PREVIOUS

NEXT

NEW SEARCH

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.

Page 376 { page image viewer }

(Taped
25SEP64)

In mid-April I talked with the Washington correspondent of the BOSTON TRANSCRIPT about consideration of the President's going to Swampscott for the summer. I had to be very careful what I said bec ua {begin inserted text}au{end inserted text} se I knew what was in the making, but it did not behoove me to give any news out on the subject. The reporter felt very strongly the President should give information to the press when he expected to go, and if he expected to go, to Swampscott. Newspapers felt very sure he was planning to do so. The grapevine had so enlightened them. This reporter regretted that the President {begin inserted text}Coolidge{end inserted text} was so much of a hermit in the White House. He knew President Coolidge well when he was State Senator in Massachusetts. . . . the President making a great mistake to shut himself off so much from the newspaper world. Think they could have given him a much more favorable press if he exposed himself more, fraternized more with the newspaper men accredited to Washington.

President and Mrs. Coolidge made a cruise on the MAYFLOWER, having the outing on April 19th, taking with them for the day's outing on the Potomac the Secretary to the President and Mrs. Everett Sanders and Senator and Mrs. Norbeck of South Dakota. This was an unusually small party, but it was merely for a part of Sunday and overnight, returning to the Navy Yard dock the first thing Monday morning.

I was rather surprised when the President sent for me to come to his stateroom when he was retiring. When I got there, instead of requiring my professional services, he said, much to my surprise, that he had sent for me merely to say, "Goodnight", an unusually kind and considerate gesture.

Page 377 { page image viewer }

That evening as the ship headed up the Potomac, I stood very close to Mrs. Coolidge as "honors" were rendered passing Mount Vernon. As I did so, my mind was just full of young Calvin Coolidge, and when Taps were played I really shed tears.

Confided in my dear friend, Starr King, very splendid Naval officer s , about my opportunities to go to Peking for duty, he thought it was a splendid opportunity and that I should embrace it.

While cruising on this trip of the MAYFLOWER, Mrs. Coolidge and I discussed Calvin's portrait which Mercersburg Academy was having painted and was scheduled to be unveiled at the approaching commencement at Mercersburg in June. Mrs. Coolidge had wanted me to spend as much time as possible with the artist while the painting was being performed so that I could be interpret Calvin's complexion, color of his hair, his eyes, texture of his skin, etc., etc. This to me was a moving experience and a great honor.

One day in mid-April while the aboard the MAYFLOWER, I stood with the officers and crew at attention and when honors were rendered when the USS SYLPH, which was the yacht for the Secretary of the Navy, passed by as it cruised into the Potomac from the Anacostia River, having aboard the President-elect of the Republic of Cuba. I mention this fact in view of what has transpired in the relations of the United States and Cuba in the intervening years 1925 vis-a-vis 1961,2,3, and '64, which is the current year. What a sight it would be to see Castro and the Prime Minister of Cuba cruising on a United States ship enroute to pay homage to the first President of the United States, George Washington, at Mount Vernon.

Page 378 { page image viewer }

"Major" Brooks, the President's valet, told me how generous President Harding and his guests were with him.

I was invited to a Gridiron Dinner which occurred on the 23rd of April. It was the fortieth anniversary of that great organization . . It was also the 91st birthday an of Chauncey Depew. Will Roger , as one of the speakers at the Gridiron Dinner, made very humorous remarks, references to Chauncey Depew. President Coolidge spoke very well on this occasion. The President was always the final speaker at a Gridiron Dinner. Usually he does not speak before midnight. What he says is never quoted.

On April 24th when there appeared a newspaper article which was very disturbing to Lieutenant Commander Meigs, the Executive Officer of the MAYFLOWER, and myself, because the newspapers made an announcement that Meigs and I had rented quarters at the Rockmere Inn at Swampscott and that berthing and harbor space had been designated for the MAYFLOWER's use at Marblehead. Commander Meigs was very disturbed about the article. When he told me, I made a point to see the President to explain to him that we had given out no stories about the MAYFLOWER and the possibility that it might be at Marblehead next summer. I told the President Meigs and I had made no reservation at the Rockmere for us and our families to use in the event that the MAYFLOWER was at Marblehead. The President replied rather tersely and sharply that if I were to be with him I must not be so sensitive about such stories in the newspapers. They did not disturb him whatsoever, adding that he realized they

Page 379 { page image viewer }

were real estate rivalry advertisement for local consumption. He told me to reassure Meigs. Neither of us should be disturbed about it. I wasn't particularly disturbed, but I felt the President would be and I felt that he would be resentful if Meigs and I had given out any news items to the press. If the President weren't disturbed, why should I be? was my final reaction.

