Flashback: Ronald Reagan Opposed National MLK Holiday Right Up to Day He Signed It

‘I believe the symbolism of that day’s important enough that I would, I’ll sign that legislation when it reaches my desk’

EXCERPT:

REPORTER: "Sir, what do we do then in 35 years, if the records are opened and we find that Dr. King was a communist sympathizer? Do we then try to undo the law? I mean, I'm not quite certain where the logic is here."

REAGAN: "The logic is there in that there is no way that this Government should violate its word and open those records now. I happen to — well, I would have preferred a day of recognition for his accomplishments and what he meant in a stormy period in our history here, I would have preferred a the days similar to, say, Lincoln's birthday, which is not technically a national holiday but is certainly a day referenced by a great many people in our country and has been. I would have preferred that, but since they seem bent on making it a national holiday, I believe the symbolism of that day is important enough that I would — I'll sign that legislation when it reaches my desk."

(Via Mediaite)

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