Transcripts For CSPAN3 The 20240703

Well, calvin. Just raise your right hand and repeat after me. I calvin. I calvin. Coolidge. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That i will faithfully execute that. I will faithfully execute the office of president of. The United States. The office of president of the United States. And will to the best of my. And will to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect and, defend, preserve, protect and defend. The constitution of the United States. The constitution of the United States. So help me god to. Colonel affixed his notary seal on each copy. At 2 47 a. M. Calvin coolidge became the 30th president of the United States, the only president to be sworn in by his father. After taking the oath, the president and first lady went back to bed. The next morning. Calvin and grace arose at 6 45 a. M. Calvin visited his mothers grave, and the last cemetery and the first couple departed for washington. 7 30 a. M. The rest, as they say, is history. Lets get a hand of the cast. Thank you, friends. Welcome, mr. Vice president. My assignment from amity is to give a brief introduction. I im happy to do that. Im an abiding fan of the vice. I think he will go down in history of one of americas greatest Vice President s. Weve had some great ones starting with john adams and Teddy Roosevelt and harry truman. Its hard to think of any who has been more intensely tested than the Vice President. Were to hear from. In fact, i met mr. Pence only back when he was a congressman. I doubt hed remember it. The encounter was on the sidewalk in front of the harvard club of new york. Im not accusing just to be clear, not accusing mr. Pence of having been in the harvard club. This was on the sidewalk he was with a mutual friend, as i recall it, steve forbes, which might be why when we were introduced briefly, i leaned over and said to mr. Pence, did i hear . Youre for the gold standard. Im reluctant to repeat what . Mr. Pence replied because i hadnt informed him that i was with the newspaper. But it was substantive. Several sentences, and i dont think its a violation of ground rules to disclose that. When i got home that evening, i said to amity, i shook hands today with mike pence. He strikes me as a man to watch and he went on to be governor of indiana, of course, and history calling. One day when mr. Pence was Vice President , he showed up without a fanfare. Plymouth notch, vermont, to see where 100 years ago, almost coolidge was sworn by his own father to the president , joe parchment, when the press told him the coolidges father, who said you could swear in the president , he said, who said, i couldnt. A few if any of our leading politicians have come as much as mr. Pence has to embody virtues of coolidge, a commoner of modesty, strong religious faith, a sense budgetary rectitude. And what i like to call constitutional mr. A coolidge famously displayed his courage. One as governor of massachusetts he faced down the Boston Police strike cabling. Samuel gompers, the immortal words there is no right to strike against the Public Safety by anyone, anybody, anywhere, any time Vice President pence famously showed his courage on january six, 2001, amid the riot when amid the riot, he refused to leave the bent as he was on returning to his duty to. As the constitution puts it, open the the certificates, close quote quote. Mr. Pence has given us a deeply affecting account of this in his new memoir, so help me god. Its a wonderful title by the way, and an extraordinary book. It recounts how after a harrowing conversation on january five, when he informed the president that the didnt grant Vice President the powers to do what the president wanted, mr. Pence went back to his own office, sat down and looked around the portraits. Jefferson, adams, Teddy Roosevelt, coolidge and one who wasnt Vice President lincoln. And he himself thinking of the book of hebrews and, the cloud of witness who everything we do, and the call to quote, throw off everything that hinders close quote quote, let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us close quote. Then the Vice President bowed his head, folded his hands and prayed. Yes, the New York New York sun noted admiringly right there on government property. And then he went on to cleave to the constitution with a greater display of courage than any other Vice President. No, no. Vice president has just shown a greater display of courage and i think it will be studied for generations to come. Mr. Vice president. Sir, thank you for that overly generous introduction. Im deeply humbled by it. Abraham lincoln said his only ambition in life was to be esteemed by people esteemed. And so i thank you for your esteem and and i also want to thank your extraordinary wife, a gifted writer, but someone who loves history. Would you all join me in thanking amity shlaes for her work at the Calvin Coolidge president ial foundation and bringing forward this coolidge centennial conference conference. Credit. She is soft spoken, but shes a Freight Train and ill never forget after i made that visit, seth, you referred to the plymouth march where we thought wed slip in very quietly with our car motorcade. It wasnt too long before i got a phone call. One of