Nothing
In this
world
can take
the place of
persistence.
Talent
will not;
Nothing is more
common than
unsuccessful people
with talent.
Genius
will not;
Unrewarded
genius is almost
a proverb.
Education
will not;
The world is filled
with educated
derelicts.
Persistence & determination
are omnipotent.
The slogan
Has solved and
will forever
solve the
problems
of the
human
race.
Calvin Coolidge
30th President of the United States.
Calvin Coolidge was born on Independence Day, 1872. While serving as Vice President, he unexpectedly became Real President when Warren G. Harding died in 1923. After ascending to the presidency, Coolidge built trust and popular support as he exposed several particularly nasty scandals from his predecessor's administration. He was elected president in his own right in 1924.
While president, Coolidge pushed toward small government and popularized laissez-faire capitalism in American politics. Some have suggested that his policies led directly to the Great Depression. Regardless, he pressed on, but was not reelected. In 1933, after exclaiming, "I feel I no longer fit in with these times," he suddenly died of a heart attack.
He lived 20,099 days.
•
Part one in a series of quotes from accidental presidents.
Read part two here.