The World Schools Debate Camp at the Coolidge Foundation went off very well. We had 30 high school debaters from all over the country at the Notch learning about Coolidge, economics, presidential history, and debate. The students came to the Notch to train for the USA Debate Team, but ultimately they received so much more. They all made major gains in their debate skill, thanks to the coaching of our experts, including Dr. Ben Voth of Southern Methodist University, former USA Debate Team members Tiana Menon and Amelia Miller, The King’s College debate coach Josiah Peterson, and Chaminade High School debate coach Bro. John McGrory.

The story of Greece could have been written by Aeschylus. Consider that when the American Founders designed our new government, they used the Ancient Greek democracies as a template, and the philosophers at Plato’s academy changed human thought forever. Greece’s decline from its lofty perch as the pinnacle and birthplace of Western ideals and enlightened rule its new role as the sick man of Europe can appropriately be called ironic, a tragedy more suited for the Odeon than the silver screen.

“Silent Cal” is one of the most famous sobriquets ever bestowed on an American president, right up there with Honest Abe, Tricky Dick, King Andrew (Jackson), and my personal favorite, His Rotundity (John Adams). As evident from this list, presidential nicknames are not necessarily bestowed out of affection, as with a pet name; they often have less to do with policy or accomplishments and more with the president’s personal attributes and idiosyncrasies. With Silent Cal, it appears to be both poking fun at his laconism and an indictment of perceived political weakness.