Bachmann Compares Her Economic Views to Calvin Coolidge

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., compares her economic outlook to one of the nations most notoriously quiet presidents: Calvin Coolidge.

"He said its the greatest political privilege thats ever been afforded to the human race, to live under the American Constitution, Bachmann said Friday while on the main stage at CPAC's Florida Conference. Thats my view, too.

She compared Coolidges comment to President Franklin Delano Roosevelts statement that the Constitution is the most marvelously elastic compilation of rules of government ever written.

Is that what our Constitution is? Bachmann said. Not at all.

Coolidge, the nations 30th president, served from 1923 to 1929.

During a time of economic boom, Coolidge's first message to Congress in December 1923 called for isolation in foreign policy, and for tax cuts, economy, and limited aid to farmers.

Democrat Al Smith said of Coolidge, "His great task was to restore the dignity and prestige of the presidency when it had reached the lowest ebb in our history ... in a time of extravagance and waste ..."

In his 1925 inaugural, Coolidge asserted that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen," and pledged himself to maintain the status quo.

A famous story regarding Coolidges quiet nature and dry Yankee wit goes that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words out of him. Without looking at her, he quietly replied, "You lose."