These past few days we have been bombarded with news stories about the Governor of SC, Mark Sanford, whose disappearance for several days caused havoc in his home state – to say the least. I am reminded of the similar case of the disappearance in 1927 of Grace Coolidge, wife of President Calvin Coolidge. That summer the President moved his headquarters to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where he lived in a game lodge up in the hills. There was a young Secret Serviceman, James Haley, who served as a guide. Mrs. Coolidge liked long walks or hikes through the hills where she would stop to pick wild flowers. She frequently took these walks in the early morning hours with young Mr. Haley serving as a guide.
When one day in June, Mrs. Coolidge had not returned from her walk by 1:00 PM, the President became concerned. He became increasingly upset when she was still absent at 2:15 Pm. He was about to form a search party when an obviously fatigued Mrs. Coolidge appeared and cheerfully greeted her husband. The President did not return her happy chatter, however, and ushered her at once into the house where their conversation remains unknown.
Just as today, the newspapers had a field day with this incident. “WIFE’S LONG HIKE VEXES COOLIDGE: PRESIDENT PACES PORCH AS FIRST LADY HITS 15-MILE TRAIL” blazed across the Boston Herald. “FIRST LADY ALMOST LOST; PRESIDENT WORRIED, ON POINT OF FORMING SEARCH PARTY JUST AS MRS. COOLIDGE RETURNS” sang the Boston Post. “ WIFE’S DELAY TAXES COOLIDGE’S PATIENCE, SHE GOES OFF ON LONG HIKE AND LUNCHEON GETS COLD, PRESIDENT SITS ON PORCH AN HOUR WAITING FOR HER TO EXPLAIN” graced the front page of the Boston Globe.
Another headline ran in the Boston Globe a few days later. “HALEY OUT AS MRS. COOLIDGE’S ESCORT”*
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*Boller, Paul F. Jr., Presidential Wives, an Anecdotal History, 1988, page 269
When one day in June, Mrs. Coolidge had not returned from her walk by 1:00 PM, the President became concerned. He became increasingly upset when she was still absent at 2:15 Pm. He was about to form a search party when an obviously fatigued Mrs. Coolidge appeared and cheerfully greeted her husband. The President did not return her happy chatter, however, and ushered her at once into the house where their conversation remains unknown.
Just as today, the newspapers had a field day with this incident. “WIFE’S LONG HIKE VEXES COOLIDGE: PRESIDENT PACES PORCH AS FIRST LADY HITS 15-MILE TRAIL” blazed across the Boston Herald. “FIRST LADY ALMOST LOST; PRESIDENT WORRIED, ON POINT OF FORMING SEARCH PARTY JUST AS MRS. COOLIDGE RETURNS” sang the Boston Post. “ WIFE’S DELAY TAXES COOLIDGE’S PATIENCE, SHE GOES OFF ON LONG HIKE AND LUNCHEON GETS COLD, PRESIDENT SITS ON PORCH AN HOUR WAITING FOR HER TO EXPLAIN” graced the front page of the Boston Globe.
Another headline ran in the Boston Globe a few days later. “HALEY OUT AS MRS. COOLIDGE’S ESCORT”*
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*Boller, Paul F. Jr., Presidential Wives, an Anecdotal History, 1988, page 269
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