Drafts of Porter Dale’s account of Coolidge’s Homestead Inauguration: c. 1933.

Vermonter Porter Dale was campaigning for one of Vermont’s seats in the U.S. Senate in August of 1923 when he learned of President Warren Harding’s unexpected passing. As he knew the Coolidges and was staying near Plymouth Notch, Dale went to the Notch and witnessed the extraordinary homestead inauguration of Calvin Coolidge. As Col. John was a notary public, he was able to swear his own son into the highest office in the land. Dale later described the events of August 3 as “a scene the like of which you may not find in all of history.”