Presidential Candidates Opposed to Civil Rights: 1948 - 1976
In regard to the perception of the Republican Party, between 1948 – 1976, there were five presidential candidates who ran on platforms opposed to civil rights: Strom Thurmond - (1948) Richard Russell, Jr. - (1952) George Smathers - (1960) George Wallace - (1964 / 1968 / 1972 /1976) Robert Byrd - (1976) All were Democrats. So when and how did this notion of Republicans as being racist come into our nation’s consciousness? |
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About the charge of Republicans being racist, history indicates otherwise.
The point is that there are bigots on both sides of the political spectrum. In order to mitigate hatred, it has to be applied equally across the board, and not just for political reasons.
Republican president Theodore Roosevelt is knows for making laws that improved the life of all people who struggled. (1901-1909)
Another Republican, Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929), defended the civil rights of African Americans and Catholics at a time when the KKK was at its height.
Republican Herbert Hoover’s (1929-1933), vice-president, Charles Curtis, was the nation's first Native American Vice President.
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) desegregated both the military and public schools.
Richard Nixon (1969-1974), implemented the first significant federal affirmative action program. He also endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment of 1972.
George W. Bush (2001-2009), appointed Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State. Rice was the first female African-American Secretary of State, as well as the second African-American Secretary of State (after Colin Powell), and the second female Secretary of State (after Madeleine Albright). Rice was President Bush's National Security Advisor during his first term, making her the first woman to serve in that position.
The point is that there are bigots on both sides of the political spectrum. In order to mitigate hatred, it has to be applied equally across the board, and not just for political reasons.
Republican president Theodore Roosevelt is knows for making laws that improved the life of all people who struggled. (1901-1909)
Another Republican, Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929), defended the civil rights of African Americans and Catholics at a time when the KKK was at its height.
Republican Herbert Hoover’s (1929-1933), vice-president, Charles Curtis, was the nation's first Native American Vice President.
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) desegregated both the military and public schools.
Richard Nixon (1969-1974), implemented the first significant federal affirmative action program. He also endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment of 1972.
George W. Bush (2001-2009), appointed Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State. Rice was the first female African-American Secretary of State, as well as the second African-American Secretary of State (after Colin Powell), and the second female Secretary of State (after Madeleine Albright). Rice was President Bush's National Security Advisor during his first term, making her the first woman to serve in that position.