Reagan and race-baiting
In the heat of the presidential campaign, political analysts revived a debate over whether Ronald Reagan made an appeal to racist sentiment by launching his 1980 campaign with a state supporting
What happened
In the heat of the presidential campaign, political analysts revived a debate over whether Ronald Reagan made an appeal to racist sentiment by launching his 1980 campaign with a state supporting “states rights” at Mississippi’s Neshoba County Fair.
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Reagan knew what he was doing, said Bob Herbert in The New York Times (free registration). When you start “chirping about ‘states’ rights’ to white people in places like Neshoba County” you are “saying that when it comes down to you and the blacks, we’re with you.” So forget Reagan’s “Hollywood smile” and “avuncular delivery.” The man “was elbow deep in the same old race-baiting Southern strategy of Goldwater and Nixon.”
That’s nothing but a tired old “slur,” said David Brooks, also in the Times. In reality, Reagan strategists spent the week following the 1980 convention “courting African-American votes.” Sure, it was “callous” for Reagan to mention states’ rights when he should have been talking about civil rights. But accusing Reagan of playing to “Klan-like prejudices” is a purely partisan “distortion.”
Liberals are foaming at the mouth over the speech now, said James Taranto in OpinionJournal.com, but at the time they thought nothing of it. The problem is that this generation’s liberals missed out on the chance to actually do some good during the civil rights era. They “yearn for their elders' moral authority.” The truth doesn't matter, because “badmouthing” Reagan can earn them their stripes.
Don’t let Reagan off quite so easy, said Kevin Drum in his Washington Monthly blog, Political Animal. Emory University history professor Joseph Crespino says Reagan’s Neshoba address was carefully scripted, and marked the first time the candidate had used the term “states’ rights” in a public appearance. “If this is true it wraps up this argument on pretty much every level, both substantive and semantic.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published