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Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929

Boone Papers. Chapter on President Coolidge from the Memoirs of His Physician, Joel T. Boone.

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(Taped on
7-23&24-64)

President Coolidge told me to give John and Calvin a thorough physical examination while they were at home from school, which I did.

The 24th of June I listened to Senator {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}"{end handwritten}{end inserted text} {begin handwritten}P{end handwritten} at {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}"{end handwritten}{end inserted text} Harrison deliver the keynote address on the radio at the Democratic National Convention in New York City.

Helen and Suzanne came to the White House to watch the Coolidge boys, Haley, and me play tennis. Mrs. Coolidge asked Suzanne to come up to the second floor in the living quarters of the White House for a doll that Mrs. Coolidge was giving her. In the living quarters she saw the President. She told us afterwards that curtsied and shaken hands with him. took her to see his rabbit. Showed a great deal of interest in her.

In the afternoon I had a long talk with the Surgeon General of the Navy, Admiral Stitt, about General Sawyer. Admiral Stitt informed me that Sawyer had told him he had resigned. . . . colleague and associate at the White House. First inkling I had had of his intention was what Doctor Work had told me a few days ago that Sawyer told him he was going to quit soon.

The next day, June 25, 1924, I was not surprised. I was shocked by the news I read in the newspaper of Sawyer's resignation announced that morning in the press. He talked with me yesterday, but made no mention whatsoever of his forthcoming intention to resign. To many inquiries today in regard to the matter I made no comment at all. John and Calvin Coolidge said they were glad that General Sawyer had

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quit.

A newspaper article had the heading, "Sawyer Resigns As Coolidge Physician." The article states:

"Brigadier General Charles E. Sawyer today resigned as personal physician to the President. (He apparently resigned the day before.)

"The action was taken, it was explained, so that he could return to Marion, Ohio, and deb devote his attention to the Harding Memorial Association. The resignation was accepted by President Coolidge.

"Lieutenant Commander Boone of the Navy, who has been assistant personal physician to President Coolidge, is expected to take over the duties of General Sawyer. The latter, however, will continue as co-ordinator of the Federal Board of Hospitalization.

"General Sawyer was physician to Warren G. Harding before the latter became President and was made personal physician when the latter entered the White House. He was continued in that office by President Coolidge."

Another article, newspaper, headed, "Boone Held Likely Sawyer Successor", subheading, "General Leaving White House, to Continue Work With Hospitalization Board." Another heading, same article, "Tells of Harding Project", and "Officer Says Committee Is Ready to Start on Plans."

The article follows. Excerpt:

"Brig. Gen. Charles E. Sawyerlate yesterday afternoon tendered his resignation to President Coolidge as White House physician, and in making this known Theodore Clark, personal secretary to the President, stated that the latter had consented to accept it, but that he had given no consideration to the appointment of a successor." (Ted Clark

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may have made that announcement to the press, but I doubt its accuracy.)

"It was explained that Dr. Sawyer will devote the greater part of his time to the completion of the Harding memorial at Marion, Ohio, and will continue as chief co-ordinator of the federal board of hospitalization, and will preside at the regular meetings of the board until such time as the present government hospital building program shall have been completed.

"Boone Likely {begin inserted text}Likely{end inserted text} Successor.

"Gen. Sawyer, a native of Marion, Ohio, was a personal friend and family physician of the Hardings many years. President Harding brought him to Washington with him, and made him White House physician, with the rank of brigadier general. When President Coolidge assumed office he reappointed Dr. Sawyer. Lieut. Commander Joel T. Boone, medical officer of the Mayflower, who was assistant White House physician under Sawyer, probably will be named by the President to succeed Gen. Sawyer, it is believed by officials at the White House. (I was never designated as assistant White House physician under Doctor Sawyer. Medical officer of the MAYFLOWER with duty assigned, as well, as a physician to the White House.)

"With the announcement of his retirement, Gen. Sawyer released a statement on the Harding memorial, part of which follows:

"'Through the White House {begin inserted text}Washington{end inserted text} headquarters there has been received in cash and bona fide pledges, $900 044.41. T . . .

"' " With almost a million dollars contributed, and with many prospects for increasing this fund, the special committee appointed by President Coolidge, consisting of Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary John W. Weeks

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and Mr. Charles M. Schwab, who were to determine on location, plans, designs, allotments of funds, etc., decided that the association was now ready to begin preparations for designing and building the mausoleum.

