Did Ronald Reagan support the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s?

Answer 1

You ask about the "Civil Rights Movement". Most answers have addressed a particular "Civil Rights ACT". Please note that it is entirely possible for someone to favor equality and "civil rights" and believe that a particular approach or piece of legislation is not the best way to address the issue.

That was the position of Goldwater, for example. Agree or disagree on the POLICY, it's not appropriate to jump to conclusions about someone's attitudes about race and rights, for example, simply on the basis of their stance on one piece or type of legislation.

And a fair evaluation of Reagan's legacy would have to examine a whole variety of his positions and actions, esp. as California governor and then as President. Unfortunately, those who bring up a single point like this seldom have much interest in a balanced evaluation... only in scoring partisan points. (Fortunately, many others, from both sides of the aisle, have been much more even-handed, recognizing both successes and failures in Reagan's policies.. though not much evidence of personal prejudice.)

As for the article redunicorn linked to -- that's even further afield. AND even more off-based. Interesting it comes at this time, because that article is based on an old SMEAR of Reagan that has just recently been resurrected. The smear, which misrepresents one particular event in Reagan's 1980 Presidential campaign a proof of a "racist" strategy to win, was long ago debunked (by folks like Lou Cannon and Kevin Drum, hardly right-wing zealots!)

What's esp. interesting about the recent resurrection of the smear is that one of the main propagators, Paul Krugman, has been indirectly countered by fellow New York Times columnist, David Brooks. The following links include a Brook's article setting the story straight, and a discussion of the 'feud' from Slate magazine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/opinion/09brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.slate.com/id/2177252/pagenum/all/#page_start

Answer 2

Very much so. As President of the Film Guild, he sought equal rights for folks in the film and TV industry. At the time he was a Democrat, but converted to the Republican Party in the 60's, but always supported the Civil Rights Movement.

Answer 3

Reagan opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, opposed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (calling it "humiliating to the South"), and ran for governor of California in 1966 promising to wipe the Fair Housing Act off the books. "If an individual wants to discriminate against Negroes or others in selling or renting his house," he said, "he has a right to do so."

Answer 4

they did no longer particularly. they only de-segregated the faculties and made little ones circulate to faculties out of the community, and that made their bigot dad and mom in the suburbs much greater mad by way of fact they did no longer choose their "lily White" little ones to circulate to college with "the kneegras". And "financial inequality" nonetheless exists, as nicely as "discrimination" on the activity and in housing. and a few GOPers suited now prefer to be waiting to close Blacks out of their businesses in the event that they do unlike Black human beings. That is going for all "minorities" too. they like to circulate returned to the *Jim Crow* days. it particularly is spoke of as bigotry in easy sight, they ain't even attempting to disguise it or "veil" it as some say they're.

Answer 5

No Reagan did not.

Answer 6

if he did or not whats the point of asking this question.

Answer 7

You must be kidding