my favorite authors who said, i heard you were at plymouth notch, and i would like your help with a Calvin Coolidge foundation as we approach 100 years since he took the oath of office. And here we are with the extraordinary leaders and a rising generation of conservative young people. So thank you, amity. And im and im deeply humbled to be here with a number of my that i would be prepared at back in the days in congress we used to say, i yield the balance of my time. But to be in the room the likes of governor john sununu, one of the great governors, the history of this country, one of the greatest chiefs of staff in the history of the white house. And to be here with chris, who who i served in congress, i think, to this day, remains one of the most optimistic, positive of forward thinking conservatives in america. Congressman chris cox is with us. Thank you, chris. And, of course, to to actually sharing the room with with friend and a colleague who i know has played a a leading role in the work of the Coolidge Foundation. Congressman french hill, thank you. Thank you for caring so much our history and this great legacy. And finally, when i think about Economic Freedom, when i think about a defense of free markets and in print and on the airwaves and in the public debate, there are few names in that pantheon of greater consequence than the name of steve forbes. And steve, thank you for defending Economic Freedom for all these years and for honor of being with us today. And thank you all all bright young people. Ill be available a few more selfies later. Thank you for such an incredibly warm welcome. You know, Calvin Coolidge wrote we draw our president s from the people and its a wholesome thing for them to return to the people. And i have. Thats frankly whats true of president s is, also true of congressmen and governors and Vice President s. And i am i am here today from my home in indiana, which you may have seen on television recently. After four years of extraordinary services, your Vice President , were back in the heartland where we belong. And my life has changed lot since we were last together. Not only did we move back home, but also, i bought a riding mower. John deere, 54 inch deck, zero turn radius. I get to drive my own lawn. One of the nice parts about no longer being Vice President is you get to drive your own car. One of the bad parts is you get to pay for your own gas. But the biggest news in our life is that in our first year out of office, we welcomed our first grandchild. And last week we welcomed two new granddaughters. In two days. Depends family is growing. We couldnt be more blessed. Karen and i figured out we actually had children so we could have grandchildren. And its a joy to be with all of you. I must tell you. Holding little elaina marie. Born last week to the second daughter to our maureen and his incredible wife holding little etta rose more to my daughter charlotte and my unworthy son in law lieutenant henry. It gives you pause, doesnt it . Gives you pause about the importance of reflecting on past knowing. Knowing where weve come from, but also gives you even greater weight of responsibility about the future and preserving our inheritance of freedom and the values have made this country great come into higher focus. And thats why i didnt want to miss today the opportunity to say thank you, thank you to of you for supporting the coolidge. And its Important Mission of teaching this next generation to love our country, to cherish our constitution cushion and to advance principles and values. With americas 30th president , Calvin Coolidge. Thank you all. Im especially honored to be here with so many coolidge scholars, young people that are wearing the badges whove are among the best and the brightest that this country has to offer. You were selected through a tremendous competitive process and chosen by merit. And i know i everyone here is proud of you. Were counting on you. Its going to be your turn one of these days. And i know youre going to serve america with great distinction. Join in thanking all these coolidge scholars for stepping up. You know, a lot of people consider Calvin Coolidge one of the forgotten president s, but he was never forgotten. To me. Especially during my time as Vice President. As seth just shared, i the first time i walked into my office in the west wing, i saw portraits of john adams and Thomas Jefferson on the walls for my predecessor, ad hoc, the first and the second Vice President s. They remain there for the rest of the tenure in office. But i added a couple more paintings. One was of Teddy Roosevelt, who his contemporaries described him pure energy, which concluded must come out of new york about. 