Telegram from Calvin Coolidge to William W. Stickney: July 5, 1924.

Stickney was from Plymouth, Vermont and an old friend of Coolidge’s father, John. Stickney served as governor of Vermont from 1900-1902 and, as he appointed John Coolidge his aide-de-camp, was responsible for the elder Coolidge going by the name “Colonel Coolidge.” Stickney resided in Ludlow and was president of the Ludlow Savings Bank.

In July 1924, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. fell ill when the infection from a blister on his toe spread to the rest of his body. The president writes in this telegram with an update on Calvin, Jr.’s condition. On July 5, Calvin, Jr. was moved from the White House to Walter Reed Naval Hospital to undergo an operation to treat his infection that evening. The Washington Post reported on July 6 that “the disease was localized to a certain extent and it seemed desirable to move the patient to Walter Reed hospital… The operation consisted of incisions at the point where the infection had been localized and a draining of the wounds.”