President Reagan’s Radio Address to the Nation on Civil Rights on June 15, 1985

hmm 10 seconds my fellow americans in less than three weeks we'll be celebrating the greatest blow ever struck for the cause of freedom the declaration of independence we hold these truths to be self-evident our founding fathers proclaimed that all men are created equal that they're endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that declaration inspired our nation to reach new heights of human freedom but its promise wasn't complete until we abolished the shame of slavery from our land and in the lifetime of many of us wrote the civil rights statutes that outlawed discrimination by race religion gender or national origin discrimination is still not yet a thing of the past unfortunately and for the last four and a half years this administration has acted vigorously to defend and extend every american's fundamental right to equal treatment the justice department has worked energetically to end discrimination in employment voting housing in all the areas covered by law our record on enforcing minority voting rights is at the top of the list and we've increased to an all-time high the number of criminal civil rights cases filed we have a proud record on civil rights the principle that guides us and the principle embodied in the law is one of non-discrimination i'm sure you've all seen the statue representing justice that presides in many of our courtrooms the woman with the blindfold covering her eyes her eyes are covered because true justice should never depend on whether you're rich or poor or black or white or if you're hispanic or asian or if your ancestors came from italy poland latvia or any other country including ireland where some of my family's from equal treatment and equality before the law these are the foundations on which a just and free society is built but there are some today who in the name of equality would have us practice discrimination they've turned our civil rights laws on their head claiming they mean exactly the opposite of what they say these people tell us that the government should enforce discrimination in favor of some groups through hiring quotas under which people get or lose particular jobs or promotions solely because of their race or sex some bluntly assert that our civil rights laws only apply to special groups and were never intended to protect every american well they couldn't be more wrong when the civil rights act of 1964 was being debated in the congress senator hubert humphrey one of its leading advocates said he'd start eating the pages of the act if it contained any language which provides that an employer will have to hire on the basis of percentage or quota well i think if senator humphrey saw how some people today are interpreting that act he'd get a severe case of indigestion the truth is quotas denied jobs to many who would have gotten them otherwise but who weren't born a specified race or sex that's discrimination pure and simple and is exactly what the civil rights laws were designed to stop quotas also cast and shadow the real achievements of minorities which makes quotas a double tragedy in 1980 and 1984 i ran for president and told you i was opposed to quotas in response to your mandate our administration has worked to return the civil rights laws to their original meaning to prevent discrimination against any and all americans william bradford reynolds the assistant attorney general for civil rights has played a key role in that effort brad reynolds is not only a tireless fighter against discrimination he's a brilliant and dedicated lawyer recently i nominated brad reynolds to be associate attorney general the number three job in the justice department he deserves that promotion but his nomination is being opposed by some who don't agree with us about civil rights by some who favor the discrimination of quotas brad reynolds qualifications and character are impeccable indeed everyone knows brad reynolds is a man of integrity and strong ideals that he's firmly committed to the same vision of a just society that i am i've nominated brad reynolds to carry out my policies the policies for which you elected me the policies that reflect our best principles as a nation i'm confident that the senate will confirm him 22 years ago martin luther king proclaimed his dream of a society rid of discrimination and prejudice a society where people would be judged on the content of their character not by the color of their skin that's the vision our entire administration is committed to a society that keeps faith with the promise of our declaration of independence a proud society in which all men and women truly are created free and equal under god until next week thanks for listening god bless you looks very strange

Channel: Reagan Library

Views: 31,820

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Id: EDcD4CfPpl0

Length: 5min 52sec (352 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 29 2022