President Coolidge speaks, 1924

Labeled as the "first Presidential film with sound," the 4-minute movie clip from the pre-Teleprompter era shows Calvin Coolidge addressing the problem of escalating costs of the government.

"The expenses of the government reach everybody." "The yearly costs of all [Federal and state] governments in this country is the stupendous sum of 7 billion, 500 million dollars...such a sum is difficult to comprehend." [typical wages in this era are cited as $5/day] "One of the greatest favors that can be bestowed on the American people is economy in government."