This stunt, certainly, would have been harder to pull off in the era before Photoshop and artificial intelligence:
“Amherst College students perpetuated a practical joke this afternoon when they sent out news stories and photographs showing United States Senator Frederick H. Gillett (1851-1935) minus his celebrated beard,” The Glens Falls Times reported on June 17, 1925. “Senator Gillett, found by newspaper correspondents, was still wearing the beard.”
In other 1925 lighter side of political history news collected from Northern New York historic newspapers:
“President Coolidge gave buckwheat cakes and maple syrup added prestige when he served them regularly at Whitehouse breakfasts. Senators on the floor of the Senate taunted colleagues with surrendering their convictions to the seductions of the White House buckwheat cakes and syrup.
“Stage comedians, sent to Washington to woo sweet smiles from the presidential physiognomy, were first seated at the breakfast table and plied with cakes and syrup,” The Post-Star reported on August 13.
“It was reported that President Coolidge himself daily broke the long night’s fast with a stack of buckwheats, plus ham and eggs, plus rolls, coffee, cereal, grapefruit and so forth.”
President Calvin Coolidge, who was spending the summer at Swampscott, Massachusetts, was expected to visit Essex County, Mass. “Tomorrow, the President has plans to motor to Essex, near here, to attend an outing of Essex County Republicans. He does not expect to deliver an address,” The Post-Star reported on July 29.
A penny for your thoughts, but a dime to get your signature on the same quilt as President Calvin Coolidge. The President sent an autographed quilt block to Mrs. John T. Logan of North River, The North Creek Enterprise reported on December 31.
Logan was crafting a quilt in the shape of a wheel, with Coolidge’s signature as the hub. Surrounding his signature on the spokes would be signatures of 16 state senators, congressmen and U.S. Senators. There would be additional signatures of 41 people who contributed 10 cents – the equivalent of $1.87 in 2026 dollars – each.
“When the quilt is completed, it will be sold at auction, the process to go for the benefit of the North River Baptist Church.”
Sara Snell, wife of U. S. Rep. Betrand Snell [1870-1958], R-Potsdam, was among a delegation of 21 Americans who greeted the King and Queen of England, The Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on July 5.
New York Governor Al Smith set a precedent. “Governor Smith announced today he will appear before the legislature convened in extraordinary session Monday night to deliver a message informally and without notes,” The Post-Star reported on June 19.
“Extemporaneous delivery of the message, considered a precedent, will permit the governor, he believes, to speak more efficiently and persuasively.”
Saratoga Springs was the August place to be for politicians. “There may be as many political conferences at Saratoga during August as there are races, the legislators all receiving complimentary badges for the race track,” The Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on August 6.
The President did not join his wife for a swim. “Emboldened by the warm weather of the past two days, Mrs. Coolidge today braved the chilly waters of the Atlantic for the first time at the (summer) White House. Ocean bathing, however, apparently is not in the President’s liking for he failed to make an appearance,” The Glens Falls Times reported on July 6.
Did Calvin Coolidge engage in silent prayer? “The fact that President Coolidge is a regular attendant at church every Sunday has done an enormous amount of good in actuating others to do likewise. There is no doubt that attendance is increasing,” The Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on November 12.
President Calvin Coolidge, during their New England summer vacation, and wife visited Quincy, Mass, the birth and burial place of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, The Associated Press reported. “On the cruise from Marblehead to Qunicy, the President gave photographers free reign of the ship. Wearing a yachting cap, he was photographed standing behind the wheel.
Governor Al Smith, due to scheduling conflicts, turned down 442 invitations to attend social events between July and November, The North Creek Enterprise reported on November 12. “The governor is wanted as a wedding guest, a bazaar patron, old home week backer, and official at cornerstone ceremonies.”
“Chop sticks were missing,” The Glens Falls Times reported. “Chop suey was served today by by President and Mrs. Coolidge at a luncheon for Charles A. Crane [1858-1939], former minister to China. The dish was prepared by one of the Chinese sailor cooks stationed on the Mayflower, the presidential yacht.”
Editorial Wit
“No matter what errors are being made by the politicians in Washington or New York, the errors that are now being made in baseball are the ones that count.” – The Granville Sentinel, May 29.
“’Too much borrowing and too much legislation,’ Senator [James W.] Wadsworth says, and he’s right.” – The Ticonderoga Sentinel, Sept. 17.
“If silence was golden, Coolidge would be richer than Ford.” – The Glens Falls Times, July 6.
“It is funny how many friends you will meet around election time,” – The North Creek Enterprise, Sept. 24.
Read more about New York Political History.
Illustration: A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942.
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