I became a son-in-law in the United States

Chapter 15 Coolidge Prosperity

Upon closer reflection, it's no wonder that old Joseph got stuck when he asked that question.

After all, young Kennedy was just a child; how could he possibly understand these kinds of questions that even experts struggle with?

If public speaking were so easy to master, Hillary Clinton wouldn't have lost to Trump, and the President wouldn't have come to power later.

The art of public speaking is like the art of slaying dragons; ordinary people are better off not knowing it.

In short, this is a technique encompassing psychology, reasoning, expression, and persuasion; it is one of the most complex and fascinating skills in the human social sciences, and it is definitely not as simple as it seems.

The restaurant fell silent again, everyone waiting for the storm to arrive.

Daniel looked at the cheese on the plate, then suddenly thought of himself, and his face darkened even more.

Jia felt sorry for her brother, but she couldn't speak up because speaking in this situation would only make things worse.

Old Joseph was usually quite easy to talk to, but once he entered the examination room, he was like a completely different person, a stern-faced examiner.

Luther sat quietly to the side, watching John F. Kennedy's face turn red with anxiety, and ultimately swallowed his words.

He was just a brother-in-law, and he didn't know how long he could stay in this family.

"John," old Joseph finally spoke, his voice low and serious, "remember this: you must be fluent in languages, fluent in public speaking. A Kennedy who cannot even speak clearly deserves nothing."

These words were spoken softly, but with a heavy tone. Little Kennedy's lips trembled, and he gritted his teeth to keep the tears from falling.

Although he is only twelve years old, he is precocious and can already read adults' expressions and grasp his parents' emotions.

The father was expressing disdain, and even a hint of disgust; there was no doubt that he felt he had brought shame to the Kennedy family.

While other people's children are practicing public speaking diligently to prepare for Harvard, I can't even answer such a simple question.

Old Joseph's words were nothing short of mental torture for the little boy in front of him.

Old Joseph saw it all, but he didn't offer any comfort. If his own child couldn't even endure this much torment, then he was definitely not up to the task.

Without even glancing at it, he spoke to himself in front of everyone:

"Cicero said in 'On the Orator' that a true orator should 'discover with wisdom, express with words, and persuade with power.' If you can't even do the first level, there's no point in talking about the rest."

They thought the matter was over, but old Joseph waved his hand and said:

"John, you're no longer eligible to share dinner with us. Put down your plate and go to the kitchen, now."

"Dad...please give me another chance..."

Johnny burst into tears because he didn't want to be so embarrassed.

But it was no use. Old Joseph was heartless. He not only ignored his son, but also winked at Benson who was standing to the side.

Upon hearing this, Benson walked over, pulled out a chair for young Kennedy, and led him away.

Luther saw this and, though he didn't say anything, he was deeply moved.

Old Joseph was too strict. While this might have been good for his children, it was detrimental to their development and would inevitably cause them some psychological trauma sooner or later.

He recalled that in the archives revealed in later generations, many men in this family had sex addictions. Could it be that these addictions were suppressed in such an environment?

Upon closer reflection, it's actually quite possible.

In such a family environment, being constantly belittled and suppressed, it's only natural to seek solace or even release after a long period of repression, and to develop some special fetishes.

And so, Johnny's test was over. As a failing student, he had to go to the kitchen for dinner.

Next, old Joseph looked at the remaining Daniel and Gia, and finally his gaze fell on Daniel.

The brother-in-law was slightly taken aback and almost slid off his chair.

"Daniel, what are your thoughts on President Coolidge's announcement of his withdrawal from the race?"

After thinking for a few seconds, old Joseph asked the most popular question at the time, which was also the most discussed question in the United States.

This is a rather complex problem, with a difficulty rating of three stars.

It involves certain economic, political, and social aspects and was prepared by Joseph specifically for his eldest son.

Regardless, Daniel was his son, the eldest son of the Kennedy family. Before he completely lost hope, Joseph still hoped that this playboy could become something of a decent person.

Of course, this issue itself is worth careful consideration.

As is widely known, Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States. He was a low-key, humble, pragmatic, and hardworking man who enjoys extremely high prestige among the American people.

Although he became president by replacing Harding, he undoubtedly did an excellent job during his term.

During his term, the United States experienced its first landmark era, known as the "Roaring Twenties."

In recent years, the American auto industry has risen rapidly, with the number of cars in the United States jumping from 600 million to 2200 million, which has also driven the rapid development of industries such as oil, steel, and construction.

Secondly, under the leadership of Coolidge and others, the American electronics industry also developed rapidly.

Durable consumer goods such as radios, refrigerators, and washing machines began to enter ordinary households on a large scale, profoundly changing people's lifestyles.

Today, nearly half of Americans own a car and a radio.

In addition to the above, during his term the country’s productivity increased to an unprecedented level and all sectors of the economy flourished.

During this period, the United States even invented a term called "Coolidge Prosperity".

That's why when President Coolidge announced he would not run for the next presidential election, the whole country was in an uproar.

If he had run for president, he would have almost certainly secured the presidency, but no one expected that Coolidge, who was riding high on his success, would choose to retire at the peak of his career.

For a time, opinions were divided and mysteries abounded, making it the biggest hot topic in the United States besides Lindbergh's transatlantic flight.

Joseph Sr. wanted his children to pay attention to the current situation, understand the Kennedy family's position in this upheaval, and seize the opportunity to climb the ranks. Therefore, these were questions that had to be asked.

However, Daniel obviously didn't think that much about it. In fact, he had prepared a lot of things beforehand, and even read all the newspapers on the "newswall" in the corridor, but he didn't expect Old Joseph to ask such a question.

While not to the point of getting stuck, the answers were still hesitant and nonsensical.

"Is that so?" Daniel feigned composure, then began to "analyze" in a serious tone.

"I think I've heard of this before. President Coolidge's son, that poor guy, he died at only sixteen, apparently quite tragically. Who would believe that he died while playing tennis at the White House, accidentally blistered his foot, and then got sepsis..."

Joseph couldn't stand the gossip his brother-in-law had overheard. He told him everything, but before he could finish, Joseph couldn't take it anymore.

"You idiot! Shut up!"

P.S.: I don't know if people like this kind of subject matter; it might be outdated. The author himself feels embarrassed thinking about it...