Calvin Coolidge writing his son, John, on the occasion of the latter’s 13th birthday: September 5, 1919.

He says to the boy, “If you continue to be a good boy, you will be a good man. There is nothing else that is of so much consequence.” Grace would later comment on Coolidge’s parenting style, “He ruled by direction and precept rather than force.”

Coolidge also regrets that he will be unable to be back in Northampton for John’s birthday. Coolidge had reason for remaining in Boston during the beginning of September: a looming strike by Boston Police. In August, the Police had voted to unionize. Striking broke the rules of the Boston Police Department. The city’s police commissioner said of the matter, “A police officer cannot consistently belong to a union and perform his sworn duty.” On September 8, police commissioner Edwin Curtis suspended the nineteen police officers who led the unionization effort. On September 9, over 1,000 officers went on strike.