"'The Harding Memorial Association, having passed the peak of its campaign for funds and having entered the constructive stage of its objectives--the officers have decidec to move their business offices to Marion, Ohio. The transfer of the offices will take place on July 1.

"'Through the will of Mr. Harding, the park commission of the city of M {begin inserted text}a{end inserted text} rion is to receive $25,000 for the improvement of one of its three parks. . . . (Then the article Continues that with the improvements and addition of another park, acquisition of additional ground, it will be) ...bringing together in one beautiful improved parkway about 125 acres of splendidly located, easily accessible property.'"

I want by {begin inserted text}about{end inserted text} my routine duties, observing my silence in regard to General Sawyer's resignation and its prompt acceptance by President Coolidge. This day I completed my physical examination of John and Calvin. I found that John did not like physical examinations, but he was very reasonable after I had explained the reason for them and the benefit to be accrued from them.

The day after General Sawyer's resignation I called at his office and informed him that I would look over the medical material in the closet we had on the second floor of the White House where we kept out medical supplies, drugs, etc., and that I would provide

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him with a list of everything that was in that closet.

The next day I had a talk with General Sawyer. Told him of my appreciation of the kindnesses that he had shown me. Regretted that we had had differences of a professional nature at times, which were quite natural. I told him that he must realize my official position had been a very, very difficult one. When I was ordered or requested by the President or First Lady to render them professional services, it was my obligation as a regular, commissioned Naval officer to respond with alacrity to render the very best form of service to them that I could. Proper and right that I would give them always my opinion as a physician, and he certainly was aware that he was away a great deal of the time. Many times he would hardly let me know that he was leaving and many times he would never let me know when he returned. I was in his absence bearing full responsibility for the care of the President and the First Lady and their household, and I had made my own personal life secondary. I tried to save him all I could as an older man. I was aware that we had been educated in two different periods of life. I had benefited {begin inserted text}(in the){end inserted text} profession from a very broad experience, even {begin inserted text}in{end inserted text} a few years since graduation, virtue of my Naval position and duty assignments. I had the knowledge, understanding a military position, relationship to the President of the United States who was Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, and that for more than two years we had worked very closely together, and I had saved him a great deal of labor, long hours, night and day, which he would have had to bear if he had been alone at the White House,

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but I always tried in my relations with him to go the extra mile in rendering service to him. While I always tried most zealously to be loyal to him, quite natural that I did not agree with him at times and many times professionally, as I was schooled in the most modern forms of medicine and required to keep up-to-date in all advances in medicine humanly possible for me to do. I had to keep myself mentally alert and equipped for any duty to which I might be assigned on a moment's notice by my military superiors. When {begin inserted text}and{end inserted text} I tried to protect him innumerable times against a lot of criticism. I could assure him that I had shown great generosity of spirit and there was justification for me {begin inserted text}(ordering?){end inserted text} or myself other than I had efforts to him as an older man, and I realized that he was not always well. Evidence never having recovered from the terrific shock of President Harding's death. I offered to render any w service that Mrs. Harding would desire of me when she was in Washington, whether that service was of a personal nature or confined in professional attentions to her. I told him he well knew that I was with her physical condition.

On June 28 General Sawyer announced to me that Major James Coupal had been appointed as his successor. There was no comment from me whatsoever, except to say that the President of the United States was one to make the decision as to who was to succeed him (General Sawyer).

I made it a point to see President Coolidge that afternoon. Upon my inquiry he said Coupal had been appointed. He stated, the

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President, it would not be human to, for me, to other than sense disappointment, pointing out that I had served him and Mrs. Coolidge and White House as a whole since he assumed the Presidency co-association with General Sawyer, that I might feel some humiliation because of recent publicity in the projections in the press that I would likely be General Sawyer's successor. The newspaper stories seemed to come from people who were very close to the White House and would have reason to surmise that that would be the case. Obviously,therefore, there would be experienced by me embarrassment.

Mrs. Coolidge told me that same day that she very much regretted the action the President had taken, that she had explained to him the position in which I would be put by him having made such a decision, that I had justification to feel a disappointment, that I had served him and her with such devotion, as she said, sufficiency and satisfaction to both of them ever since they had come to the White House. In talking to me, she was really very disturbed about the deci c {begin inserted text}s{end inserted text} ion the President made. She in no way tried to conceal her feelings in the matter.

