NEWSLETTER – FALL 2012 Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation, Inc. STRAIGHT TALK Charter Sponsors Event News Herbert C. Hoover The Coolidge Foundation organized a num- Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower ber of notable events this past summer. In addition John F. Kennedy to our regular educational programming, which Lyndon B. Johnson stretches into the Fall, we also reached out again John Coolidge beyond our traditional borders to collaborate with Jacqueline B. Kennedy Dartmouth College on a speaker series entitled, Paul Mellon “Interesting People, Interesting Times.” Honorary Advisors Jimmy Carter Held at the Tuck School of Business, the series Nancy Reagan attracted large audiences to hear regionally and na- David R. Serra tionally-prominent policy leaders speak on the is- Executive Director sues of the day as they relate to the ideals of Calvin Sarwar Kashmeri moderating economics panel. Officers Coolidge. We were very fortunate to have the Hon- Frank J. Barrett Jr. bringing by giving us a history of the State and its orable Jim Douglas, former 4-term Governor of the Chair, Board of Trustees formative years. Governor Douglas, who still en- State of Vermont and current Coolidge Foundation Catherine M. Nelson joys tremendous popularity among Vermonters, Vice Chair Trustee and Executive-in-Residence at Middlebury has a memoir that is very close to being published. Owen J. Stearns College, to inaugurate the series on July 11. Gov- Secretary ernor Douglas provided an excellent backdrop to The next 5 weeks saw successive appearances Christopher C. Jeter what shaped Coolidge’s small-town Vermont up- by Dartmouth President Emeritus Jim Wright, Treasurer continued on page 2 Trustees Milton F. Campbell, MD Arthur E. Crowley Jr. Thank You Trustees! Hon. James H. Douglas Roby Harrington III Recently a few trustees have completed their a period of time, she allowed the business of the Sarwar A. Kashmeri terms on the Board of the Coolidge Foundation. Foundation to move forward professionally. As Leslie Keefe After years of dedication these trustees have our co-chair of the Program Committee, Barbara was Robert P. Kirby enormous gratitude for all that they have done for the driving force behind our speaker series, as well Thomas A. Murray the Foundation. as our recent annual gala dinners. Hon. Alice W. Nitka Ann Shriver Sargent Daniel Churchill: Dan attended most Founda- John Reidy: With a family connection to Amity Shlaes tion activities, big and small. He was able to identify President Coolidge, John was a focused and con- Milton G. Valera potential enthusiastic supporters of these events. tributing member of the Board. Living in the Bos- ton area, he brought fresh ideas and perspectives National Advisory Board Michael Galbraith: Mike was a vital member Brian T. Allen of the Foundation’s Building Committee which to various discussions. Hon. Randolph D. Brock oversaw the construction of the President Calvin David Roberts: David’s vast knowledge, Alvin S. Felzenberg Coolidge Museum and Education Center. He and dedication, patience, and persistence in getting Wyatt R. Haskell his family are enthusiastic supporters of the new the Foundation’s finances on solid ground will Hon. Vincent Illuzzi Patricia Krider building and its opportunities. be remembered down the years. He and his wife, James H. Ottaway Jr. Gerry Jones: Gerry’s insight and knowledge of Sarah, also opened their home to several capital David Pietrusza corporate governance was very useful. He gener- campaign dinners. Leni Preston ously shared his time, talent and resources. Susan Sundstrom: Regardless of the de- David M. Shribman mands on her professional life, Sue supported the Cal Thomas Barbara O’Connell: Barbara’s energy, talents, Jerry L. Wallace dedication and gracious manner will be hard to rep- Foundation in many ways. The gathering at her licate. By serving as interim executive director for home the night before the 2010 official opening of the new building was a highlight of that time. Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation • www.calvin-coolidge.org • 802.672.3389 1 Our Programs The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation seeks to pro- mote a nonpartisan events agenda as part of its effort to be a Center for Civic Education, encompassing a Coolidge Class- room and Institute, both of which strive to make the ideals of our 30th President relevant to people today. The Coolidge Classroom is the learning environment encompassing the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, with its Museum & Education Center, where our offices are located. The programs and events held here in Plymouth Notch ap- peal to audiences of every age and ability, and span the birth, boyhood, and final resting place of Calvin Coolidge. Thanks to a close collaboration with the State of Vermont’s Division for Historic Preservation, visitors can get a firsthand look at the conditions and setting that formed Coolidge’s earli- est memories, ideals and values, culminating in the