Princeton Historian Schools ‘National Review’ Writer on Civil Rights History
More: Princeton Historian Schools ‘National Review’ Writer on Civil Rights History
A Princeton historian taught a writer from conservative “National Review” a lesson Sunday — on Twitter.
Historian Kevin M. Kruse responded to a tweet from “Review” writer Kevin D. Williamson about the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Here is the exchange from Storify:
The GOP was so mad that the GOP had passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that it elected Nixon, who supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
— Kevin D. Williamson (@KevinNR) October 19, 2015
There’s so much wrong here I don’t even know where to begin. https://t.co/11gJTOXfjj
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
First off, let’s start with the most obvious: CRA advanced by two Democratic presidents, led through both chambers by Democratic leaders. /1
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
The congressional GOP didn’t pass it. Only a third of the yes votes in Senate came from GOP, less than half of yes votes in the House. /2
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
And let’s not forget, the GOP presidential candidate that year, Barry Goldwater, voted against it and took the Deep South away from Dems. /3
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Vote on the Civil Rights Act & 1964 pres race represented a sea change in how voters understood the two parties’ stances on civil rights. /4
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
In 1962, polls asking which party “more likely to see to it that Negroes get fair treatment in jobs & housing” had even split in opinion. /5
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
But in 1964, when polls asked the exact same question, 60 percent said Democrats were more pro-CR. Only 7 percent said Republicans. /6
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Which party more likely to support school integration? 56 percent pointed to the Democrats while 7 percent did so for the Republicans. /7
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Yes, Nixon made favorable comments about the CRA. And then spent the next several years furiously backtracking to win the GOP nom. /8
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Strom Thurmond, who bolted the Dems over CRA to join the GOP, was absolutely pivotal in getting Nixon the Republican nomination in 1968. /9
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
He got Nixon the nomination by rallying votes of southern delegations. How? By specifically promising them he’d go easy on civil rights. /10
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Nixon’s running mate was Spiro Agnew, southern governor who gained fame blaming black ministers for the Baltimore riots of ‘68. /11
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
And how did the 1968 election turn out? /11 pic.twitter.com/F4Xbo4fSM5
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
And if GOP was so proud of its small role passing the CRA, why was it left completely out of the 1968 platform? http://t.co/0zbHWYS93n /12
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Why was Nixon’s sole reference to civil rights in his acceptance speech actually a call for law and order? /13 pic.twitter.com/7uNq9XjRQY
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
Also, how did black Republicans like Jackie Robinson react to Nixon-Agnew? /14 pic.twitter.com/VzxLNe9RHt
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 19, 2015