April 25th President and Mrs. Coolidge made one of their trips on the MAYFLOWER, having as their guests Mr. and Mrs. Frank Noyes (Mr. Noyes was President of the Associated Press), Mr. and Mrs. Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hight (He was the manager of the Willard Hotel in Washington), Secretary Mellon, and Secretary Hoover.

While cruising, the President sent for me at 1:45 a. m. the night after we departed from Washington. He was suffering with a great deal of abdominal pain. I administered to him and remained with him for an hour and three-quarters until he fell fast asleep. Therapy applied relieved the President and the next morning he seemed to be fully recovered.

While we were cruising, Secretary Mellon, in talking of Senator David Reed of Pennsylvania, said that it was hard to realize that Senator Reed had matured enough to be a United States Senator, as he remembered him so well playing on the floor as a child. Secretary Mellon considered Senator Reed as a very able and excellent lawyer and an outstanding Senator.

On April {begin inserted text}?{end inserted text} 26 I realized that it was the anniversary of my third year of duty aboard the MAYFLOWER. They were certainly very fascinating and interesting years; for the most part, years of stress and strain

Page 380 { page image viewer }

and deep concern at times with patients and duty obligations.

I could not fail to note the difference between the amount and type of luggage some of the Presidential guests brought aboard the MAYFLOWER and what Secretary Mellon brought with him, and he being one of the richest men in the world, I presume, certainly in the United States. He was {begin inserted text}a{end inserted text} very modest and humble and unassuming man, quiet, almost talked in a whisper. One had to listen very attentively to hear him through. I could not help but note in Secretary Mellon's stateroom aboard the MAYFLOWER that his luggage consisted of a sizable briefcase in which he had stuffed in a tuxedo, pajamas, toilet articles, and with only one brush of a set of brushes. This one brush had an ivory holder with the Secretary's initials on, but there were very, very few bristles left in the brush, and they were short and far between.

Many of the other guests brought great big heavy pieces of luggage, even some brought trunks for a day or two. The contrast with Secretary Mellon's with other guests who had infinitely less worldly goods than he had was a very striking example of .. characterized the man's simplicity. Really seemed humble much of the time. He had no affectations. He was pleasant but reserved. He and I walked the deck quite a little and I enjoyed conversing with him, naturally being very complimented that he wished to stroll along the deck with me. I was well aware that he was had fabulous wealth. We had long talks together, very informative and educational to me. Secretary Mellon told me of Governor of Pennsylvania Pinchot's evasion in refusing to endorse President Coolidge for nomination at Cleveland

Page 381 { page image viewer }

last June, because Pinchot wanted the nomination for himself. They had met in New York previously and discussed the matter. Secretary Mellon was very displeased with Pinchot's attitude.

This particular cruise on a Sunday we had a sermon, the text of which is a very impressive one, which was: "The Mount of Disappointment". President and Mrs. Coolidge and all the guests were very much impressed with the sermon. There was a great deal for each one of us to think about. I always attended the church services aboard the MAYFLOWER, sitting with the President and his {begin inserted text}the First Lady and their{end inserted text} guests, whether it was on deck or in the Presidential drawing room below the main deck. I was always gratified when church services were held when we cruised on the MAYFLOWER.

One of the guests, Mr. Dennis, on this trip, whom I had not met before, told me that President Coolidge at one time had been defeated in Northampton for a school board and at another time for City Solicitor. This was on his early climb up the ladder from very humble political office to the Presidency of the United States, an astounding, unprecedented career up to that time and in 1964, I believe, up to the present time. I have always felt that nobody had the political training or experiences for the Presidency that President Calvin Coolidge had.

Sunday while we were cruising on April 26 we had a very excellent sermon, the title of which was "The Mount of Disappointment", which impressed the President and Mrs. Coolidge and all the guests very favorably. The guests seemed surprised that the Navy could provide a Chaplain with such an intellect and such vision and such admirable

Page 382 { page image viewer }

way of expressing himself.

I had a number of long walks with Secretary Mellon, as I have stated, on this cruise and on one particular occasion he told me that he had had quite a session with Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania at a conference he held with him in New York. Pinchot was very evasive and not direct in refusing to endorse President Coolidge for nomination at Cleveland last June, because Pinchot himself wanted to be nominated, and yet he would not come out flat-footed and so state to Secretary Mellon.

