Calvin Coolidge writing to his father two days before the gubernatorial election: November 3, 1918.

The election was a contest of Coolidge against Democrat Richard Long, a shoemaker. Much as in this letter, Coolidge notes in his Autobiography that “the campaign was difficult” and that “in spite of my protests and the fact that we were engaged in a tremendous war, criticism was too often made of President Wilson and his administration.” The tactic violated Coolidge’s general belief that it was wrong and unproductive to attack opponents. Of his own efforts, Coolidge writes, “My own efforts were spent in urging that the people and government of Massachusetts should all join in their support of the national government in prosecuting the war.” The tactics of his own party, as well as being outspent by the Long campaign, made the 1918 election a close one, but Coolidge emerged victorious.