Part 6/8:
Following the initial oath taken at 2:47 a.m., Coolidge made his way to Washington D.C. the next day, where a second, more formal swearing-in was scheduled. This time, the ceremony involved a federal official to address any potential legal ambiguities surrounding the first oath, as his father was merely a notary public and not sanctioned for federal matters.
A Quiet Leader in a Tumultuous Era
Coolidge's public persona was low-key; he had previously gained limited recognition for his decisive handling of the Boston police strike in 1919 as governor of Massachusetts. As Vice President, he had shunned the social event circuit that typically surrounded his office. Now, as President, he faced the increasing fallout from Harding's scandal-ridden administration.