President Calvin Coolidge

Coolidge Administration Accomplishments

I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can't be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort. -Calvin Coolidge

Overview

The Coolidge Administration’s principal objective was to restore the Federal government’s finances to peacetime basis and by doing so, to encourage and facilitate the country’s return to normalcy. The Administration’s primary focus was on reducing the huge war debt, followed by cutting the high wartime tax rates. This was accompanied by an unceasing effort to make the governmental establishment operate efficiently, effectively, and economically. The newly created Bureau of the Budget, which fell under President Coolidge’s direct supervision, played a principal role in this process. President Coolidge himself made pioneering use of the radio to reach out twice annually to the American people to report on the progress of his economic program.

Debt, Tax, and Budget Reductions

National debt lowered from $22.3 billion in 1923 to $16.9 billion in 1929.

Coolidge/Mellon Tax Cuts: After years of very high wartime tax rates, rates were reduced significantly under the Revenue Acts of 1921, 1924, and 1926, especially the latter, which was the crowning achievement of Coolidge tax program. The combined top marginal normal and surtax rate declined from 73 percent to 58 percent in 1922, and then to 50 percent in 1923 (income over $200,000). In 1924, the top tax rate decreased to 46 percent (income over $500,000). The top rate was only 25 percent (income over $100,000) from 1925 to 1928, and then fell to 24 percent in 1929. By 1927, 98 percent of the population paid no income tax. It is also worth noting that numerous “nuisance” taxes, such as on cars and theatre tickets, were eliminated.

Federal budget reduced from $5.1 billion in 1921 to $3.3 in 1929.

Significant Legislation of the Coolidge Administration

World War Adjusted Compensation Act of May 19, 1924, also known as the Soldiers’ Bonus Act
Foreign Service Act of May 24, 1924, also known as the Rogers Act
Indian Citizenship Act of June 2, 1924
Immigration Act of May 26, 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act
Revenue Act of June 2, 1924
Protection of Forest Act of June 7, 1924, also known as the Clarke-McNary Act
The United States Arbitration Act of Feb. 12, 1925, also known as the Federal Arbitration Act
Revenue Act of February 26, 1926
Public Buildings Act of May 25, 1926, also known as the Elliot-Fernald Act
Air Commerce Act of May 20, 1926 (Note: One year to the day later, Lindbergh’s commenced his historic trans-Atlantic flight.)
River and Harbor Act of January 21, 1927, authorizing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
The McFadden-Pepper Act of Feb. 25, 1927
Radio Act of February 23, 1927
Mississippi River Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928
Merchant Marine Act of May 22, 1928, also known as the Jones-White Act
Revenue Act of May 29, 1928

Significant Vetoes

May 15, 1924: Vetoed the Veterans Bonus Bill; overridden by Congress.
February 25, 1927: First veto of the McNary-Haugen Farm Bill
May 29, 1928: Second veto of the McNary-Haugen Farm Bill

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