"President Coolidge" is seated to the left of center in the position of the Salisbury portrait, the image of which was projected on a screen through Ms. Buresh's preceding remarks.

CALVIN COOLIDGE: My portrait was returned to the Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts several years ago. As Mr. Hugh Sidey said, there was a frantic search for a picture of me when President Reagan came into office. And, then it was discovered that even the President of these United States cannot order the portraits of his predecessors around. Since the Cabinet Room is not open to the public--he could not relocate the White House portrait painted by Mr. Hopkinson. They had to search farther afield. They inquired if in Massachusetts, was there a portrait to be had? And, yes, there was in Worcester--at the American Antiquarian Society.

When I left Washington, in 1929, 1 was offered many positions--very excellent jobs, but it was clear they were only interested in hiring a former President. I didn't think that was an appropriate way to use the great honor that had been bestowed upon me by the American people. So, I turned down those jobs with the exception of the opportunity to become president of the American Antiquarian Society, our nation's oldest historical society.

There were some people who wished to go on calling me "President Coolidge." That would give them an opportunity if they really wanted to. (Laughter.) I suppose it might be argued that the Antiquarian Society should have loaned us their portrait. And, you know, they were going to do it. A number of generous people--probably some of them here today--were going to contribute to bring it here. But the price went up more than I had anticipated. It would have cost us more to bring my portrait here than to transport any single speaker. I didn't think I could be comfortable with that expenditure of money. So, I have done the next best thing: I have appeared here as the portrait. (Laughter.) At tremendous economy! (More Laughter.)

As Ms. Buresh said, Mrs. Coolidge persuaded Mr. Frank Salisbury in this second version to soften my expression, remove some lines, and he has changed my attire. I guess it was in December-January 1928-29. 1 was down on Sapelo Island, in Georgia, at the home of Howard Coffin where this portrait was painted in Mr. Coffin's library. We tried different outfits; first a dark blue suit. No. He said it made me look too much like a preacher. Then, we tried judicial robes--far too solemn. Then I selected a gray three-piece suit. Mr. Salisbury said it made me look very distinguished. I told him it was a very distinguished suit. (Laughter.) This portrait is a copy of that one. Here, I am dressed in the more or less traditional uniform of the political figure of the early part of this century and later part of the last--striped trousers and morning coat.

So. This is the very portrait that hung in President Reagan's Cabinet Room. (Assuming position.) It hung there for eight long years. Just so. I wonder, what would that picture say if it could speak? (Silence.)

Yes. Exactly. (Laughter.)

I have posed for many portraits. One painter, his name was Cartoto, said he had seen a certain expression on my face during a budgetary meeting when I counseled restraint. He wished to capture that expression. He placed me next to a table and every now and again I was supposed to say "Tiger! Tiger!" (Laughter.) That, he said restored the appropriate expression to my face. In public life in order to appear really natural it is sometimes necessary to be actually artificial. (Laughter.)

It is my thought today to share with you .... As I listened to people speaking this morning, they were using my material. (Laughter.) Some, told my stories very well. I don't suppose you want to hear them again? No. I thought what I might do ... It has been pointed out how frequently I met with the press, and when I met with them they submitted written questions. If I had an answer for them they got one and if I didn't; they didn't. (Laughter.) It would be, I think, too much labor to have you write out your questions today.

I did want to speak briefly about that wonderful portrait of Mrs. Coolidge by Howard Chandler Christy that you saw, earlier. I don't know if you know it, but when an artist is commissioned to paint the President he usually also paints the First Lady.

Christy's portrait showed her, in a red dress, standing with our collie, Rob Roy. I told him I always favored her appearance in white, but he said, "No" he didn't think so because she would be standing with the white collie and we would have the blue sky in the background and so, naturally, she would wear a red dress and we would have red white and blue. I told him we could obtain the same result if we could put Mrs. Coolidge in a white dress and dye the dog red. (Laughter.)

We didn't do it that way. She is by far the better subject for a portrait.

In preparing for this meeting with you I had been thinking of responding to written questions, as was my custom in press conferences. Also, I had thought I might write up a couple of questions and respond to those--prime the pump in a manner of speaking. I think there is some precedent for our executives doing that. And, had I received a question regarding education and teaching in Massachusetts, it was my intention to share with you this letter I wrote to the Mayor of Boston in 1919.

