[78-L] seeking a back-story about some patriotic 78s

[Donna Halper]

First, if this has been asked and answered already, I apologize-- there 
was a long period of time over the past year when my entire focus was on 
finishing my PhD (which, as I may have told the list, I did in May).  So 
here's my question.  I was reading some old microfilm from the Boston 
Herald/Boston Traveler (sister newspapers back in the 1910s and 1920s).  
This was from 13 April 1925, a big ad for Jordan Marsh Department 
Store.  They were announcing a sale on "2500 Nation's Forum 12-inch 
Double Disc Records" for 25 cents (original price of $2.00 stamped on 
every record!).  These were, according to the ad, "orations by notable 
Americans on one side, a stirring American march by Prince's Band on the 
other side."  While I am certain pleased that Prince had a band, I was 
also fascinated to see that among the speakers were Calvin Coolidge, 
Henry Cabot Lodge, Warren G. Harding, and the guy with the biggest ears 
I have ever seen, former postmaster and current movie censor Will Hays.

I had no idea that Coolidge (who was the subject of some jests over his 
very nasal speaking voice) made any records for "Nation's Forum," so is 
there a back-story about this label or this project?  The topics seem to 
be informative and patriotic-- for example, Coolidge did "Law and Order" 
(#61) and "Equal Rights" (#58) and I assume no controversy was ever 
discussed-- no mention of segregation or discrimination of any kind.  
Most of the politicians who recorded the speeches seem to be 
Republicans, and I have no idea if that was by design or because they 
were in power at that time.  Anyway, can somebody fill me in on these discs?