Great American Stories: Coolidge’s Quote

On this date 102 years ago, Vice President Coolidge spoke at the second annual conference of the American Classical League, being held at the University of Pennsylvania. It was a typical assignment for a veep — then, as it would be now — but Coolidge warmed to the task. He gave a spirited and well-received address to a group formed in the waning days of World War I to promote the teaching of Greek and Latin and classical history.

“We come here today in defense of some of the great realities of life,” Coolidge began. “We come to continue the guarantee of progress in the future by continuing knowledge of progress in the past.”