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How President Calvin Coolidge And His Electric Horse Became The Butt Of Jokes
The 30th president found an unusual axctivity that he enjoyed to get exercise
American politicians, especially the president, have been subject to ever increasing scrutiny by the public. This goes well beyond their policies and official acts while in office. Even the most minute details of their personal lives are fodder for chatter. These leaders are even open to criticism when trying to get a little exercise, as Calvin Coolidge found out when his enjoyment of an electric horse was discovered while he was in office.
Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, is best remembered for his quiet demeanor and conservative approach, which all contributed to him receiving the nickname of Silent Cal. He was obviously a busy man, which didn’t mesh well with one of his favorite activities — riding horseback. In the interests of saving time and safety (as a child, he once broke an arm while falling from a horse), he obtained an electric horse, which allowed him to take up riding whenever he felt like it and had the time. It also didn’t hurt that real life horses made him sneeze. His device had two riding modes- trot and gallop.Obviously, no substitute for the real thing, it was close enough that it satiated his desire.
