This week on the Ricochet Podcast, Dr. Walter Russell Mead joins to discuss U.S. foreign policy. Then, author Amity Shlaes discusses her important new biography Coolidge. Also, Peter Robinson on the burdens of writing a Big Book, Rob Long reports on what he saw in DC, and James Lileks covers and an important legal dilemma ongoing in Minnesota. All that and more and just a click away.

Music from this week’s episode:

The Ricochet Podcast opening theme was composed and produced by James Lileks.

Pre-order Amity Shlaes’ Coolidge on all platforms here.

EJHill is silent but deadly.

Subscribe to The Ricochet Podcast in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

There are 45 comments.

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  1. Profile Photo Inactive
    @BenjaminGlaser

    Cannot wait to read Amity’s book. Loved her other work. 

    • #1
  2. Profile Photo Inactive
    @captainpower

    This week on the Ricochet Podcast, Dr. Walter Russell Mead joins to discuss U.S. foreign policy, [we query – ed.] author Amity Schlaes on her important new biography, Coolidge, [we query – ed.] Peter Robinson on the burdens of writing a Big Book, Rob Long reports on what he saw in DC, and James Lileks covers an important legal decision in Minnesota.

    I think some words are missing from that sentence.

    However, I saw the names “Calvin Coolidge” and “Amity Shlaes.”

    This one goes to the top of my listening queue.

    • #2
  3. Profile Photo Inactive
    @StanSneed

    Amity Schlaes is the best.  Been a fan since her Wall St. Journal days.

    • #3
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    @OldVines

    Am I the only one for whom the podcast stalled at 4 minutes and 34 seconds?  It will not restart.  Blue Yeti?

    • #4
  5. Profile Photo Member
    @Arahant

    The most Coolidge-like figure I can think of off the top of my head is Mitch Daniels.

    • #5
  6. Profile Photo Member
    @Arahant

    “Hell and (or Helen) Maria, we weren’t trying to keep a set of books over there, we were trying to win a war!” –Charles G. Dawes

    • #6
  7. Profile Photo Member
    @
    Richard Nevins: Am I the only one for whom the podcast stalled at 4 minutes and 34 seconds?  It will not restart.  Blue Yeti? · 6 minutes ago

    I am not seeing that issue here. Where are you listening to it? On the site? iTunes? Stitcher?

    • #7
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    @OldVines

    I click the MP3 file on the pop up that comes up on the  site.  I am listening on my computer.

    • #8
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    @EJHill

    In my book, James has always been a 5-Tool kind of guy…

    • #9
  10. Profile Photo Member
    @

    Sounds like a cache issue. Quit your browser and restart it, then try and load the podcast again. If that doesn’t work, click on the direct  link above. 

    Richard Nevins: I click the MP3 file on the pop up that comes up on the  site.  I am listening on my computer. · 8 minutes ago

    • #10
  11. Profile Photo Podcaster
    @EJHill

    And Rob’s next Hollywood project:

    • #11
  12. Profile Photo Member
    @ScottR
    Arahant: The most Coolidge-like figure I can think of off the top of my head is Mitch Daniels. · 2 hours ago

    Agreed.

    Big bummer that those with the Coolidge-Daniels temperament are  least suited for the running of the gauntlet that a presidential election has now become, even while being best suited for actually running the office. 

    • #12
  13. Profile Photo Inactive
    @IsraelP
    Arahant: “Hell and (or Helen) Maria, we weren’t trying to keep a set of books over there, we were trying to win a war!” –Charles G. Dawes · 2 hours ago

    He write a popular song. Mark Steyn has written on this.

    • #13
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    @IsraelP

    I have wondered what might have been different had Coolidge chosen to run in 1928. He probably would have been reelected.  Then what?

    I don’t know if that would have mattered to the stock market crash in 1929, but he surely would have handled it differently from Hoover, making the terrain entirely different in 1932.

    Is it Hoover vs Roosevelt in 1932? Or someone less obvious on either side? Even if Roosevelt wins, the crises was way less than it was in the real world, giving Roosevelt less opportunity to  take advantage of a crises.

    Has anyone ever speculated publicly on the scenario of a second Coolidge election?

    • #14
  15. Profile Photo Coolidge
    @ChrisCampion

    It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

    Imagine a president having a budget that’s actually lower in real terms on his way out than when he came in.  I remember, long ago, a vibrant, courageous, potentially Kenyan US Senator, who promised, soulfully, to cut deficits in half when he became President.  So yes, his bar was set somewhat lower than Cal’s, but yet – he promised.

    And boy, did he deliver on his promises!

    • #15
  16. Profile Photo Member
    @

    It wasn’t my first choice,  but I couldn’t come up with anything better for Silent Cal. Got a better idea? I’m all ears, Chris. 

