The next time you enjoy a leisurely Saturday, thank President Calvin Coolidge. The transition from a six-day work week to a five-day work week occurred under Coolidge’s presidency, an interesting footnote in American history. More importantly though, is why that came to be. Coolidge believed that smaller government and lower taxes would unleash American industry, creating more efficiency and greater productivity. Turns out, he was right.
Amity Shlaes is our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom. She has made it her mission to elevate Silent Cal’s presidency to enhance an understanding of why prosperity and civility flourished under his steady leadership. Shlaes chairs the board of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, the official foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of America’s 30th president.
Topics discussed by Amity Shlaes and Rick Graber, President and CEO of The Bradley Foundation, include:
· Why President Coolidge should be ranked among America’s top ten presidents
· This year’s centennial celebration of Coolidge’s inauguration
· Coolidge isn’t taught in America’s classrooms - but he should be
· Coolidge’s most important domestic policies
· How Coolidge’s humble upbringing shaped his character and beliefs
· The story behind the opponents of the New Deal and the nature of successful rebellion
· Government growth during a crisis and cancel culture’s presence in the New Deal era
· The rising support for unions among the right
· How to inspire inquiry among younger generations
Shlaes is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, including The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression. Her latest book, New Deal Rebels, looks at the story of American opposition to the New Deal. Shlaes was a syndicated columnist for ten years, first at the Financial Times, then Bloomberg. Before that, she served as an editorial board member of The Wall Street Journal. Shlaes is also a winner of a 2021 Bradley Prize.