PAST REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLATFORMS ON CIVIL RIGHTS

1944 (Copy not available)

According to the Congressional Quarterly of 1948, p. 230-31, the 1944 Republican Party platform pledged "establishment of a permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission."

1948

One of the basic principles of this Republic is the
equality of all individuals in their right to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. This principle is enunciated in the
Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Constitution of the
United States; it was vindicated on the field of battle and became
the cornerstone of this Republic. This right of equal opportunity
to work and to advance in life should never be limited in any
individual because of race, religion, color, or country of origin.
We favor the enactment and just enforcement of such Federal
legislation as may be necessary to maintain this right at all times
in every part of this Republic.

We favor the abolition of the poll tax as a requisite to
voting.

We are opposed to the idea of racial segregation in the
armed services of the United States.

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We favor equality of educational opportunity for all and
the promotion of education and educational facilities.

1952

We condemn bigots who inject class, racial and religious
prejudice into public and political matters. Bigotry is un-American
and a danger to the Republic.

We deplore the duplicity and insincerity of the Party in
power in racial and religious matters. Although they have been in
office as a Majority Party for many years, they have not kept nor do
they intend to keep their promises.

they intend to keep their broomstes.
office as a majority party for many years, they have not kept it
clearly in racial and religious matters. Although they have been in
power in racial and religious matters, they have not kept it
division in the party. They have not kept it together.

and a danger to the Republic.

Prejudice into public and political matters. Bigotry is anti-American.
We condemn bigots who inject class, racial and religious

1925

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We are opposed to the ideas of racial segregation in the

voting...

We favor the apportionment of the tariff tax as a redress to

legislation so as may be necessary to maintain this right at all times
We favor the enactment and just enforcement of such Federal

individual because of race, religion, color, or country of origin,
to work and to advance in life should never be limited in any

the cornerstones of this Republic. This right of equal opportunity
United States: it was vindicated on the field of battle and became
Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Constitution of the
timepunkt of happiness. This principle is enshrined in the

1948

b. 330-31, the 1944 Republican Party platform pledged "enactment
According to the Congressional Quarterly of 1948.

1944 (Copy not available)

STATEMENTS OF CHAIR KIGHT
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

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The REPUBLICAN PARTY will not mislead, exploit or attempt to confuse minority groups for political purposes. All American citizens are entitled to full, impartial enforcement of Federal laws relating to their civil rights.

We believe that it is the primary responsibility of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions, and this power, reserved to the States, is essential to the maintenance of our Federal Republic. However, we believe that the Federal Government should take supplemental action within its constitutional jurisdiction to oppose discrimination against race, religion or national origin.

We will prove our good faith by:

Appointing qualified persons, without distinction of race, religion or national origin, to responsible positions in the Government.

Federal action toward the elimination of lynching.

Federal action toward the elimination of poll taxes as a prerequisite to voting.

Appropriate action to end segregation in the District of Columbia.

Enacting Federal legislation to further just and equitable treatment in the area of discriminatory employment practices. Federal action should not duplicate State efforts to end such practices; should not set up another huge bureaucracy.

## 1956

The Republican Party points to an impressive record of accomplishment in the field of civil rights and commits itself anew to advancing the rights of all our people regardless of race, creed, color or national origin.

In the area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction, more progress has been made in this field under the present Republican Administration than in any similar period in the last 80 years.

The many Negroes who have been appointed to high public positions have played a significant part in the progress of this Administration.

Administration.

Positions have played a significant part in the progress of this
The many Negroes who have been appointed to high public

tration than in any similar period in the last 30 years.

has been made in this field under the present Republican Adminis-
In the area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction, more progress

creed, color or national origin,
show to advancing the rights of all our people regardless of race,
accomplishment in the field of civil rights and commit itself to
The Republican Party points to an impressive record of

1926

such practices; should not be set up another huge bureaucracy.
Federal action should not encompass state efforts to end
equitable treatment in the area of discriminatory employment prac-
tices. Federal action should not impede state efforts to end
Enacting Federal legislation to further just and

of Columbia.

as a prerequisite to voting.

Government.

Appointing qualified persons, without distinction of
race, religion or national origin, to reasonable positions in the

national origin.

Jus adhesion to obverse discrimination against race, religion or
Government should take supplemental action within its constitutional
our Federal Republic. However, we believe that the Federal

power, reserved to the States, is essential to the maintenance of
State to order and control its own domestic institutions, and this
We believe that it is the primary reasonability of each

Isms relating to their civil rights.

Citizens are entitled to full, impartial enforcement of Federal
to combine minority groups for political purposes. All American

The REPUBLICAN PARTY will not miscalcule, exploit or attempt

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Segregation has been ended in the District of Columbia
Government and in the District public facilities including public
schools, restaurants, theatres and playgrounds. The Eisenhower
Administration has eliminated discrimination in all Federal
employment.

Great progress has been made in eliminating employment
discrimination on the part of those who do business with the Federal
Government and secure Federal contracts. This Administration has
impartially enforced Federal civil rights statutes, and we pledge
that we will continue to do so. We support the enactment of the
civil rights program already presented by the President to the
Second Session of the 84th Congress.

The regulatory agencies under this Administration
have moved vigorously to end discrimination in interstate commerce.
Segregation in the active Armed Forces of the United States has
been ended. For the first time in our history there is no segrega-
tion in veteran's hospitals and among civilians on naval bases. This
is an impressive record. We pledge ourselves to continued progress
in this field.

The Republican Party has unequivocally recognized that
the supreme law of the land is embodied in the Constitution which
guarantees to all people the blessings of liberty, due process and
equal protection of the laws. It confers upon all native-born and
naturalized citizens not only citizenship in the State where the
individual resides but citizenship of the United States as well.
This is an unqualified right, regardless of race, creed or color.

The Republican Party accepts the decision of the U. S.
Supreme Court that racial discrimination in publicly supported
schools must be progressively eliminated. We concur in the
conclusion of the Supreme Court that its decision directing school
desegregation should be accomplished with "all deliberate speed"
locally through Federal District Courts. The implementation order
of the Supreme Court recognizes the complex and acutely emotional
problems created by its decision in certain sections of our
country where racial patterns have been developed in accordance
with prior and longstanding decisions of the same tribunal.

We believe that true progress can be attained through
intelligent study, understanding, education and good will. Use