
Thirtieth US president
Calvin Coolidge’s political views
The thirtieth president, who cut taxes and held federal spending flat, vetoed the McNary–Haugen farm bill twice, signed the Immigration Act of 1924 and backed the Kellogg–Briand Pact.
- Presidency
- 30th, 1923–1929
- Party
- Republican
- Lived
- 1872–1933
- Scored on
- 5 of 12 axes
Strongest documented leanings
- Privatize85%
- Laissez-faire85%
- Assimilationist75%
Where Coolidge stood on the twelve axes
Each bar is one axis, between its two poles. Only axes with a documented position are scored; the others are shown as faint stubs on the icon and listed below, never as neutral.
Based on his record from 1923 to 1929. He is scored on five axes; his record on social questions beyond immigration is too thin to score.
- Nationalism vs InternationalismNationalism 55%NationalismInternationalism
Backed United States membership of the World Court only if the country were not bound by its advisory opinions; the Senate approved joining with reservations in 1926, but the country never joined.
- Militarist vs PacifistPacifist 68%MilitaristPacifist
The United States signed the Kellogg–Briand Pact in Paris on 27 August 1928, renouncing war as an instrument of national policy, and the Senate approved it 85–1, although the occupation of Nicaragua went on.
- Assimilationist vs MulticulturalistAssimilationist 75%AssimilationistMulticulturalist
Signed the Immigration Act of 1924, which cut each country’s annual quota to 2% of its 1890 immigrant population, and the Indian Citizenship Act of 2 June 1924.
- Collectivize vs PrivatizePrivatize 85%CollectivizePrivatize
Signed the Revenue Act of 1924, which cut the top income tax rate from 58% to 46%, and a further tax cut in 1926, while holding federal spending flat and cutting the debt by about a quarter.
- Planned vs Laissez-faireLaissez-faire 85%PlannedLaissez-faire
Vetoed the McNary–Haugen farm relief bill in February 1927 and again in May 1928, siding with business leaders who said it was contrary to economic law.
No documented position, so not scored: Federal vs Unitary, Democratic vs Autocratic, Security vs Freedom, Isolationism vs Globalism, Irreligious vs Religious, Progressive vs Traditional, and Acceleration vs Bioconservative.
What shaped the scores
Dated actions from the record. Each is tied to the axis it informs.
Coolidge vetoes the veterans’ bonus bill; Congress overrides him.
Collectivize vs Privatize
Presidency of Calvin Coolidge · WikipediaHe signs the Indian Citizenship Act, which makes Native Americans born in the country citizens.
Assimilationist vs Multiculturalist
Presidency of Calvin Coolidge · WikipediaHe signs the Immigration Act, which sets the annual quota for each country at 2% of its 1890 immigrant population.
Assimilationist vs Multiculturalist
Presidency of Calvin Coolidge · WikipediaIn a speech to newspaper editors he says that the chief business of the American people is business.
Planned vs Laissez-faire
Presidency of Calvin Coolidge · WikipediaHe vetoes the McNary–Haugen farm bill, and does so again in May 1928.
Planned vs Laissez-faire
McNary–Haugen Farm Relief Bill · WikipediaThe Kellogg–Briand Pact is signed in Paris; the Senate approves it 85–1.
Militarist vs Pacifist
Kellogg–Briand Pact · Wikipedia
Coolidge compared with other presidents
Measured on the axes both presidents are scored on, with the same rules as the quiz.
Questions about Calvin Coolidge’s politics
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Sources and credits
Main source: Inaugural Address of Calvin Coolidge · The Avalon Project
Also read
Portrait: John H. Garo, c. 1920 · Public domain
Scores are editorial estimates from the public record, not measurements. A place on this site is not praise.
Keep exploring
- All presidents in the quizTake the test and see which president you are closest to.
- Woodrow WilsonThe president before Coolidge in our list.
- Herbert HooverThe president after Coolidge in our list.
- United StatesWhere the United States sits on the twelve axes.
- MethodologyHow the axes, the scoring and the matching work.
How close are you to Coolidge?
Take the test and see how your twelve scores compare, axis by axis.





