Calvin Coolidge, Newly in Office Upon the Death of President Harding, Enunciates to the U.S. Senate His Policy on Appointments

“I am also entrusted with the duty of making a great many myself. It is my intention to consult with the members of the Senate of our party about these appointments…There may be some cases where you will not be able to agree with me…”

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On August 2, 1923, Calvin Coolidge was thrust into the presidency upon the death of President Warren G. Harding. It wasn’t more than a few months when he began having to make appointments throughout all the areas of the Federal government. Traditionally, U.S. Senators had (and have) substantial input into appointees to...

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Calvin Coolidge, Newly in Office Upon the Death of President Harding, Enunciates to the U.S. Senate His Policy on Appointments

“I am also entrusted with the duty of making a great many myself. It is my intention to consult with the members of the Senate of our party about these appointments…There may be some cases where you will not be able to agree with me…”

On August 2, 1923, Calvin Coolidge was thrust into the presidency upon the death of President Warren G. Harding. It wasn’t more than a few months when he began having to make appointments throughout all the areas of the Federal government. Traditionally, U.S. Senators had (and have) substantial input into appointees to offices within their states, but by winter they felt slighted by Coolidge and complained. He determined to clearly enunciate his policy on appointments, so that there would be no misunderstandings. In doing so, he offered both the carrot and the stick – he always intends to consult with members of Congress, he wrote, but he makes the final decisions himself.

Typed letter signed, on White House letterhead, Washington, December 5, 1923, to Senator George H. Moses, Republican from New Hampshire who would soon become President Pro Temps of the Senate, and marked “Personal”. “A very great many appointments come over my desk from the departments which, necessarily, I take on their recommendation, because I have entire confidence in their judgment. I am also entrusted with the duty of making a great many myself. It is my intention to consult with the members of the Senate of our party about these appointments. I wish you would keep this in mind and understand that if there is any other action it would be an oversight. There may be some cases where you will not be able to agree with me, but I want to let you know that I desire the suggestions of all those who are supporting and working with our party, And also to consult others that I might think would be helpful. If sometime this should not appear to be the case, I wish you to know what is intended, and that I wish you would bring it to my attention.”

Thus did the new president carve out his own niche, and let the Senate know that the ultimate power lay with him, and they should remember that.

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