While we were cruising there was much interest in the German elections which were being held at that time. Mr. Noyes, as I stated, the President of the Associated Press, was receiving many radio reports while we cruised. Much to the surprise to everyone on board Von Hindenburg h was elected. President Coolidge, who would make no comment, was noncommittal as to his reactions, no doubt feeling, as President of the United States, he should not in any way voice an opinion about a national election of another country. Secretaries Mellon and Hoover were very surprised at Von Hindenburg h 's election. Secretary Hoover, who had lived abroad so much and for long periods add was so well versed on European affairs and its people, that he observed that France will say, "I told you so", and that there would follow Von Hindenburg's election an era of suspicion because there will be the belief in France that Hindenburg would create a great new military machine and once more threaten France with extinction, at least with capture. Secretary Mellon said that stocks would not be affected in our country and, of course, there was nobody knew more

Page 383 { page image viewer }

about the financial situation in our country than did Mr. Mellon, not only in his capacity as Secretary of the Treasury, but he was one of the great bankers of the United States.

On my return to Washington from this cruise I found it necessary to vaccinate quite a number of people at the White House. There was a good deal of smallpox in Washington at that time.

The day after we returned to Washington from this cruise the Surgeon General sent for me relative to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy's decision on what he considered the illegality of rank and staff for Naval officers. Secretary of the Navy Curtis had not yet signed a report presented to him. Those of us in the staff corps were very anxious to have us bear the same rank as line officers, that is, rear admirals, captains, commanders, lieutenant commanders, lieutenants senior grade, lieutenants, and where applicable, ensigns; however, there were no applicable ranks for ensign in the Medical Corps of the Navy. We had been heretofore, as we say in the Medical Corps, some of the staff corps, designated as Medical Directors, Medical Inspectors, and while holding the status of lieutenant commanders, lieutenant senior grade, and lieutenant, we were addressed as Doctors. The Army had their Medical Corps had been addressed with line titles. They had comparable status to line officers. We wished to be so designated in the Medical Corps , . The Supply Corps also wished to be designated with line titles so that there was comparableness in designation. Vicious feeling of resentment that we had such justifiable ambitions. The staff corps were very upset, irritated,

Page 384 { page image viewer }

by the recommendation of the Judge Advocate General. That day, in talking to the Surgeon General, he told me that Admiral Strauss's, the budget officer, attitude had become very threatening to him. He told the Surgeon General that he could not put things over on him, referring to the organization and operation of the Medical Supply Depot and Strauss's insistence that it be absorbed by the Supply Depot in Brooklyn, that the Medical Supply Depot would lose its separate identity and separate command. On that occasion Strauss then turned on the Surgeon General and told him in no uncertain terms that it was his opinion there were too many doctors in the Navy, there was no justification for the doctors to have any quarters at hospitals, etc., etc.

My brother-in-law, Roscoe Koch, had been appointed sometime back as a Special Assistant Attorney General of the United States. On April 29th he terminated his position with the Department of Justice. One time later he became Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania. For some years before his retirement due to ill health he was senior member of the legal staff of a huge insurance company of North America. Roscoe was a very brilliant lawyer. Excellent mind. He could drive home his points in court and in conferences without surrendering his point of view and sacrificing his principles.

Secretary of the Navy had me vaccinate his wife and her maid. More and more families wished me to vaccinate them, as there was quite a concern abou the increase of smallpox in the city of Washington. I kept in very close touch with the Director of Public Health of the city and I had excellent cooperation from him at all times.

Page 385 { page image viewer }

It was through i him that I was granted an honorary license to practice in Washington, D. C., in a private capacity if I so saw fit. I didn't need a license to practice {begin inserted text}medicine{end inserted text} as a Naval medical officer for {begin inserted text}in{end inserted text} my official capacity and I never had my right to practice challenged in any w way through all my long periods of duty in Washington and of residence therein.

The Pottsville Journal celebrated its 100th anniversary. President Coolidge, feeling very kindly to editorials appearing in that paper from time to time, sent a very heartfelt and warm telegram to the editor, which was very much appreciated, the editor writing me a letter of gratitude in which he requested me to show the President, even though the editor had written the President himself formally.

My wife and I were very pleased when Captain Milton Boone and his wife, Helen Boone,--both Milton and I having wives with the same first names--looked us up in Washington. He was then serving at Fort Myer, quartermaster branch. He served in the Second Division in France at the same time that I had. We had not gotten very well acquainted over there. Over the years I became very fond of Captain Boone, who rose to be a brigadier general in the quartermaster branch of the Army and had a distinguished career. A very able administrator and organizer, at one period he was the senior quartermaster with the American forces in Germany. He was always highly respected, a man of the highest integrity, forthrightness, and very devoted to the Army and to his work. At one time he served as an aide-de-camp to the famous General Healey, who commanded the Third Brigade of

Page 386 { page image viewer }

Second Division, American Expeditionary Forces, when I was serving with that great Division in France. My wife and I always enjoyed the companionship of Milton and Helen Boone and we have retained an intimate friendship over all the years since our first meeting.

