Calvin Coolidge VP TLS to American Legion's Americanism Commission Director

A 1p typed letter signed by future 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), then in his role as Vice President, as "Calvin Coolidge" at lower right. The oversized signature measures about 3.875" x 1.625" alone. April 12, 1922. [Washington, D.C.] On a leaf of watermarked stationery with "The Vice-President's Chamber, / Washington" embossed at the letterhead. Expected wear including flattened paper folds, isolated stains and grubbiness to the edges, and a small piece of adhesive tape adhered to the top edge. A former collector's pencil inscriptions can be found verso. Else very good. 7" x 9."

Vice President Coolidge wrote this letter to Henry J. Ryan, the national director and chairman of the Americanism Commission of the American Legion. The American Legion was a non-profit veterans' organization founded just a few years earlier, in 1919. The Americanism Commission, a subcommittee of the American Legion, was responsible for engendering patriotism throughout American society. The mission statement of the Americanism Commission, as described on its official website, is to "promote an understanding and appreciation of American government, the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, and activity in the American way of life…" Henry J. Ryan had accepted the national chairmanship of the Americanism Commission in January 1921. A former apprentice seaman in the U.S. Navy, Ryan had previously led the Americanism Commission of the Massachusetts Department of the American Legion.

Coolidge explained to Ryan that his busy schedule would likely prevent him from attending an "important" Fourth of July occasion to be hosted by the National Education Association (NEA), a collective body representing America's teachers established in 1857.

"It seems so doubtful that I can be in Boston on July 4th that I felt compelled to decline the invitation extended to me by Miss Williams and others to address the National Education Association in Boston. I realize the importance of the occasion and regret that circumstances should again have arisen which makes my presence probably impossible…"

The female president of the National Education Association, Charl Ormond Williams (1885-1969), was elected to head the NEA in July 1921. A former superintendent of Shelby County, Tennessee schools, Williams was the youngest president ever elected to the NEA and the first from the rural South.

The NEA and the American Legion had a track record of collaborating to set the standards for and shape the face of American education. For instance, at a joint meeting at Des Moines, Iowa in July 1921, the NEA and Ryan of the Americanism Commission reaffirmed their commitment to goals outlined at prior conventions, namely, that all teachers be American citizens; that English be the sole language of instruction in American schools; that there be a greater curricular emphasis on American history, the U.S. Constitution, and civics; that there be more patriotic demonstrations in schools; and that the flag continue to be prominently displayed. In the July 21, 1921 issue of the "Journal of Education," Ryan proclaimed, "Americanization IS education" (our emphasis). The correlation between patriotism and education was direct and impactful, so much so that, "when the citizens of tomorrow stand forth, faithful to America's cause, ready to serve her and to sacrifice for her, they will be able to say, 'We learned at school to love our country'" (Henry J. Ryan as quoted in "The American Legion Weekly," August 5, 1921 issue, Vol. 3, No. 31, p. 10.)

In April 1922, Coolidge was about one year into his vice presidency in the Warren G. Harding administration. He would assume the presidency in August 1923 after Harding's sudden death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!