The phrase "the federal government is a weak government" or similar sentiments about weakness of the federal government have been expressed in various historical and political contexts, but a notable figure who criticized the expansion and weakness of federal government in terms of overreach and inefficiency was President Calvin Coolidge. He emphasized that the federal government had strayed from its legitimate functions, weakening the constitutional fabric and encouraging states to indulge their weaknesses through federal subsidies. Coolidge argued that what was needed was not more federal government but better local government, highlighting concerns about federal government weakness in terms of governance and overreach

. Additionally, the concept of a "weak federal government" was central to debates during the founding of the United States. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, which was seen as ineffective, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger federal government

. No direct quote exactly saying "the federal government is a weak government" was found in the search results, but the idea of weakness in federal government has been a recurring theme, especially in early U.S. history and in critiques like those of Coolidge who warned about federal encroachment weakening states and the overall system

. In summary, Calvin Coolidge notably spoke about the federal government being weak in its proper constitutional role and the dangers of overreach weakening the system, which aligns closely with the idea of a "weak federal government."