100 years. The other portrait i could relate to a little more. And that was the portrait of Calvin Coolidge. And i must tell you, my love for calvin dates back to my youth and my study of history, but it was greatly enlivened by the epic biography by amity shlaes. I believe her book perfectly captures silent kells character, his personality, and his philosophy. He, in fact, when i was Vice President , theres a Small Library of works about and by Vice President s thats in the library at the naval observatory. And i remember one sunny sunday when i had a few moments after church to grab a book, and i pulled Calvin Coolidge, his autobiography off the shelf, first edition, and sat down and read it in an afternoon. And i want to thank the Coolidge Foundation for putting Calvin Coolidge, his autobiography, back in print and available for every american in. Amity. Your words about him, his words in a book much shorter than my book. A lot shorter than my book. Evidence of his brevity and economy of words or my lack of. Inspired me greatly. And ive been inspired since by his humility, his principled conservative leadership that resonates into our time in new and renewed ways and by his deep devotion to the constitution of the United States. You know, there were many times when i was Vice President that i would look around the room at those luminaries on the wall and be inspired them. But seth said in one particular moment, i reflected on those words of the bible that remind us that we are surrounded, by a great cloud of witnesses. So let us throw off everything that hinders in the senate. So easily entangles and run with perseverance. The race marked out for us is surely he did it his time and inspires us. Still. Surrounded by those portraits, remembering those who have gone before we set to do our duty. And let me just take this moment to say to all of you gathered here, it the greatest honor of my life to serve your Vice President. And i couldnt be more proud of the record of the Trump Pence Administration and everything that we accomplished for the American People. I actually think silent count would be pretty proud of the record of the Trump Administration. When you think about he was someone who like our administration taxes and let americans keep more of they earn like coolidge we confronted a deadly pandemic in our time mobilized a whole of america response and demonstrate the extraordinary capacity of innovation in america, compassion that saved lives and like coolidge, we got government out of the way, rolled back, more regulation. Any administration in American History and our economic policies like his did in the 1920s unleash an era and a period of economic growth. 7 million good paying jobs, unemployment at a 50 year low, and more than 10 Million People lifted from welfare to work. The policies of Less Government and less taxes and Economic Freedom worked in Calvin Coolidge. This time, and we put them into practice under the Trump Administration every single day, and they worked again again. But how times have changed. So we stand here today two years into a new administration that seems in sense to have taken our country in the direction of the of our 13th president and out of our administration. Were taxing more spending, more and debt is going up while wages are going down. Theres lawlessness on our southern border and in the streets of our major cities. And is breaking the backs of families budgets now more than ever. America needs to rediscover the timeless wisdom of Calvin Coolidge and give us renewed good leadership that will take us back to the days of security and prosperity for all of the american. But even as we face these historic challenges. Im more optimistic. Ever before. As i travel all across this country, i see renewed energy everywhere i go. The American People look at the record of our administration, despite the challenges of those final days, the American People see the difference in the reckless, Big Government liberalism of the biden administration. Im because i know the character of the American People that when given a choice between, more government or more freedom, theyll choose freedom every time. And im optimistic because i see this new generation rising. I call them the freedom generation. Its a generation that intuitively the power of human freedom and human dignity. And i believe this generation will be the ones that stand on the ramparts of freedom as never before. But im here to give them an admonition from my own experience, because the truth is, nothing is ever accomplished in the cause of freedom without a fight. So i want to the young people here today and the extra Energy Leaders that are gathered here, we need to redouble our commitment to freedom and to its cause and prepare for the fight that lies ahead. To the young, i say, wrap your minds and around not only the example of Calvin Coolidge, the timeless wisdom of the american founding, the ideals enshrined in the declaration of independence and the republic described in the constitution of the United States come Calvin Coolidge said the constitution is the sole source and guarantee of national freedom, and so it is you know, every Office Holder in this, members of our military in Public Safety all take the same oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, to bear true faith and allegiance to the same. They take the obligation freely without. Any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. And they pledge well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office theyre about to enter. And it ends custom and tradition with a prayer. So help me god. I took that oath many times, serving along side congressmen cox as member of congress. I took it as a governor in indiana and i took it as your vice. And i in each moment, it