Mr. Frank Stearns, Mr. Coolidge's most intimate friend who was at the White House at the time and had been visiting a great deal ever since President and Mrs. Coolidge entered the White House, told me {ILLEGIBLE} that the President had made a mistake in this instance and it was absolutely wrong, which was really the mission on the part of Mr s . Stearns, because it was always assumed {begin inserted text}(we, he?){end inserted text} could never interpret any of the President's decisions unwise, wrong. Both

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Mr. and Mrs. Stearns were very disturbed about the President's action.

Later that day I talked to the Surgeon General, Admiral Stitt, Captain Andrews, Commanding Officer of the MAYFLOWER, in regard to Coupal's appointment as replacement for General Sawyer. They were both very much upset and expressed themselves both very outspokenly without mincing any words whatsoever.

Late that afternoon the MAYFLOWER sailed down the Potomac with the President and Mrs. Coolidge and a party of guests.

The next day Mrs. Coolidge and I discussed the President's action in Coupal's appointment. She said the President felt Ted Clark, one of his secretaries, who was an intimate, and very intimate, friend of Coupal's, anticipated the Coupal appointment and announcement , . It was he, Ted Clark, who gave the statement to the press before President Coolidge was ready t? have any announcement made, and it was made not in accordance with the President's wishes.

While on the cruise, I talked with the President in his stateroom. He seemed disturbed with what had transpired and with the nature of the publicity. He said emphatically that he wished me to continue as I have as a physician at the White House, as he put it in his words, as his "Naval medical aide".

We docked at the Washington Navy Yard the morning of June 30th after two nights and a day cruising aboard the MAYFLOWER. Before the President left the ship, informed me that he instructed his secretary, Ted Clark, to issue a supplementary statement to the press in regard to my status. The President, apparently having sent a dispatch from

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the MAYFLOWER E to the White House for Ted Clark's information and instructions to him, for there appeared that Monday an article in the newspaper with the caption, "Dr. Boone to Continue As Aid to President."

"Announcement was made at the White House last night(that would be Sunday night, June 29th, 1924) that Dr. Joel T. Boone, naval medical aid to President Coolidge, would continue his duties."

While I did not see any Saturday's papers before we sailed o on the MAYFLOWER, I did on Monday see a newspaper account with a Washington dateline of June 28, 1924, with a caption, "Major Coupal Named Coolidge Physician." Sub-headline, "Curator of Army Medical Museum Served in Mexico and in World War." Then the article:

"Maj. James F. Coupal, Medical Corps, United States Army, has been appointed physician to President Coolidge, succeeding Brig. Gen. Sawyer, resigned.

"Maj. Coupal is curator of the Army Medical Museum of this city and also is president of the International Association of Medical Museums. He is a specialist in bacteriology and pathology and is an author of note on these and other medical subjects.

"Maj. Coupal was born in Springfield, Mass., January 26, 1884. He was graduated from Tufts College in 1909 and two years later entered the Medical Corps of the Massachusetts National Guard. He was a major in the Medical Corps, National Army, in 1919 and was appointed t o this rank in the Regular Army July 1, 1920.

"He saw active service on the Mexican border with Gen. Pershing's punitive expedition and was with the 102d Field Hospital, 26th Division, in the world war overseas." (That's World War I.)

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The afternoon of our return on the MAYFLOWER to Washington, I played tennis at the White House with John and Calvin Coolidge and Major Coupal.

I went to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to confer with Admiral Stitt. He informed me that I could come ashore for duty in a hospital, which I probably would like to have, at any time I wished to be relieved from du my duties aboard the MAYFLOWER.

July the first 1924 I commenced my eleventh in year in the Navy.

Democratic Convention was in session. They were deadlocked for a number of days, unsuccessfully voting for a nominee for the Presidency of the Uni {begin inserted text}t{end inserted text} ed States. I listened to the radio that Convention intensely. Really made history. Very hot convention. Finally the noted lawyer, John W. Davis, West Virginia, was finally the Democratic nominee for President.

July the 2nd I went to the White House in the afternoon to play tennis with John and Calvin Coolidge. Jim Haley was scheduled to make up the foursome. When I arrived at the tennis court, I found John and Jim Haley playing. I inquired where Calvin was. John said he was not going to play today because he wasn't feeling very well. I said then I would not play but would go up into the President's living quarters on the second floor of the White House to see Calvin. I found him lying on one of the twin beds in the room known as the Lincoln 's bedroom. The large 9-foot Lincoln bed had been removed before the boys returned home from school. It had been placed in Mrs. Coolidge's bedroom for her use. Twin beds were substituted for the Lincoln bed. Mrs. Coolidge had a piano in the room for the

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boys and was playing it. Calvin was not disrobed but lying on the bed with his clothes on. I inquired what was wrong with him. He said he had played too much tennis and was tired. He, John, Coupal, and I had played Monday and Tuesday. Calvin thought that he had just overdone it those two previous days. Thought maybe also he had a cold.

