also did not run in 1908 after his presidential succession in 1901 and his election in 1904. However, he failed in 1912, against his successor, William Howard Taft.
Within the Republican party, there is talk that "no tradition of the three terms" could ruin Coolidge, and thus the party, possibly the election day. This has led some party members to call on him not to run for a third term, although most experts argue that their opinions have little influence on Coolidge's reasons.
Popular culture
The phrase entered the popular culture of the era. The song "I Do Not Choose to Run", is credited to Kenny & amp; Dennis was recorded in March 1928 by jazz band Harry Reser for Brunswick Records. The humorous lyrics tell the story of a clock that, rather than ticking and telling time, pronounces Coolidge's famous phrase.
In Seinfeld episode, "Race", Jerry tells about how he won the high school race, and has been labeled a fast runner because he accidentally got his head started. When asked to race again to confirm the result, Jerry responded by saying, "I chose not to run."
References
Bibliography
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Coolidge, Calvin (1929). The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge . New York: Cosmopolitan Book Greenberg, David (2007). Calvin Coolidge . New York: Times.
- Gilbert, Robert E. (2003). The Tormented President: Calvin Coolidge, Death, and Clinical Depression . Westport, CT: Praeger. Ã,
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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