Grace Coolidge
Encyclopedia
Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge (January 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957) was the wife of Calvin Coolidge
and First Lady of the United States
from 1923 to 1929.
, the only child of Andrew Issaclar Goodhue (1848–1923), a mechanical engineer and steamboat inspector, and Lemira Barrett Goodhue (1849–1929), Grace graduated from the University of Vermont
in 1902, where she was a founding member of the Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi
sorority. She then joined the faculty of the Clarke School for the Deaf
in Northampton, Massachusetts
, as a lip reading instructor.
While watering flowers outside the school one day in 1903, she happened to look up at the open window of Robert N. Weir's boardinghouse and caught a glimpse of Calvin Coolidge shaving in front of a mirror with nothing on but long underwear and a hat. She burst out laughing at the sight; he heard the noise and turned to look at her. It was their first meeting. After a more formal introduction sometime later, the two were quickly attracted to each other.
Grace's vivacity and charm proved a perfect complement to Coolidge's reserved manner. In the summer of 1905, Coolidge proposed in the form of an ultimatum: "I am going to be married to you." Grace readily consented, but her mother objected and did everything she could to postpone the wedding. Coolidge never reconciled with his mother-in-law, who later insisted that Grace had been largely responsible for Coolidge's political success.
On October 4, 1905, Coolidge (age 33) married Grace Goodhue (age 26) at the home of the bride's parents at 312 Maple Street in Burlington. The small wedding, attended by 15 guests, was officiated by the Reverend Edward A. Hungerford. The newlyweds planned a two-week honeymoon to Montreal
, Canada
, but at Coolidge's suggestion cut it short at the end of one week and settled at Northampton. Mrs. Coolidge, although raised a Democrat
, adopted the party of her husband.
Grace Coolidge may be credited a full share in her husband's rise in politics. She worked hard, kept up appearances, took her part in town activities, attended her church, and offset his shyness with a gay friendliness. As Coolidge was rising to the office of governor, the family kept the duplex; he rented a dollar-and-a-half room in Boston
and came home on weekends.
The Coolidges had two sons:
In 1921, as wife of the Vice President
, Grace Coolidge went from her housewife's routine into Washington society and quickly became the most popular woman in the capital.
As First Lady, she was a popular hostess. The social highlight of the Coolidge years was the party for Charles Lindbergh
following his transatlantic flight in 1927. The Coolidges were a particularly devoted couple, although the president never discussed state matters with her. She did not even know that he had decided not to seek re-election in 1928 until he announced it to the press. She received a gold medal from the National Institute of Social Science. In 1931 she was voted one of America's twelve greatest living women.
After Calvin's death, Grace Coolidge continued her work on behalf of the deaf. During World War II
, she was active in the Red Cross, civil defense, and scrap drives. She kept her sense of fun and her aversion to publicity until her death on July 8, 1957 at 78. She is buried next to her husband in Plymouth, Vermont
.
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
and First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
from 1923 to 1929.
Biography
Born in Burlington, VermontBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, the only child of Andrew Issaclar Goodhue (1848–1923), a mechanical engineer and steamboat inspector, and Lemira Barrett Goodhue (1849–1929), Grace graduated from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
in 1902, where she was a founding member of the Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
sorority. She then joined the faculty of the Clarke School for the Deaf
Clarke School for the Deaf
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, is a private school located in Northampton, Massachusetts that specializes in educating deaf children using the oral method through the assistance of hearing aids and cochlear implants...
in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, as a lip reading instructor.
While watering flowers outside the school one day in 1903, she happened to look up at the open window of Robert N. Weir's boardinghouse and caught a glimpse of Calvin Coolidge shaving in front of a mirror with nothing on but long underwear and a hat. She burst out laughing at the sight; he heard the noise and turned to look at her. It was their first meeting. After a more formal introduction sometime later, the two were quickly attracted to each other.
On October 4, 1905, Coolidge (age 33) married Grace Goodhue (age 26) at the home of the bride's parents at 312 Maple Street in Burlington. The small wedding, attended by 15 guests, was officiated by the Reverend Edward A. Hungerford. The newlyweds planned a two-week honeymoon to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but at Coolidge's suggestion cut it short at the end of one week and settled at Northampton. Mrs. Coolidge, although raised a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, adopted the party of her husband.
Grace Coolidge may be credited a full share in her husband's rise in politics. She worked hard, kept up appearances, took her part in town activities, attended her church, and offset his shyness with a gay friendliness. As Coolidge was rising to the office of governor, the family kept the duplex; he rented a dollar-and-a-half room in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and came home on weekends.
The Coolidges had two sons:
- JohnJohn CoolidgeJohn Coolidge was an executive with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, the founder of the Plymouth Cheese Corporation and the first son of President Calvin Coolidge and Grace Anna Goodhue.-Biography:...
(1906–2000) - railroad and print company executive. - Calvin, Jr.Calvin Coolidge, Jr.Calvin Coolidge Jr. was the son of President Calvin Coolidge-Biography:Calvin Coolidge, Jr, was born in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, on April 13, 1908 and was the younger of the two children of Calvin Coolidge , the 30th President of the United States and Grace Anna Goodhue ,...
(1908–1924).
In 1921, as wife of the Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
, Grace Coolidge went from her housewife's routine into Washington society and quickly became the most popular woman in the capital.
First Lady
After Harding's death and Calvin Coolidge's succession to the Presidency, she planned the new administration's social life as her husband wanted it: unpretentious but dignified.As First Lady, she was a popular hostess. The social highlight of the Coolidge years was the party for Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
following his transatlantic flight in 1927. The Coolidges were a particularly devoted couple, although the president never discussed state matters with her. She did not even know that he had decided not to seek re-election in 1928 until he announced it to the press. She received a gold medal from the National Institute of Social Science. In 1931 she was voted one of America's twelve greatest living women.
Later life
Calvin Coolidge summed up his marriage to Grace in his autobiography: "For almost a quarter of a century she has borne with my infirmities, and I have rejoiced in her graces." For greater privacy in Northampton, the Coolidges bought "The Beeches," a large house with spacious grounds. Calvin died there on Thursday, January 5, 1933.After Calvin's death, Grace Coolidge continued her work on behalf of the deaf. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was active in the Red Cross, civil defense, and scrap drives. She kept her sense of fun and her aversion to publicity until her death on July 8, 1957 at 78. She is buried next to her husband in Plymouth, Vermont
Plymouth, Vermont
Plymouth is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 555 at the 2000 census. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born in and is buried in Plymouth...
.