Grace Coolidge Trivia

1. Grace Goodhue was born in which New England state? She was the first First Lady to be born there and her husband also originated there.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: Vermont

Grace Coolidge was born Grace Goodhue in Burlington, Vermont on January 3, 1879. Despite both her and Calvin being commonly associated with Vermont, her husband spent much of his political career in Massachusetts, although both are buried in Vermont. Her father Andrew was a deacon and steamboat engineer and her mother Lemira was a housewife. Grace was an only child and her parented doted on her constantly. Her ancestry can be traced to the pilgrims who arrived in Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Clarke School for the Deaf

When Grace was young, she lived for a short time with a family whose daughter taught at the Clarke School for the Deaf. She became fascinated with it and always wanted to work there. After college, she was hired to teach lip-reading at the school.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: At the Congregational Church

Grace and Calvin both attended the Congregational Church and were introduced one Sunday.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: Deaf students

A friend of Grace's had been a teacher for the deaf and this inspired Grace to take up a similar career path. She took a teaching position at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, Massachusetts and learned to lip read to assist the students there. During her time as First Lady and afterwards, Grace continued to be active in charities and schools for the deaf even though she no longer taught.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: I am going to be married to you.

Calvin's proposal was much like an ultimatum. Grace immediately accepted.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: Grace's mother

Grace's mother did not approve of Calvin. Grace was a social butterfly with an entertaining personality while Calvin was considered dull and uninteresting. Grace's mother accused her future son-in-law of wanting to marry Grace to advance his law and political career because he was too boring to make good impressions at social events. Calvin and his mother-in-law argued constantly until she died in 1929. The two hated each other and Calvin once claimed his mother-in-law didn't even vote for him when he ran for re-election in 1924. Calvin also had minor issues with his father-in-law. Andrew Goodhue was active in Democratic politics in Vermont while Calvin was a Republican from Massachusetts. Mr. Goodhue died shortly before Calvin ascended to the presidency but the two never had the severe issues as Calvin had with his mother-in-law.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: A dinner party for Charles Lindbergh after his transatlantic flight

In 1927, having Charles Lindbergh come to the White House was a stunning success. Frank Heath and his horse traveled to all 48 states in 1927, but they did not visit the White House. The Pulitzer Prize winners and the Nobel Prize winners also did not come to the White House.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Better child welfare

Grace championed better education and welfare for children, especially deaf children, all of her life. She also supported Girl Scouts and during World War II was active in the Red Cross, civil defense and scrap drives.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: First Lady of Baseball

Grace was a rabid baseball fan. She attended many games, either with Calvin or by herself, and listened on the radio when she couldn't attend a game. She attended every possible Opening Day, the World Series, and any regular game that she could.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: She was in mourning

In the summer of 1924, the Coolidges' teenage son Calvin Jr. died from blood poisoning. It is speculated that he caught an infection from playing tennis with his brother barefoot, causing a blister to form and get infected. It was a popular rumor at the time that Calvin Jr. died when a cut on his foot became infected with black dye from his socks, although this is entirely false. Grace, in mourning, made very few campaign appearances and mainly encouraged women to vote in the second election they were eligible to do so. Calvin suffered from depression as a result of losing his son and also cut back his public appearances.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Rebecca the Raccoon

There were wombats, cats, dogs, birds and many other pets that lived in the White House with the Coolidges. Rebecca was a gift from someone to be part of the Coolidges' Thanksgiving feast, but she was so domesticated that she was kept as a pet. The President was known to walk around with Rebecca draped around his neck.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: Raccoons

Grace adopted Rebecca the Raccoon in 1926. Rebecca was intended to be killed and served at the White House Thanksgiving Dinner that year but was rescued when Grace fell for her. Reuben came along later as a male companion for Rebecca. Rebecca was loyal and enjoyed playing with children at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Rebecca was also known to be mischievous and steal and hide things around the White House including lightbulbs and food. She ate eggs almost everyday and traveled with Grace wherever she went. Reuben was more rambunctious and liked to escape but was usually captured and returned quickly. Reuben disappeared for good toward the end of the president's term. After leaving the White House, Grace donated Rebecca to the National Zoo.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Her fine personal influence exerted as First Lady

Grace did not work directly with the poor and indigent. Her teaching was only for three years, before she married Calvin. Grace had limited cooking skills.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: Charles Lindbergh

The most famous party thrown by Grace during her tenure as First Lady was when she hosted Charles Lindbergh in June 1927 after he received the first Distinguished Flying Cross medal. It was considered one of the most lavish parties thrown by a First Lady at the time. Lindbergh famously offered to fly Grace around Washington in his airplane but the president refused to let her go saying it was an unnecessary spectacle. Another famous event held by Grace was when she met with Helen Keller. Keller was deaf and blind and worked closely with Mrs. Coolidge who had previously worked with the deaf as a teacher.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Her husband

Calvin was very controlling and knew how he wanted Grace to look. He had a good sense of style.

From Quiz Little Known First Ladies: Grace Coolidge

Answer: She aided Jewish refugee children

By World War II, Grace was a widow. She became a vocal supporter of FDR's foreign policies, something that isolated her away from her old Republican friends. Grace was most active in aiding Jewish children in Germany and the Netherlands get to America and start a life in their new country. She was also active in training nurses in Northampton. Grace was very active and supportive of launching the United Nations and became a key surrogate for that cause. She made many public appearances on the matter and urged the public to support it.

From Quiz Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Answer: Smoking

Grace was never photographed while smoking.

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