I felt his head and found it was very hot, and I said that I would go to my medicine bag and get a {begin inserted text}thermometer{end inserted text} temperature to see whether he had any fever.

Mrs. Coolidge got up from the piano and said that she would go to her own bathroom across the hall where she had a thermometer and would get it quickly, which she did. Upon taking Calvin's temperature I found it was 102°. Calvin in my mind was still a young boy although he had grown very rapidly and almost attained his full growth. He was a bit knock-kneed {begin inserted text}which{end inserted text} , showed that he had grown too rapidly. He was a pale youngster, sandy hair like his father, but I thought he was, to my mind, more as his actual age, which was 15, rather than almost a grown man. Therefore, looked in his throat to see if there was any infection in his throat. It was negative. Then I thought there might be inflamed appendix, so I proceeded to examine his abdomen. I could elicit no soreness, point tenderness in his appendiceal region. Perchance my hand, feeling along his groin, found some swollen glands. This gave me a shock and made me suspicious. I asked Calvin if he had bumped his shin. He was always a laconic boy and he said, "Nope". I asked him if he had any blisters any place, on his feet. He said, "Yup". I asked him where. He said, "On a toe." I asked him how he acquired it. Well, he said he was in a hurry when he went to play tennis on Monday with us

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and he failed to put on his socks and he had rubbed a blister, he thought. I found a blister, almost the size of my thumbnail, on the third tow just behind the second joint on the anterior surface, a darker blister than one would ordinarily see, adding further to my suspicions and concern. I then looked over his legs and found some red streaks. Then I knew we were in trouble. I told Calvin to undress and get into bed.

I went to a telephone and hurriedly and I called up Doctor Coupal and informed him of my findings. He was now a medical colleague of mine at the White House, and I felt that he should be immediately informed of my findings. I promptly knew we were not dealing with some simple illness.

As soon as Coupal arrived at the White House, took a culture. I had sent to the Naval Medical School laboratory for such and had it when Coupal arrived. We knew the information that we would obtain from the culture would not be known to us for at least 48 hours.

{begin inserted text}(I/We){end inserted text} put Calvin to bed, prescribed various and sundry therapeutic measures for him at the White House most of the evening. We disclosed to President and Mrs. Coolidge our apprehension.

The next morning Coupal and I met early at the White House. We found that Calvin had had a restless night. He was sicker than he was. The {begin inserted text}His{end inserted text} temperature was higher. We felt that we should have consultation. We decided to ask Colonel William Keller, the Chief of Surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital, to confer with us at the White House. He promptly responded, examined Calvin, and said he

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was suspicious of appendix, but not sufficiently to advise operation. He recognized what the blister on the toe might be and he was aware of what would {begin inserted text}could{end inserted text} eventuate from such an infection. Confirmed the enlargement of the glands of the right groin, saw the streaks up the right leg. Did not think we had proof positive evidence, thought there might be one, two [???] producing factors in Calvin's case. Colonel Keller, Coupal, and I sat down after {begin inserted text}the{end inserted text} examination had been completed in the long main corridor on the second floor. We were aware that we were all members of the medical service of the armed forces, of the military, that we were well aware that we were in trouble, that Calvin's illness would have to be announced to the press, and that we should have foresight and seek civilian consultation. We decided to telephone to Doctor John B. Deaver, Professor of Surgery at the Hospital, or the German Hospital they called it, in Philadelphia. He was a very well known national surgeon. He said that he would come to Washington on the first train that out of Philadelphia. 5:00 that afternoon examined Calvin, confirmed our findings, but wasn't {begin inserted text}(dezermed?){end inserted text} himself there was not an appendicitis, the appendix probably deeply situated in the abdomen in what we called the urethro-cecal placement of an appendix; however, he did not feel sure enough in his own mind that there was an existing appendicitis to recommend immediate operation. He knew in another day, we {begin inserted text}or{end inserted text} rather felt sure we would have the results of the culture that had been taken of Calvin's blood. Doctor Deaver said he would return to Philadelphia and asked us to call him the next afternoon, as he would be operating all the next morning, notify us how Calvin was.

