Who really said it
The speech says “the chief business of the American people is business.” The displayed version shortens that sentence and drops its qualifications.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Disputed wording — copy with the correction
“The business of America is business” — A popular compression of Calvin Coolidge’s 1925 sentence: “the chief business of the American people is business.”
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Free to use, including in commercial and paid presentations — no permission or licence needed.
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In context
Evoking the themes of work and power. Theme: "The business of America is business". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "The business of America is business". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
the chief business of the American people is business.
Read the checked sourceHow we verified this
The documented presidential address dates from 1925, before the 1931 U.S. publication cutoff. The quoted original wording is public domain in the United States.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Fact-check
This is a familiar compression of a genuine sentence. It should not be mistaken for the exact wording of the speech.
The popular credit needs the qualification explained above. Checked evidence ↗
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The author
For writers & researchers
Coolidge, Calvin. “The Press Under a Free Government.” Address to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Washington, D.C., January 17, 1925. Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation transcript.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘The business of America is business’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/the-business-of-america-is-business/