Last Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles earned a hard-fought Super Bowl victory, besting the New England Patriots by a final score of 41-33. It was a moving night for the Eagles who claimed the franchise's first Super Bowl victory.
Eagles center Jason Kelce captured the emotion in a post-game interview, when, holding back tears, he recalled a "quote from Calvin Coolidge" that his grandfather shared with him as an 18-year-old that inspired him to chase his football dreams despite receiving no Division 1 scholarship offers. A video of Mr. Kelce's post-game interview can be viewed by clicking the image above, or by clicking here. (The Coolidge reference is at the 0:20 mark.)
The quote Mr. Kelce references is the famous "persistence" quote, which has inspired many. Some of you may have heard the quote in the opening scenes of "The Founder," the film about Ray Kroc. Coolidge certainly emphasized persistence. We should note, however, that while Calvin Coolidge popularized thequote, recent research by Coolidge Foundation chairman Amity Shlaes and Coolidge biographer David Pietrusza suggests the quote's origin lies elsewhere. More on that, here.
The Coolidge Foundation and Thales Academy are pleased to announce the launch of the Coolidge Debate League. We invite all students in grades 6-12 to participate in the inaugural tournament which takes place at Thales Academy-Rolesville (near Raleigh, NC) on February 17, 2018.
In the morning, students will attend a policy seminar on their debate topic: the capital gains tax. The late morning and afternoon will be dedicated to debate. The event is free and lunch will be provided to all students and judges.
To register, or for more information, please click here. Kindly register by February 14, 2018.
NYC Debate Tournament Recap
DJ, an alumnus of the 2017 Coolidge debate camp, poses for a picture with Alexandra Salavitch and Amity Shlaes last weekend in New York.
Last weekend the Coolidge Foundation partnered with the New York City Urban Debate League to host a qualifying tournament for the 2018 Coolidge Cup. Nearly 200 students turned out to debate whether the U.S. should eliminate the capital gains tax.
Economist Ike Brannon led a seminar on the topic, highlighting the most cogent arguments for and against the capital gains tax. Coolidge Foundation chairman Amity Shlaes joined Dr. Brannon to illuminate some of the historical evidence related to capital gains rate increases and decreases.
Then the students debated multiple rounds with each student confronting both sides of the resolution. At the end of the day, the top six debaters earned bids to compete this summer in the Coolidge Cup National Championship Tournament. We look forward to welcoming them to Plymouth Notch in July.
Dr. Ike Brannon briefs the students on the economic arguments for and against eliminating the capital gains tax.
Approximately 200 high schoolers vied for a bid to compete this summer in the Coolidge Cup Championship Tournament in Plymouth Notch, Vt.
Debaters study the topic brief prepared by the Coolidge Foundation as they prepare to compete.
Students in action debating the merits of the capital gains tax.
Calvin Writing Prize
Each year the Coolidge Foundation encourages Vermont students to discover lessons from the Coolidge presidency by competing for the Calvin Writing Prize.
This year's contest asks students to write a speech theywould deliver as president of the United States urging their fellow citizens to correct an injustice with respect to equal rights for all. Students must use examples from President Calvin Coolidge’s life and values when preparing their speech.
The first place winner will receive $1,500 and the runner-up will receive $500. More information is availablehere.
The deadline to submit is May 11, 2018.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
February 17, 2018 (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST): Coolidge Debate League Inaugural Tournament at Thales Academy
February 19, 2018 (Noon to 4:00 PM EST): Presidents Day Open House in Plymouth Notch
May 11, 2018: Submission deadline for the Calvin Writing Prize
About News from the Notch
News from the Notch is the Coolidge Foundation's weekly e-Blast, designed to keep you connected and up-to-date on all the activities of the Foundation. We encourage you to contribute to the e-blast! Share stories, photos, tips, or tidbits for inclusion. Please forward the e-blast to a friend! Click here to subscribe to News from the Notch, and head over to our website to access the News from the Notch Archive.
