Lot 46
Coolidge, Calvin. Small Capitol Dome owned by President Calvin Coolidge and representing the Capitol of Vermont, the state where he was born. Coolidge had served as Lt. Governor and Governor of Massachusetts before becoming Vice President to Warren G. Harding, then President upon Harding's death in office. Coolidge kept this Dome on his dresser in the White House. It measures 4 inches in height and 2 1/8 inches across the base; on the bottom are the initials "C.C." which were scratched on later. The Dome was given to First Maid Maggie Rogers by the President, who said one day, "Maggie this dresser is getting cluttered. Take this if you want it." A letter of provenance is provided by Mrs. Rogers' daughter, Lillian Rogers Parks, who worked at the White House for 30 years, as did her mother. The letter, typed on stationery imprinted with the Presidential Seal and "The White House / Washington," and dated July 4th, 1982, says of the President: "Boy, did he ever like to tease. At the dinner table the President sometimes pretended there were bugs in his food. When the Butlers approached the President and the First Lady to investigate he would remark dryly, 'Mama, I thought that Butlers were not supposed to eavesdrop.' But, Mrs. Coolidge would say, Now Papa, you stop. There is no bug in your food." Surprising humor from "Silent Cal."
Estimated Value $200 - 250.
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| Realized $230 |
