ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the policy consequences of presidential statements and actions. It also focuses on results and discusses the impact of the civil rights cases, both legislative and administrative. The chapter examines the impact of civil rights policies on both government and society, especially to see whether the changed policy direction from Carter to Ronald Reagan to George Bush has had political and policy consequences. It assesses civil rights generally as well as specific issue areas, including education, employment, and housing. The chapter considers the groups targeted for government policy. It shows that target groups and subissues are closely intertwined. The chapter includes the familiar pattern of talking about overall policy changes before discussing the consequences of policy in the three issue areas. It outlines the governmental and societal impacts. Presidents Reagan and Bush clearly benefited politically from their conservative civil rights statements, actions, and results.