was not just a promise that i was making to the American People. For me in my house. It was a promise we were making to almighty god. And im going to challenge each and every one of you here today to approach promise as american citizens in the same spirit. Because the truth is, we lose faith in the founding principles of this country. If we lose our commitment to our constitution. We wont just lose our way. Well lose our country. The truth is, this generation may well be the last line of defense for the constitution of the United States or forces afoot in politics today. That would have us abandon the principles enshrined in the constitution and the bill of rights. There are forces afoot that would pack the courts to rewrite the constitution. But we must say, as our first president said, the constitution, the guide, i will never abandon and live that out every day in the people must know those of you that aspire to leadership that youll keep your oath. The bible says. In psalm 15, he keeps his oath even when it hurts. And that must be your standard as well. Calvin coolidge said once those want their rights respected under the constitution ought to set the example them selves of observing the constitution and you must. Its always been my and so it will ever remain whatever life has in store for us in the future. I, i know ive been much in the news lately. I thought i might speak to that. I received word last week that the special counsel investigating president donald trump. An unprecedented subpoena to, compel my testimony. No Vice President in American History has ever been compelled to testify. A president with whom they serve. But we live in unprecedented times. I. I made it clear then that consistent with the oath that i took and consistent with history, i will fight the subpoena from bidens doj and i will stand firmly on the constitution of the United States of america. January six was a dark day in the history of our nations capital. But to the courage of law enforcement, the riot was. We reconvened the congress the very same day and completed our work under the constitution of the United States states. Over the past few years, ive spoken, written extensively about the experiences that day. Im proud of what we did and the stand that we took criticized, though it was by some in my own party and by the president with, whom i served. But ive also made it clear that President Trump wrong. I had no right to overturn the election in. His words that day were reckless and they endangered my family and others at the capitol. The American People deserve to know the truth of that day. They have every right hold the president and others around him accountable. No one is above the law but the supreme law of the land is the constitution of the United States. And the constitution forbids the executive branch from compelling an official to appear in, quote, any other place for the conduct of their duties in the legislature. And on january six, i was serving president of the senate under the express language of constitution. Now, this may seem obscure, but i go back to Calvin Coolidge again again. Coolidge said there is scarcely a word in the constitution, any of our states or of our nation that was not written there for the purpose of protecting our liberties. And i say to all the young people gathered here, the speech and debate, protect tions in the constitution are about preserving the separation of powers. We should thank you. Our founders did not intend us to live in a nation where the executive could hold. Members of the legislature or before courts to answer for what they had done in the legislature. It is a principle that makes its way into constitution of the american founding because it emerged from common, where Members Parliament created speech and debate protections so that the king could not haul them into his courts if he disagreed with what the parliament was doing. It is that important and its a position that the department of justice has defended on my behalf on two occasions over the last two years. Let me run that by you again. The idea that the speech and debate clause applies to the Vice President in their duties presiding over the congress of the United States was a position defended by the department of in two Different Cases involving me in the last years. But something changed. The truth is, i look at a new set of rules and it feels very familiar. Looks one more example of a two tiered Justice System where the rules tend to change when it comes to republicans and conservatives. Weve seen a Justice Department that has targeted parents for showing up at school board meetings. Weve weve seen a Justice Department thats colluded with big tech to silence conservative voices. Equal justice under the law is at the center of the american system of justice. And we must end the double standard of this of justice and capacity to change the rules. So so as i did january six, when i kept my oath. And implemented the express language of the constitution as i did on january 12th, when speaker and democrat leadership attempted to misuse the 25th amendment in a punitive manner. So i will do so again. In this moment to subpoena president of the United States for their duties before the United States senate