(Reading.) My Dear Mr. Mayor: It will be with a good deal of satisfaction that I cooperate with you and any other cities of Massachusetts for the purpose of increasing the pay of those engaged in the teaching of the youth of our Commonwealth. It has become notorious that the pay for this most important function is much less than that which prevails in commercial life and business activities. Roger Ascham, the teacher to Queen Elizabeth, about 1565, in discussing this question, wrote: "And it is a pity that commonly more care is had, yea and that among very wise men, to find out rather a cunning man for their horse than a cunning man for their children. They say nay in word, but they do so in deed. For to the one they will gladly give a stipend of two hundred crowns by the year and are loath to offer to the other two hundred shillings. God that sitteth in Heaven laugheth their choice to scorn and rewardeth their liberality as it should. For he suffereth them to have tame and well-ordered horses, but wild and unfortunate children, and therefore in the end they find more pleasure in their horse than comfort in their children."

The condition which was described by the teacher of Queen Elizabeth, might exist in the sixteenth century, but it ought not to exist in the twentieth century. Unless a change is made and a new policy adopted, the cause of education will break down. It will become a trade for those little fitted for it or be abandoned altogether, instead of remaining the noblest profession, which it has been and ought to be. (Applause) There is now no pain too great, no cost too high, to prevent or diminish the duty enjoined by the Constitution of the Commonwealth that wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, be generally diffused among the body of the people.

Calvin Coolidge

Before I turn to your questions I wished to note that many people have observed that I was born in Vermont, but I want you to remember today that it was by choice that I made my home and my career in Massachusetts.

I want to be sure to not leave this platform without inviting all of you to come up to Vermont for the celebrations we have planned to mark the 75th anniversary of my Homestead Inaugural. I'm not going to say anything about the State of Vermont and how much I love it until we get up there.

You have a question, sir?

"Mr. President This morning, we heard about you and your wife Grace Coolidge and your long marriage. I wonder, would you have any comment or advice to our current president, President Clinton, in his present situation with his marriage and suggested dalliance? Thank you."

No. I have no advice. (Laughter & applause.)

"Mr. President, I have a couple of questions. . . (There followed a lengthy story about Canadian apprehension toward a possible United States invasion in the 1920s which, according to the "reporter" resulted in Canadian plans for a preemptive strike against the U.S. to buy time to bring in support from Australia and Britain. A second question dealt with Coolidge's position on ratification of the League of Nations.)

COOLIDGE: I think you see, now, why I used to ask reporters to write out questions for me? (Laughter.) At my press conferences reporters were not permitted to quote me directly. I don't suppose I can exercise any control over what you may do, today, but that was my policy.

Now, regarding the first issue the gentleman raises regarding sending any troops into Canada; at one point it was necessary for me to restore troops to Nicaragua, it may be there was someone in the Cabinet Room who thought I said, "Nova Scotia." (Laughter.)

I never had any intention of invading Canada. Mrs. Coolidge and I spent our honeymoon in Montreal in 1905. 1 have always had a warm feeling and regard for the people up there.

The other question seems to boil down to: "Why didn't we get ourselves into the League of Nations?" At the time I was pretty much one with our Senator Murray Crane. He had favored our entrance into the League. It seemed to me a good way to bring that war to a conclusion; to put an end and a finality to it. But you know, if we had joined the League, the Congress would constantly be embarrassing the president in their debate on what we should do. We are not a nation, able to speak with one voice. I think there are Senators who would be constantly undermining what their president was trying to accomplish through the League. Initially I favored it. Later I came to think I was wrong and that we are well out of it. I was wrong in my early opinion.

Yes, your question?

"Mr. President when you were Mayor of the City of Northampton, you obviously set your sites on moving higher. How high did you think you might rise at the time you were Mayor as a relatively young man? What was the platform that you used to go from state office representing Northampton and then to state-wide office?"

I always favored policies of economy. I increased salaries of teachers; we got some roads paved that weren't paved before and retired some of the debt that we had. If you 'do the day's work' the opportunity will open for you to move on from that particular office you find yourself in. The only form of political strategy I have any faith in is to try to do the right thing and sometimes to be able to succeed.

Next question. Yes, sir.

