• In a state of the Union address he said: “Just as sacred as those of any  other citizen under the U.S. constitution and that it was a public and a private duty to protect those rights.” This was in favor of civil rights for African Americans.
• Klan lost most of its influence during his term
• There were 70 lynchings in 1919. When Coolidge took office in 1923 it saw drop to 29. In his final year in 1929 there were 7
• Tried repeatedly to pass antilynching laws but legislation were blocked by Southern Democrats
• Spoke at Howard University
• He once said “No matter by what various crafts we came here, we are all now in the same boat.”
• In his First Annual Address to Congress in 1923 he wrote: “About half a million dollars is recommended for medical courses at Howard University to help contribute to the education of 500 colored doctors needed each year.”

Calvin Coolidge was ahead of his time for civil rights and immigration. His laissez faire policies were a leading factor to the Great Depression, but we will save that for another article.