Description
Inscribed by President Calvin Coolidge, the first edition of The Mind of the President by his Private Secretary, C. Bascom Slemp.
Octavo, [10], 357pp. Blue cloth, title stamped in gilt on spine. Stated “First Edition” on copyright page. Business card previously affixed to first 3 leaves, leaving blemish to leaves. Light spotting to endpapers, wear to blue cloth. Includes the publisher’s first state dust jacket, likely paired with this copy, with $3.00 retail price on the front flap, dampstain along top quarter of jacket, advertisements on verso, an exceptionally scarce jacket in any condition. Includes the business card of Republican National Committee Chairman, William M. Butler, previously affixed to the front free endpaper.
Inscribed on the front free endpaper: “To Mrs. _ Knuty, with best wishes, Calvin Coolidge.”
An exceptionally rare signed book from President Calvin Coolidge. (Martin / Goehlert, 8038)
This work is a collection of speeches and writings by President Calvin Coolidge. It was authored by C. Bascom Slemp (1870-1943) who served as the presidential secretary to President Calvin Coolidge, equivalent to the modern-day White House Chief of Staff, from 1923-1925. Prior to joining the administration, he represented the 9th congressional district of Virginia from 1907-1923, six consecutive terms. Shortly after leaving the Coolidge administration, Slemp wrote this revealing biography of President Coolidge, noting that “in dealing with public or political questions, President Coolidge has political intuition, almost psychic. One cannot see, touch or hear a political tide, but he can feel it.”
