Calvin Coolidge delivers a speech in 1924 on why people should be allowed to keep more of their earnings. This was the first time a president's speech was ever recorded by a movie camera with sound equipment. Tags:CalvinCoolidge Added: 4th October 2007 Views: 313 Rating: Posted By:Lava1964
Despite being nicknamed Silent Cal, Coolidge was the first president to make use of the new medium radio to communicate with the American public. Lacking personal charisma, Coolidge seemed a poor fit for the Roaring Twenties, but the people liked him. He was elected vice-president in 1920 but ascended to the presidency in 1923 when Warren Harding died. He convincingly won the 1924 presidential election.
I would have had him fix his tie LOL! We sure have come a long way. The other day we had the post of Nixon/Kennedy debate and Nixon refused to wear make up for the cameras; you'd think he would have known since TV was around for quite some time.
Abraham Lincoln wouldn't be able to cut it in today's media either. He was odd looking and had a high, squeaky voice. Too bad we judge our potential leaders on their looks.
I discovered this is Coolidge re-enacting a speech he made in July 1920 when he was running for vice-president. I guess the speech was popular and memorable enough for him to read it again for the movie cameras four years later.
I'll give a fictitious example: Robert Redford's character in The Candidate. He was all looks and catch phrases. No substance at all. Yet he wins the election over his more experienced opponent.
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