The Coolidge Brief
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SUMMER 2015 The Coolidge Brief Charter Sponsors Herbert C. Hoover Creating Future Leaders through Debate at Plymouth Notch Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower Summer is here and the presidential campaign John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson season is already heating up. Within months the first John Coolidge primary debates will take place, giving Americans a Jacqueline B. Kennedy glimpse at the candidates and their respective poli- Paul Mellon cy platforms. While the debates are indeed exciting, Honorary Advisors trying to work through and compare the details of Jimmy Carter Nancy Reagan the candidates’ various plans can be daunting. Officers Education about public policy works best when Amity Shlaes Chair started early. Thinking about tax reform or Social Robert A. Cerasoli Security for the first time during a presidential Vice Chair debate is far too late. Beginning in high school, or Catherine M. Nelson even earlier, Americans should be learning about Vice Chair Students debating property rights last Christopher C. Jeter policy and debating it amongst themselves. summer at the Notch. Treasurer Owen J. Stearns That is why we’ve made youth debate a center- Secretary piece of our work here at the Coolidge Foundation. This summer, for the third year in a row, the Matthew Denhart President Coolidge himself was a debater and un- Notch will welcome hundreds of high school de- Executive Director derstood the power of words, remarking in his own bate students from across America to participate Diane M. Kemble in our presidential debate program. Our partner is Education Director high school commencement oration that: “It would be hardly too much to say, that since the dawn of the Debate Institutes of Dartmouth and its leader Trustees Nicole Wanzer-Serrano. We are also very excited Hon. James H. Douglas civilization, the triumphs of the tongue have ri- Heidi B. Eldred valed, if not surpassed, those of the sword.” to host our second annual homeschool debate Jennifer L. Foster camp and launch our first annual Team USA de- Amb. C. Boyden Gray Debate is the optimal vehicle to develop lead- bate training camp. Our Team USA camp will help Roby Harrington III ers and thinkers. Evidence shows that each semes- David C. Johnson prepare students to be competitive candidates for Leslie Keefe ter a student debates, his or her grades in school America’s national debate team, which competes Rebekah Mercer improve. In urban high school settings, debate Chris Nunn around the world. This camp has already filled up Ann Shriver Sargent students are three times more likely to graduate if with competitors from as far away as California Dr. John Tomasi they participate in debate. High school debaters are Garland S. Tucker III and even North Dakota. Milton G. Valera also significantly more likely to enroll in college and persist through to earn their degrees. What sets our debate program apart from National Advisory Board any other is the quality of the content instruction. Brian T. Allen These outcomes are no coincidence. The com- Hon. Randolph D. Brock III After all, it is impossible to debate well if one does Alvin S. Felzenberg petition fostered through debate teaches students to not have a solid grounding in the issues. Each Wyatt R. Haskell think critically, engage others in a civil manner, con- summer the Foundation brings in star content Hon. Vincent Illuzzi sider new ideas, and grow their sphere of influence. Patricia Krider coaches who work with the students to craft and George H. Nash It is advantageous to work with debate students be- convey materials that address both sides of the Hon. Alice W. Nitka cause they themselves are future multipliers. James H. Ottaway Jr. students’ debate issue. David Pietrusza continued on page 3 David M. Shribman Cal Thomas Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation • CoolidgeFoundation.org • 802.672.3389 1 Jerry L. Wallace Elevate Your Summer At The Notch 4th of July Festivities The Annual Parade begins at noon, including the Wreath-Laying at President Coolidge’s grave site. Additionally, the day will include a Naturalization Ceremony for new Americans, beginning at 10:00 am, followed by the performance of “More Than Two Words” by famed Coolidge impersonator Jim Cooke! The public reading of The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge will begin at 2:30 pm in the Union Christian Church. Pre-register today to reserve your spot as an official reader! Wreath-Laying at President Coolidge’s Grave Site July 3rd, 6th and 25th High School Debate The Coolidge Foundation, in partnership with the Debate Institutes at Dartmouth, will host some of the best and brightest high school debaters, including Vermont debaters, at the Notch to debate presi- dential history and economics. We invite Foundation members and friends to participate in this exciting event as judges. Novice judges are welcome. Pre-register today to reserve your spot as a judge! High School Debate August 