Presidents

Nixon

Major setbacks for the Civil Rights movement during the 1970s

Swan vs Board of Education. Wanted to help black students get the bus to segregated schools.

ROAR (Restore our Alienated Rights) were a white activist group and did not want to fund this.

Massive campaigns in Boston led by ROAR in 1974 which is supported by Nixon.

Ford

Pursues a policy of non-intervention

Affirmative action and the Courts

1978-Regents of the University v Bakke

The Supreme Court said that the University's program of setting aside seats for minorities violated the Civil Rights Act.

Justice Powell then said though race would lawfully be considered one of the factors to make an admissions decisions.

Affirmative action was positive to attaining a diverse student body.

1979-United steelworkers of America v Weber

The employer and union said 50% of positions would each be taken by African Americans and whites.

A white employer said it violated the Civil Rights Act but the Supreme Court said that the law allowed affirmative action to eliminate racial segregation.