Date: February 4, 1931
Location: Northampton, MA
Summary: Coolidge writes on the importance of Congress.
(Original document available here)
Present conditions require the people to let the Congress know what they want done. That will usually prevent any need for future alarm. A great English writer has described the contortions that accompany the exorcism of an evil spirit. The same thing takes place in Washington. It is disturbing to the country to see it and hear it. But in spite of all the convulsions the Congress is made up of men and women with a great deal of common sense. After taking second thought and observing the popular reaction; they finally reach a fairly sound conclusion.
We live under constitutional government. All our officers are oath bound to support the Constitution. One of the duties of the Congress is to make provision for the administration of the laws by granting necessary appropriations. When this is remembered it is not likely to seem morally defensible to attempt to suspend important government functions to force passage of certain bills. A President has the power of removal, but he could not justify disbanding several departments of the government to compel the Congress to accept his judgment. The Congress will find some method to avoid disbanding departments by refusing appropriations.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of John Sullivan III who prepared this document for digital publication.