1st 2015 Summer Gala Speakers Richard Norton Smith John H. Sununu Plymouth Old Home Day including the re-enactment of the 1923 inauguration at 2:47 p.m. The Summer Gala “Under the Tent” featuring famed presidential historian Richard Norton Smith, author most recently of the masterful biography On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson Rockefeller. The Gala will also feature Former New Hampshire Governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu, author of the new book The Quiet Man: The Indispensable Presidency of George H.W. Bush. (Tickets are required for the Summer Gala). Need text here For more information on all these events, please visit CoolidgeFoundation.org or call 802.672.3389 2 Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation • CoolidgeFoundation.org • 802.672.3389 continued from page 1 Last year, for example, students debated the resolution: “Resolved: Strong property rights are necessary for strong Grace Coolidge Opens the State economic growth.” Prior to the student debates, Roberto Sali- Historic Site for the Season nas-León, a charismatic international economist from Mexi- co, and William Beach, the chief economist of the U.S. Senate The highlight of the season is the new exhibit: First Lady Budget Committee, presented the most compelling evidence Grace Coolidge: “A Glass of Fashion.” Mrs. Coolidge helped es- supporting either side of the resolution through a mock de- tablish the first lady’s role of fashion trendsetter and her look bate. Salinas-León and Beach also led educational sessions on reflected the best of “Roaring Twenties” style. Couture’s an- the economic and historical arguments inherent in the prop- swer to the caricatured flapper of the day, Grace Coolidge’s erty rights topic. The students then immediately applied what gowns, jewelry, and other elaborate accessories typical of this they learned through competitive debate with prizes in the glamorous era are now on temporary display. form of college scholarship money going to the winners. It is The Coolidge family donated all the objects in the incredible to see how quickly the students learn the material, exhibit to the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, and how well they can integrate it into a persuasive argument. which operates the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic We need your help to make our debate program truly Site. Because of the fragile nature of the textiles, many of the world class. There are two ways you can get involved. The dresses have been hidden in storage for almost two decades. first, of course, is to help underwrite some of the costs of the Some items have never been publicly exhibited. Charles program with a sponsorship. A donation envelope is enclosed Gibson Design of Hanover, New Hampshire, designed the in this newsletter. Your gift is greatly appreciated, and will be exhibit, which was funded through the generous support of put to good use. We provide generous scholarship funding the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation and Mimi Baird of for many of our debaters. Travel, especially cross country, is Woodstock, Vermont. expensive. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has The second way is to volunteer as a judge in the program. planned a busy season of special events at the Coolidge Site, Judges are most needed this summer on July 25. Judges play including the July 4th President Coolidge Birthday Celebration, a critical role in helping to teach and mentor our students. Plymouth Old Home Day, Grace Coolidge Musicales, Plymouth Even if you have never judged before, you are very welcome in our program. We have a judge trainer who will give you all Folk & Blues Concerts, and Plymouth Notch Antique Apple the tools you need, and indeed we find novice judges often Fest. Ongoing programs include Tuesday Tales of The Notch, are the best. To reserve your spot as a judge, please email Wednesday Afternoons with Farmer Fred, and Summer [email protected]. Our colleague, Rushad Thomas, Thursdays at the Old Notch School. will reply to this email. The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is open Today’s young people face formidable challenges. But May 23 – October 18, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. with the right encouragement and instruction through debate, there’s no doubt they will rise above them. After seeing these For further information, call 802.672.3773, or visit the students in action, we think you’ll agree our nation’s future is state-owned historic sites online at historicsites.vermont.gov. in good hands. Matthew Denhart Amity Shlaes —William W. Jenney Executive Director Chairman Regional Historic Site Administrator Don’t worry if you’ve never judged Are You Ready to Judge Debate? debate before! We will be here to guide you through the process! This summer students from all over the Please email [email protected] to country will be coming to Plymouth sign up as a judge for our debate program! Notch to tour the Historic Site, learn about Coolidge and compete in debate.