Presented before the annual American Legion convention in Omaha, Nebraska, Coolidge’s speech challenged the growing threats of racism and nativism emerging in the United States following World War I. Speaking to veterans, Coolidge attempted to define patriotism as a spiritual bond of diverse people rather than an exclusive, heritage- based designation. He sought to sustain the unity displayed by Americans during the war and discourage the intolerance that had also emerged. Although not mentioned, a recent march by the Ku Klux Klan in Washington, D.C., would have been a factor leading to the strong rebuke of nativist ideology from the traditionally reserved Coolidge.