I was gratified that I was so cordially received and accepted in the medical profession of Washington and had very delightful relationships with it. I attended the medical meetings and various conferences and I was frequently invited to official affairs and I felt it was a wonderful re g {begin inserted text}c{end inserted text} ognition for the Navy physician on duty at the White House. My Army and Navy medical colleagues treated me finely {begin inserted text}kindly{end inserted text} and attentively. There was never the slightest evidence between them and me that I was looking down, as it were, on the other's service.

Former Surgeon General Rixey entertained me on occasion and I had the pleasure of taking Doctor Bertrand {begin inserted text}Bertram?{end inserted text} Lee, to whom I have referred in these memoirs in writing of the service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France as the consultant surgeon of the Second Division, . . Very outstanding New York surgeon. I knew that Admiral Rixey was very pleased to meet Doctor Lee, learned much from him as to the surgical work with the American Expeditionary Forces, particularly with the Second Division, which was as extensive as any experienced by any American Division during the war.

Colonel William H. Keller, who was Chief of Surgery at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, invited me frequently to clinics at Walter Reed. He got marvelous results in his chest work and it was he who really performed such amazing service in France

Page 387 { page image viewer }

during World War I when he took on a hospital filled with most terrible osteomyelitis cases, both French and American, and his results were nothing short of amazing. He was a dynamic personality, great ability, tremendous drive. He It was a great compliment and pleasure to work closely with him and to be his friend until his retirement from medicine and from the Army as his health failed, but he was one of the stalwart medical officers in the armed forces, one who commanded great respect and admiration.

I made it a point to attend the clinics and operations as much as I could at the Naval Hospital in Washington, Walter Reed Hospital, and various civilian hospitals in Washington, particularly when I knew the surgeons. I knew a great many of them at that time and I always found them willing to give me encouraging advice, words of wisdom and helpfulness, when I conferred with them. Made it evident to me that they were always ready and willing to serve me in my official capacity in any way that they possibly could.

May the 7th Mrs. Coolidge entertained a large party of women of the press, as it is called, on a trip on the MAYFLOWER down the Potomac. Everyone was most enthusiastic on this short, delightful cruise. Mrs. Coolidge had such a wonderful personality and a great gaiety and spontaneity. All the press women were very much attracted to her. I do not believe, as far as I know, if she ever got an unfavorable press report during the long period of time that she was the First Lady of the Land.

May 17th the President and Mrs. Coolidge took a party on a cruise

Page 388 { page image viewer }

on the MAYFLOWER. Beautiful Sunday. Spring was very much in the air. Chaplain Shrum preached a splendid sermon as we cruised. Everyone in the congregation aboard the MAYFLOWER went forward after the sermon to congratulate Chaplain Shrum. Mrs. Coolidge always was most gracious when she spoke to the Chaplain after his sermon, thanking him, making him feel very much at ease, and finding enjoyment in introducing him to the guests.

I remember very well on this Sunday afternoon taking time out to read a most interesting book by a man named Maurice s book , titled, Robert E. Lee, The Soldier . It was a timely book to read as we cruised in Virginia waters and passing, at times, most historical spots that the author had mentioned.

I was rather amused, but pleased, to have Mrs. Coolidge on this cruise while we were together on deck, looking at me very scrutinizingly, said: "You are wearing you are wearing your hair longer; I like it that way. With its turning gray you look so distinguished. You look stouter than when it's short."

Of course, I felt complimented that she would even tak d {begin inserted text}e{end inserted text} such notice of me. She was a most observing, warmhearted, and lovely lady.

The next evening I was a guest of the White House News Photographers' Association. Sometime after the White House Correspondents" Association began to have dinners once or twice a year, the White House Newspapers Photographers' Association came into being and they did likewise. It seemed to me that one would vie with the other to put on the best kind of a dinner and the best kind of entertainment, but I enjoyed each one equally as well l as the other and I felt always complimented

Page 389 { page image viewer }

that both groups invited me to their dinners the entire time that I was in service at the White House.

The 21st of May President and Mrs. Coolidge had a beautiful garden party for veterans at the White House. As I was in full white dress regalia with medals, I could not help but be aware that on several occasions that afternoon President Coolidge seemed to be staring very much at me. I believe it was the first time that he had ever seen me wearing my medals. He made no comment whatsoever then or afterwards about them.

That day my wife and I were dinner guests of the Secretary of the Interior, Doctor Hubert Work. He had been Assistant, then Postmaster General, before he was appointed Secretary of the Interior. He told us of his change in Cabinet position and how it came about. Also he confided in us of his proferred resignation to President Coolidge, which President Coolidge would not even read. And he told us much about Will Hays, who had been Postmaster General in President Harding's Administration and as Hays's selection as National Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

(End of reel.)

Information about SGML version of this document.

PREVIOUS

NEXT

NEW SEARCH