    Chris Campion: It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

    · 2 minutes ago

    • #16
  17. Profile Photo Coolidge
    @ChrisCampion

    I would think that the reason we will have to hunt for, and convince a Cal, has a lot to do with the office today.  You must simply want to be President more than anything else in the world to go through what’s required to win.

    And that’s probably not going to attract the best crowd of presidential candidates.  Looking at you here, Barry.

    • #17
  18. Profile Photo Contributor
    @RobLong
    Blue Yeti: It wasn’t my first choice,  but I couldn’t come up with anything better for Silent Cal. Got a better idea? I’m all ears, Chris. 

    Chris Campion: It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

    · 2 minutes ago

    21 minutes ago

    Thank you, Chris.  Thank you.

    • #18
  19. Profile Photo Member
    @

    Everyone’s a critic. 

    Rob Long

    Blue Yeti: It wasn’t my first choice,  but I couldn’t come up with anything better for Silent Cal. Got a better idea? I’m all ears, Chris. 

    Chris Campion: It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

    · 2 minutes ago

    21 minutes ago

    Thank you, Chris.  Thank you. · 16 minutes ago

    • #19
  20. Profile Photo Inactive
    @SpinozaCarWash

    Mead and Schlaes in the same podcast? Formidable!

    A friend gifted me three Coolidge ’24 campaign pins. Trivia question (no peaking): who was Cool Cal’s runningmate?

    • #20
  21. Profile Photo Member
    @JimmyCarter

    Hunting For Coolidge

    That’s an excellent title for something…..

    Or perhaps it could be adopted by The Tea Party (get the entendre?)

    • #21
  22. Profile Photo Inactive
    @MrDart
    Israel P.:

    Has anyone ever speculated publicly on the scenario of a second Coolidge election? · 32 minutes ago

    Better yet, how about a third win in 1932 and America is spared the disastrous reign of FDR.  (No 22nd Amendment at the time, after all.)

    • #22
  23. Profile Photo Member
    @ScottR
    Blue Yeti: It wasn’t my first choice,  but I couldn’t come up with anything better for Silent Cal. Got a better idea? I’m all ears, Chris. 

    Chris Campion: It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

     

     

    You Got Lucky, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Girl, if you can do better than me, go

    Yeah go, but remember

    Good love is hard to find

    Good love is hard to find

    You got lucky babe

    Yeah you got lucky babe

    When I found you

    • #23
  24. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Leigh

    This podcast has changed my life, in two specific ways.

    First, Brookhiser’s Madison is going to have to wait, because Coolidge is going to the top of my list.

    Second, I’m now really, really curious who Amity Shlaes likes.  To imply that there is someone in American politics she’d like to see run for President, and then not tell us, is cruel.  I am currently more intrigued my this question than any other mystery that comes to mind.

    (By the way, just to listen to, she’s a pleasure — a great voice and good communicator.)

    • #24
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    @Casey

    Simon and Garfunkle rules!  Kudos to Yeti!

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I feel like spending a few minutes on a people mover.

    • #25
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    @EJHill

    The end song? “Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge” – available for .99 from Amazon.com.

    • #26
  27. Profile Photo Podcaster
    @EJHill
    Israel P.  He write a popular song. Mark Steyn has written on this. 

    Dawes wrote a classical piece, Melody in A Major, that became a pop hit when Carl Sigman put words to it and it became It’s All in the Game. His new found fame came posthumously.

    He is not just the only VP to be a one-hit wonder, he’s the only Nobel Peace Prize winner with a #1. And, he was probably one of the most hated men of his age. Neither Coolidge or Hoover could stand him.

    • #27
  28. Profile Photo Member
    @

    Thank you, Casey. You are a scholar and have impeccable taste in music. 

    Sisyphus, I used Take Five when Brubeck died a couple of months ago. 

    Casey: Simon and Garfunkle rules!  Kudos to Yeti!

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I feel like spending a few minutes on a people mover. · 6 minutes ago

    • #28
  29. Profile Photo Member
    @Sisyphus

    Dave Brubeck, “Take Five”

    Blue Yeti: It wasn’t my first choice,  but I couldn’t come up with anything better for Silent Cal. Got a better idea? I’m all ears, Chris. 

    Chris Campion: It’s OK to never play Simon and Garfunkel.  Just so you know.

    · 2 minutes ago

    3 hours ago

    • #29
  30. Profile Photo Inactive
    @LeslieWatkins

    I’m guessing that Peter’s interest in asking Professor Mead about George Kennan probably has to do with his research on the Cold War. In case Peter does not know about this video, or has yet to see it, here’s a link to the C-Span “After Words” program featuring an interview with John Lewis Gaddis on his 2012 bio on Kennan. I found it very interesting.

    • #30
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