Between the Lines: The Republican Party at a Racial Crossroads
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Ann Arbor, MI
Leah Wright Rigeuer, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, opened her presentation by recounting her earlier research at the Ford Library, funded by a travel grant from the Ford Presidential Foundation, and how her findings within the Library's archival collections enriched her dissertation and her subsequent work in the field. She described the remarkable responses to President Ford's nomination of William T. Coleman to a cabinet position in the administration of a party not known for engaging or including the African American community. She went on to describe the historic evolution of African American voters in the Democratic and Republican parties and described three waves of Black Republican activity between 1936 and 1980. She noted that during his first eight months in office, President Ford met with more African Americans than any prior president. However, despite Ford's personal actions as president, these were often countered by actions by the Republican Party. Her detailed presentation was followed by excellent questions from the audience, which continued through the reception and well beyond.
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