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Colonel Keller met with Coupal and myself the next day, review the case. We recognized that Calvin was losing ground. He was getting worse. Yet Keller, with all his great wisdom as a surgeon, was not willing to perform any surgery at that period. Telephoned to Doctor Deaver again, made our report, said that Calvin had had a restless night and his temperature was higher. He was certainly sicker than he had been the day before when Doctor Deaver saw him. Doctor Deaver said he, because of emergency cases he had scheduled ones in Philadelphia, he could not come down until the next morning. Asked if he might bring with him the very, intimate friend of his in whom he had great confidence, who was a pathologist at the University of Pennsylvania, Doctor Kolm ? {begin inserted text}e/?/{end inserted text} r. Not that he questioned our laboratory work, but he would like that Doctor Kolm {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}e{end handwritten}{end inserted text} r to do some laboratory work himself independent of the Naval Medical School laboratory if we were willing for him to do so. We said we were delighted to have any assistance that we possibly could.

We had received the culture report from the laboratory. The growth was staphylococcus aureus. We were relieved it was not a streptococcus, because in those days we had more dread of a streptococcus than we had of a staphylococcus.

We had made a public announcement of Calvin's illness. The announcement did not gloss over our concern for it. ?? had a telephone call from my friend, Doctor Hugh S. Young, Professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins and a very noted international urologist, T {begin inserted text}t{end inserted text} hen working on dyes of various sorts. He asked if we would be

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willing for him to try out one of the dyes on Calvin; and if we were, he would only want his senior assistant to administer intervenously. He said we may have and {begin inserted text}would{end inserted text} more than likely have a very severe reaction from the intervenous injection of dye. When the dye s was actually administered, we got no more reaction than there would have been sterile water. No benefit from it. Blood counts and blood smears were showing, {begin inserted text}with the{end inserted text} passing of time, a heavier and heavier infection. Concerning low resistance, leucocyte did not go above normal, caused us concern indeed. Calvin was not marshaling his defensive forces produced by his own body.

I remained at the White House night and day. Properly informed by {begin inserted text}my{end inserted text} commanding officer of the MAYFLOWER, Captain Andrews, of my anxiety about Calvin. He told me not to have any thought about my duties aboard the MAYFLOWER whatsoever, do as I was doing, stay right at the White House.

On Saturday, July 5th, Doctor Deaver returned to Washington from Philadelphia, bringing Doctor Kolmar with him, the latter saying he would just remain a few hours and then return to Philadelphia. Put him in a White House car out at the Naval Medical School, having conferred with the commanding officer in advance, asking that every opportunity be afforded Doctor Kolm {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}e{end handwritten}{end inserted text} r to do any laboratory work that he saw fit or check any of the laboratory work that the Naval laboraty made.

Doctor Deaver decided we should move Calvin to a hospital. He wished to {begin inserted text}(treat fine medea?){end inserted text} or shinbone of the left leg, though he found no sensitive spots on it, but he wants to see if any

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infection {begin inserted text}had{end inserted text} traveled from one limb to the other. So Calvin was transferred by ambulance to Walter Reed, which, {begin inserted text}(will){end inserted text} doctors agreed was the place for Calvin to be hospitalized, as we had had the services of Colonel Keller. He was the chief of surgery at that hospital.

Reports were coming back from the Naval Medical School laboratory that all laboratory tests, various parts of the body, w {begin inserted text}s{end inserted text} howing gross {begin inserted text}growths of the{end inserted text} staphylococcus aureus. Beside the blood examination, various excreta of the body were examined. Consistently was found the staphylococcus aureus.

Doctor Deaver, Colonel Keller assisting him, made the incision over the left tibia area through the periosteum, perfectly normal, as far as the tibia was explored; but after Doctor Deaver had chiseled away some of the bone and took cultures from it, although it looked like a dry {begin inserted text}(tap){end inserted text} , as it were, for we did not get this culture back two days , . It was exactly the same thing, showing the staphylococcus aureus, and yet, it looked like a dry tap. There was proof positive that Calvin had a generalized staphylococcus aureo septicemia.

He was really going from bad to worse.

Doctor Kolm {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}e{end handwritten}{end inserted text} r decided not to leave Washington but asked if it would be agreeable if he remained, as he was very much interested in pursuing the laboratory work. As a Naval man, it comforted me to have him inform me all the tests at the Naval Medical School laboratory perfectly performed. {begin inserted text}He had{end inserted text} Nothing but praise and no criticism for laboratory work that had been accomplished.

(End of reel.)

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