majestic austerity of his simple grave in the town cemetery. Based at Steve Forbes addresses attendees. Plymouth Notch, beginning with the Coolidge Foundation’s Special Collections, continuing with the Museum exhibits, continued from page 1 and extending to the nearly 40 years Coolidge spent outside former Governor Howard Dean, economist Roger Brinner, of Plymouth Notch, the Coolidge Institute seeks to project Presidents and Place Speaker Series Dartmouth economics professor Douglas Irwin, Tuck busi- those ideals and values to the nation at large that he served. ness professor and associate dean Matt Slaughter, and pho- This effort is made through collaborations with other institu- to-historian and essayist Vicki Goldberg. President Wright tions and is designed to appeal to a wider audience, including spoke about the treatment of veterans in history, including researchers, scholars, and policy makers. during the Coolidge years, using his new book, Those Who The Coolidge Foundation is currently planning a Have Borne the Battle: A History of America’s Wars and Those schedule of events for 2013 that reflect the importance of Who Fought Them, as a springboard for his remarks and the both what we have here in Plymouth Notch, and what we discussion that followed. Governor Dean, Drs. Brinner and can take outside our regional borders. Our goal is to open Irwin, and Associate Dean Slaughter sat on a panel moder- the eyes of the world to Calvin Coolidge, and to be the ated by Coolidge Foundation Trustee Sarwar Kashmeri, him- gateway to all things Coolidge. A very useful tool in this self a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. This distinguished endeavor is our new website (see article, back page). Log on panel offered observations and critiques of Coolidge’s eco- to www.calvin-coolidge.org for information about our events nomic policies, relating them to today’s economic realities. and collections, including an outstanding assortment of Vicki Goldberg used her book, The White House: The Pres- photographs, essays, speeches, links and other information ident’s Home in Photographs and History, as her basis for a that appeals to everyone from the casual browser to the very informative lecture on presidential history, with special serious scholar. There are also efficient ways on the website to emphasis on the Coolidge White House. Each presentation become a member or to contribute to our efforts, and you can was followed by a lively question and answer session. find us (and “Like” us) on Facebook! We were also very glad to host a Gala Event at Plymouth Notch featuring guest speaker Steve Forbes, Chairman and CEO of Forbes Media, and former presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000. Mr. Forbes spoke on how the fiscal policies of Calvin Coolidge can relate to our present day. In about one hour’s time, he gave us what amounted to a seminar on free market economics. Though few of our speakers’ presen- tations were devoid of political commentary, all contributed mightily to the overall public policy discussion in a man- ner worthy of Calvin Coolidge, whose simplicity, directness, honesty and integrity were hallmarks of his character and pronouncements. Mr. Forbes received the Coolidge Award, given annually to a public figure who ably demonstrates the ideals that actuated President Coolidge. (L-R) David Serra, Alison Clarkson, Alice Nitka, Peter Gilbert, and Kate Bradley at the Annual Fundraising Gala. 2 Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation • www.calvin-coolidge.org • 802.672.3389 Excerpted Remarks, by the State of Vermont, make this entire environment a class- Annual Meeting, August 3, 2012 room for people of all ages. Now, with the Museum and Edu- cation Center in place, I believe our educational efforts should Thank you very much for your confidence in my appoint- include policymakers themselves. I believe that our expanded ment as Executive Director of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial office environment, the quality of our programs and setting, Foundation. I would like to take some time to make a few re- and the ability of our staff and Board, all leave us poised to marks which I hope will be appropriate to the occasion. reach for those who are currently in positions of responsibil- In accepting this position, there are a number of things ity in local, state and national government. An Institute that is of which I am very much aware. First is the Foundation’s be- closely held by and within the Coolidge Foundation could op- ginning. It is exactly as old as I am, at just over half a century. erate as just such an action-arm for educating everyone – from It was endorsed by tremendously important sponsors, i.e., all oldest to youngest, from least to greatest – in Calvin Coolidge’s of the then-living former Presidents, the then-current First values, or, as we like to say, in “All things Coolidge.” Lady, a distinguished American philanthropist, and President I realize that when we speak of involving government offi- Coolidge’s own son.