QUESTION: I was born in this city but have lived in Washington D. C for the last thirty years. I bring you greetings from one of your two remaining biographers, Mrs. Duff Gilfond, for whom I have the honor of being executor--she resides in the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Roscoe, Maryland and sends you her warm greetings. She recalled to me the interview she had with you when you left the White House; she described it in wonderful color and detail, describing your personal warmth and kindness to her specifically. She said these words which I found to be striking and wonderful in their own way. "He was positively Floridian." I thought that was a wonderful adjective compared to other adjectives which have been used to describe you. Could you give us an example of your 'Floridian' character?" (Laughter.)

COOLIDGE: You know, there is a great variation in the weather, down there in Florida. (Laughter.)

I remember the young lady you speak of who interviewed me in my office in Northampton. I was not pleased with the result of her interview which turned out to be a book called, The Rise of Saint Calvin. I am pleased to have her good wishes today. Return mine to her. Take them back down to Washington. She is a lovely lady.

QUESTION:Mr. President. I'm originally a Vermonter.

COOLIDGE:Yes. And you'll never get over it. (Laughter.)

I have early memories of my father taking us down to visit the Coolidge place and one impressive memory at the age of six of you being brought by the Woodstock Railroad to the funeral of your father. I was impressed by the double-headed engine which we had never seen before on the Woodstock Railroad. Could you share that experience.

The gentleman is recalling what took place in March of 1926. We knew father was slipping away and the doctors told us he had not long to live. I recall the letter I wrote to him on the first day of January.

January 1, 1926.

My Dear Father:

It is a nice bright day here for the New Year but rather cold. I wish you were here where we could have everything made easy for you but I know you feel more content at home. Of course we wish we could be with you. I suppose I am the most powerful man in the world but great power does not mean much except great limitations. I cannot have any freedom even to go and come. I am only in the clutch of forces that are greater than I am. Thousands of people are waiting to shake my hand today.

Forty-one years ago mother lay ill in the same room where you now are. Great changes have come to us but I do not think we are any happier and I am afraid not much better. Everyone tells me how cheerful you are. I can well understand that you may be. So many loved ones are waiting for you; so many loving ones are daily hoping you are comfortable and are anxious to know about you.

Your son, Calvin Coolidge.

What the gentleman recalls is the arrival of the train at Woodstock. We were met by men in sleighs. There had just been one of those March storms and we rode over the new fallen snow. I'd hoped to reach home in time to say good bye to Father but we were too late. When we came up the hill into Plymouth I could see they had already shoveled a path to the church door.

QUESTION: Mr. President. When you entered the White House there were some who thought you were a Boston Brahmin, and my impression is that they looked down their noses at you when you arrived in the Legislature for Northampton. Could you discuss your relationship with them and particularly with Henry Cabot Lodge, the Elder.

COOLIDGE: Mr. Lodge and I had an association that went back a long time. immediately after the Boston Police Strike he wanted to support me as a candidate for president, but I was then Governor of Massachusetts and didn't see how I could prosecute or conduct a campaign for the presidency without bringing disgrace to the office of Governor. Later, at the convention in Chicago, if they wanted to put my name forward that would have been a different matter. But Senator Lodge said, "No man who lives in a two-family house is going to be president. Massachusetts is not for him."

I see Mr. Stern looking at this watch; I will look at mine, too, and conclude with my remarks to the Massachusetts Senate in January of 1914. If I have time for that? Do I? Yes. I do.

If you wish to obtain a copy of this book (Have Faith in Massachusetts) it can usually be found at the Brattle Book Store, on West Street, here in Boston. They have an exhibit in their window, just now. This book is on display along with several other books written by some of our other speakers.

(Reading.) "Honorable Senators: thank you" I argued that the Government could not relieve us from toil, that large concerns are necessary for the progress in which capital and labor all have a common interest, and I defended representative government and the integrity of the courts. The address has since been known as: "Have Faith in Massachusetts." "Do the day's work. If it be to protect the rights of the weak, whoever objects, do it. If it be to help a powerful corporation better to serve the people, do that. Expect to be called a stand-patter, but don't be a stand-patter. Expect to be called a demagogue, but don't be a demagogue. Don't hesitate to be as revolutionary as science. Don't hesitate to be as reactionary as the multiplication table. Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. Don't hurry to legislate. Give administration a chance to catch up with legislation. We need a broader, firmer, deeper faith in the people--a faith that men desire to do right, that the Commonwealth is founded upon a righteousness which will endure..."

"Have Faith in Massachusetts."

And, I thank you.