Letter from L. Clark Seelye to Calvin Coolidge

Date: January 12, 1914

Context: In this letter, President Seelye of Smith College praises Coolidge’s recent “Have Faith in Massachusetts” speech. Seelye, Smith’s first president and a former professor at Amherst, praises Coolidge’s clarity and brevity, as well as the strength of the message itself. He predicts that Coolidge will rise yet further in political office if he sticks to the principles outlined in this speech.


My dear Mr. Coolidge:

Your inaugural address as Speaker of the Senate has given me great pleasure on account of the terseness, force and clearness with which you have stated the essential principles of legislation and righteous government. Let me also congratulate you on your election to that high office. I am confident you will fill it worthily; and that still higher positions are in store for you if you continue to maintain and enforce the principles you have so ably stated.

Cordially yours

L. Clark Seelye


Citation: Coolidge Family Papers, Vermont Historical Society

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The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Craig Eyermann, who prepared this document for digital publication

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