is unprecedented and unconstitutional. And i would say to each and every one of you, we we will fight this in our courts. We will make this case. And for so long as i live, i will support and defend the constitution of the United States of america. So help me god. As i close, i to challenge the students who are joining us here today. Then i am. He said we might have time for a few questions. And that is i want you to make a lifelong to becoming men and women of integrity. You you know, theres a common misperception your generation that adversity creates character. The way my kids say it is, you know, whatever doesnt kill me makes me stronger. Well, i dont think adversity creates character. I think adversity reveals character when hard times and when you are pressed on your you will in that moment, the man or woman youve been preparing to be on every quiet day before. So i want to say to all those gathered here who aspire to leadership use this time in your life to develop the qualities of the inner man and the inner woman, thatll make you into the kind of principal leaders that america will need. The challenging days ahead ahead. And i encourage you and one other respect, and it is a value that Calvin Coolidge and i both share. And that is understand the foundation of america is freedom. But the foundation of freedom is faith. As coolidge said, do not make laws. They discover them. Timeless truths. Our founders believe we were endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. Coolidge lived that out in his personal faith and in his life. And so i have aspired to as well. So to the young people here today, i encourage you to take in your life to think deeply about who he is. And remember those ancient verses that appear over the mantle in our home these last 20 years. The read i know the plans i have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a. And i do believe by his grace and with your leadership and courage the best for the greatest nation on earth are yet to come. Thank you. God bless the memory of president Calvin Coolidge and god bless you all. Wonderful student questions, students. You get. There you go. Microphone over there and then over. But for audrey, thats audrey, right . Okay. Audrey had a good day. Thank you. Well, its always a good day when Vice President pence comes to speak to us. My name is audrey carmena. Im from san francisco, california. And on behalf of the freedom generation, i would like to thank you deeply for the leadership, service and that youve done for this country in whole career as a politician and as a great man. Thank you. Thank you all very kind. How. How can we as americans, preserve the legacies and heritage that we inherit from great men like reagan, coolidge and yourself, and ensure that our American History isnt destroyed . Well, i think first, learn it, then it you know, i got a degree in American History when i graduated from a Little College in southern indiana, which my father, a business was very dubious about me getting a degree. He thought i should study business, but my degree in American History did qualify me to get a job at the Little College i graduated from in southern indiana. But if you if you to my house, youd see stacks of books everywhere. Im im someone that really does believe in that studying and learning the examples of that have gone before is vital. And i always show young people, audrey, dont dont history books so much as read biographies. History is invariably simply a story of people and their lives and of families and generally the leaders that you might most admire. You might be surprised they didnt exactly take a Straight Path to where you heard of them. And so i encourage you to study history, then teach it. And then in this generation, i have every confidence were going to produce leaders at every level from our School Boards to the white house that recognize Patriotic Education is essential to the survival of liberty. And we must teach our children in every school in the land about the ideals and principle of our nations founding. Thats the answer. Students. I am dustin from houston. Hi, dustin. I was wondering what that we can do right now as the freedom generation to help preserve the legacy of america . Well, i think. I think youre doing it, but i never underestimate it and i think Calvin Coolidge lives as an example of in the history of this country, never underestimate the impact that one person can make. And so i would submit to you today that while getting involved in the political process and and and becoming a voice in your generation are all vitally important. I just encourage you, dustin, to work on this, work on your heart and your mind. No, theres nothing on your time. But work on your heart. In your mind, right now, become men, men and women of conviction and vision who understand that you know what makes this country great is. Not so much who we are, but what we believe. I mean, think that i mean, my grandfather got on a boat, sailed across the atlantic, got off onto ellis island. He grew up in ireland. You know, anybody that thinks that americans are are exceptional and that america is unbounded prosperity and greatness and strength as a result of that, we are different people than the rest of