MovieChat Forums > Backstairs at the White House (1979) Discussion > Death of Calvin Coolidge, Jr.?

Death of Calvin Coolidge, Jr.?

posted 13 years ago by Petronius Arbiter II
1 reply | jump to latest

It's been a long, long time since I've seen this miniseries, and I don't remember if this horrible event from Coolidge's presidency was portrayed at all, and if so, how. Does anybody here know?

In an odd historical anomaly, the period during which the Rogerses served at the White House saw a fairly long string of presidents with no small children (unless you count the Kennedys, which I don't, because Maggie left White House service just as they were coming in, didn't she?) Several teenagers, but no children younger than Charles Taft, who at 11 years old when his father was inaugurated, was the youngest presidential child living at the White House while Lillian and Maggie worked there. But right before them, you had Theodore Roosevelt, with several wee ones, and after, JFK with two.

"I don't deduce, I observe."

[–] DesperadoGirrl-1 12 years ago

It's been a long, long time since I've seen this miniseries, and I don't remember if this horrible event from Coolidge's presidency was portrayed at all, and if so, how. Does anybody here know?

I dont know if you've ever received an answer to your question, so I thought I would chime in.

Yes, the death of Cal Jr. was portrayed, albeit in a round about way. There was a scene where it showed the two boys learning the Charleston (or some such dance) from one of the house workers, and young Cal complains of a blister on his foot.

In the next scene, Mrs. Coolidge retrieves a hat (riding hat, perhaps? I dont remember, it's been a while since I saw it) that was laying on the bed, and rather ominous music is playing. (Apparently, Old Folklore mentions a hat on the bed bringing death to the home, or something like that...at least that's what my grandmother told me)

In the next scene, the President is removing a black armband (signifying the end of mourning) and talking to "Mays" and saying that if ever a young boy were to come to the White House and wanted to meet the President, he should be shown in right away.

Hope that answers it for you!

And on that note, I think I'm going to dig out the DVD set and give it another watch!