Bright Moments
The late ex-President Calvin
Coolidge, noted for his reluctant
manner to speed further his own
interests politically and for his
short, cryptic public statements,
was a real problem to his friends.
Frank W. Sterns, generally credited with "discovering" Coolidge,
and who, after Coolidge was elected to the presidency, went with
him to the White House, had one
of the most peculiar experiences in
American political history.
At the time, Coolidge was a
member of the Massachusetts senate. The legislature was in session, with Mr. Coolidge as president. Mr. Sterns wanted Coolidge
to announce himself as a Candidate
for lieutenant governor in the re
publican primaries. Coolidge stalled
along from February to June, but
within an hour after the legislative session had closed, Mr. Stems
was handed a piece of paper on
which was written: "I am a can-;
didate for the republican nomination for lieutenant governor."
Asked why he had delayed the
announcement   for  so  long,    Mr.
and those who were against
me, and between those in the senate who would be candidates for j
my place as president, the business I
of the commonwealth of Massachusetts then before the »—-i-1
would never have been done."