the world. I got a newsflash for you. Other than native american brothers and sisters we are people from the rest of the world. Right. And so its not its not our our our our ethnicity. It is our creed and our creed is in the declaration and in the constitution. And its why you you here in me earlier, a passion for a the principles enshrined in the constitution and the objectives there. Because i really do believe its there along the grace of god that we find the explanation for whats happened in this country. I really do believe when you think of american exceptionalism it the three pillars of american exceptionalism are our faith, god, our freedom described in our founding documents and our vast natural resources. The combination of those three things has created a nation, the likes of which the has never known, and so study that understand that. And in your time be ready to defend it. And i know your well doesnt. Thank you. And were here. We have time for one final question. Thank you. Oh, yes. Vice president pence, my name is brandon. Thank you so for coming here today. Its really an an honor and a privilege. Thank you, brandon. I think a, when you mentioned the idea of having integrity, i think thats a pivotal part of Character Development and i guess one of the main questions ive had is i think bipartisanship is kind of its been kind of difficult in recent years, especially in congress. Theres been Gridlocked Congress all throughout and legislature has been difficult to pass. And in your experience, what you think is the best measure to really ensure that both partizanship can really agree with one another and yeah, well, always tell people having moved back to indiana, once you get about 15 miles out of washington, d. C. , the people in this country get along pretty well. Its true. Thats true. I you know, i mean, really american practice, the kind of civility and respect to one another and families and businesses every single day. We just we just got to have government as good as our people. Weve got to have government that is committed to freedom, committed to family, committed to the ideals, values of this country, but also that a government that treats one another the way the American People one another, and then, chris and i remember wasnt always so in washington, d. C. , you know, i like to say im a conservative, but im not in a bad mood about it. And, you know, i think many of democrats that i serve with, i have cordial relationships with today when we face that hundred year pandemic in covid, um, the relationships that id built over the years, which were ultimately grounded in my desire to treat others the way i want to be treated, thats my faith. Demands. Is it facilitated the ability to work with governors around the country and in the other party, to work with members of congress and the other party. When you allow the personal enmity and invective to invade the political, it prevents the possible polity of Common Ground being found. And so i would submit to you that you need to be fiercely committed to your principles. But also fiercely committed to kindness and respect. I mean, id never the most liberal Member Congress is that i ever served with. And i always maintained cordial relationships because i never took shots at him personally and he never took shots at me. We knew we both came by our worldview honestly, and i think thats what the American People want us to get back to. Everywhere i go, i hear people saying, boy, we got to get back to the policies of the Trump Administration a stronger growing economy, less taxes, less regulation, a secure border conservatives on our courts. But i also hear people say, you know, can we can we get back to the way it was maybe with Ronald Reagan and tip oneill used to argue over a budget and then like a couple of good irishmen, go have a drink. And i think we can, but ill finish this. I just think weve got to have government as good as our people. We got to weve got to find men and women who who embody that kind of decency of everyday americans. And i know we will. And i im very optimistic about this future, not just because im looking at you, brandon, an impressive young man. This is an Impressive Group of young people. But everywhere i go across this country, i im convinced that this is a freedom loving nation. Its a caring nation. Most compassionate nation in the history of the world. Ive ive seen the way americans come alongside total strangers in the worst of times. They do for people what they never to have done back to them. And and this is truly a great nation challenge that we have Going Forward as just to have government as good as our people as principle or as dedicated and as caring toward one another as the american are every day. And i know we will, with your help and with gods grace, well get there, i promise you. God bless you all. Thank you for having me today. And thank you to amity shlaes and all the supporters of the Coolidge Foundation for a truly, truly remarkable cau the title of this session is the progressive challenge of the early 1900s. Moderating this panel would be christopher timmis. Mr. Smith is a distinguished fellow at the hudson institute, but many know him from the American Enterprise institute, which he led as