November 1981

Reagan appoints Clarence Pendleton, a Black conservative, as chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Pendleton opposes affirmative action, calling it a bankrupt concept, and dismantles commission programs monitoring enforcement of civil rights laws. In 1983 Reagan fires three Democratic commissioners, provoking a constitutional showdown resolved by restructuring the commission to dilute its independence.

Reagan appoints Clarence Pendleton, who opposes affirmative action as a bankrupt concept, to chair the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In 1983 Reagan fires three Democratic commissioners, provoking a constitutional showdown. Pendleton dismantles commission programs monitoring civil rights law enforcement.