The Most Underrated President

Almost everyone agrees that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, were three of our greatest presidents. Less clear is who was the worst American president, (my opinion was that it was this guy) though Herbert Hoover, James Madison, and Andrew Johnson would certainty receive votes.

But the question of who is the most underrated president is rarely considered. However, my vote for that distinction is Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge became president in 1923 after the death of President Warren Harding and served until 1929. This period of time was known as the Roaring Twenties as the American economy grew steadily.

Coolidge kept us out of war and presided over times of peace, security and soaring prosperity. In my opinion the reason the country attained so much success during Coolidge’s presidency was his desire to prevent the government from medaling in people’s lives.

He was deeply suspicious of government’s ability to improve things. He wanted a smaller government and lower taxes. His most famous public utterance may well be that "the chief business of the American people is business.”

Some of his other utterances reveal his wit and explain his philosophy. Examples include:

“Self-government means self-support.”

“Large profits mean large payrolls.”

“When you see ten problems rolling down the road, if you don't do anything, nine of them will roll into a ditch before they get to you.”

“Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my Administration has been minding my own business."

In 1924 and 1926, Coolidge and a sympathetic Congress cut taxes that had been imposed during World War I. As a result, in true supply-side fashion, more revenue flowed into the treasury and the size of the government debt was sharply reduced as large and sustaining surpluses were realized.

Even more impressive, Coolidge held government spending down and in the five years that he was president total government outlays were essentially flat. In fact, government expenditures totaled only 77% of receipts. Coolidge actually ran an average of a 23% surplus over 5 years. Never since has the U.S. government run a surplus even close to that magnitude.

That is not to say Coolidge was totally adverse to government per se. He did believe that certain government activities were necessary. Providing law and order, the administration of justice, the government’s defense of the peaceful enjoyment of property were all, in his opinion, legitimate efforts on government’s part to assist commerce.

All politicians today would do well to learn from the example of President Coolidge. In a capitalistic society such as America, economic success and prosperity can easily be achieved. Only when massive regulations, high taxes, and government control of the economy are imposed does the affluence subside. Most of the time it is better if the government just stays out of the way.

Any comments or questions can be received at whyyouareaconservative@gmail.com

~ The Conservative Guy