Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan
Michael Evans · Public domain · source
Name	Ronald Reagan
Caption	40th President of the United States
Order	40th
Office	President of the United States
Term start	January 20, 1981
Term end	January 20, 1989
Vicepresident	George H. W. Bush
Predecessor	Jimmy Carter
Successor	George H. W. Bush
Order2	33rd
Office2	Governor of California
Term start2	January 2, 1967
Term end2	January 6, 1975
Lieutenant2	Robert Finch, Ed Reinecke, John L. Harmer
Predecessor2	Pat Brown
Successor2	Jerry Brown
Birth date	6 February 1911
Birth place	Tampico, Illinois
Death date	5 June 2004
Death place	Los Angeles, California
Party	Republican (1962–2004)
Otherparty	Democratic (before 1962)
Spouse	Jane Wyman (m. 1940; div. 1949), Nancy Reagan (m. 1952)
Children	5, including Maureen, Michael, Patti, and Ron Reagan
Education	Eureka College (BA)
Occupation	Actor, Politician, Union leader
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Serviceyears	1937–1945
Rank	Captain

Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. A former Governor of California and Hollywood actor, his presidency was defined by a conservative philosophy of limited government, strong national defense, and traditional values. In the context of the US Civil Rights Movement, Reagan's legacy is complex, marked by his opposition to major federal civil rights legislation in the 1960s, his advocacy for colorblind policies, and his appointments to the federal judiciary, which had lasting impacts on civil rights law and enforcement.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois, and graduated from Eureka College. He began a career in radio before moving to Hollywood and signing a contract with Warner Bros. During his acting career, he served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, where he navigated labor disputes and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Originally a New Deal Democrat and admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, his political views shifted toward conservatism in the 1950s. He formally switched his party affiliation to the Republican Party in 1962. His national political debut was a televised speech, "A Time for Choosing", in support of Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign, which articulated a conservative vision for America that resonated with many voters.

Governor of California and Civil Rights Stances

Elected Governor of California in 1966, Reagan served two terms. His governorship coincided with a period of significant social upheaval, including protests on UC Berkeley campuses and rising racial tensions. On civil rights, Reagan opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at the time of their passage, arguing they represented federal overreach. As governor, he signed the California Civil Rights Initiative of 1966, which repealed the state's Rumford Fair Housing Act, a law prohibiting racial discrimination in housing. This action was widely criticized by civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP. However, he later supported and signed the more moderate California Fair Housing Act (Unruh Civil Rights Act) in 1968. He also appointed more minorities to state government than any previous California governor, including William B. Keene to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Presidency and Civil Rights Policies

Reagan's presidency advanced an agenda of economic deregulation, tax cuts, and a robust foreign policy against the Soviet Union. His administration's approach to civil rights emphasized individual liberty and a "colorblind" interpretation of the law, often opposing policies like affirmative action and busing. He initially opposed the establishment of a federal holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, though he later signed the legislation in 1983. His administration was criticized for attempting to weaken the enforcement powers of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. A significant civil rights action was his signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II. His judicial appointments, including to the Supreme Court (such as Sandra Day O'Connor and Antonin Scalia), shaped the legal landscape on civil rights issues for decades.

Views on Race and the Civil Rights Movement

Reagan's personal views on race and the Civil Rights Movement were a subject of debate. He often spoke in favor of equality of opportunity and opposed what he saw as discriminatory quotas. He believed the movement had achieved its essential goals with the passage of landmark legislation and that further progress should come through economic growth and individual initiative, not federal mandates. His use of anecdotes, such as the controversial "welfare queen" trope, was seen by critics as racially coded language that stigmatized African American communities. Supporters argued he sought to move the nation beyond racial divisions by treating all citizens equally under the law. His relationship with prominent civil rights leaders was strained; for instance, he had a publicly contentious relationship with the NAACP's executive director, Benjamin Hooks.

Legacy and Impact on Civil Rights

Ronald Reagan's legacy on civil rights remains deeply contested. Supporters credit him with championing individual rights and fostering an era of economic prosperity that benefited all Americans. They point to his role in the Cold War as advancing global freedom. Critics argue his policies pursued by his administration, including his stance on voting rights enforcement and his opposition to the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act earlier in his career, slowed progress on racial equality and contributed to greater economic disparity. His judicial appointments to the federal bench, including the elevation of William Rehnquist to Chief Justice, influenced rulings on issues from affirmative action to voting rights long after his presidency. The Reagan Coalition that elected him realigned American politics, bringing together economic conservatives, social conservatives, and working-class Democrats around a vision that prioritized national cohesion and traditional values, a distinct interpretation of the goals of the Civil Rights Movement.