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Article: Troubled nominee. (William Lucas, nominee for assistant attorney general for civil rights) (American Survey)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- May 20, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Troubled nominee
WASHINGTON, DC
SHOULD a black lawyer who has never run a court case run the government agency responsible for enforcing civil rights? Several prominent black politicians say yes, and urge the powerful liberal civil-rights community to back Mr William Lucas, President George Bush's choice for assistant attorney-general for civil rights. But many civil rights organisations, perhaps venting frustration at the Reagan administration's effort to turn back the clock on civil rights, have vigorously opposed Mr Lucas.
Mr Lucas earned the nomination because of what he represents rather than what he has done. He is a black Horatio Alger: ...