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A Firing Line Debate: Resolved: That Affirmative Action Should Be Terminated
Collection StructureFiring Line broadcast records > Episode guide > A Firing Line Debate: Resolved: That Affirmative Action Should Be Terminated
Item Title A Firing Line Debate: Resolved: That Affirmative Action Should Be Terminated
Guest Buckley, William F., Jr. (1925-2008)
Guest Botstein, Leon
Guest Connerly, Ward (1939-)
Guest Guinier, Lani
Guest Lichtman, Judith L.
Guest Edley, Christopher F. (1953-)
Guest Abram, Morris B.
Guest Graglia, Lino A.
Host Buckley, William F., Jr. (1925-2008)
Moderator Kinsley, Michael E.
Date CreatedJuly 23, 1996
Description

Mr. Buckley begins this often passionate debate by reminding us that the much- reviled California Civil Rights Initiative "exactly replicate[s]" the language of the Civil Rights Act of 1964-the act about which Senator Hubert Humphrey said on the Senate floor: "If ever this act is used to discriminate against anyone because he is male or white, I will eat the bill page by page." Mr. Edley counters with a wealth of statistics, including those gleaned by "scientifically designed" studies showing "that 30 to 50 per cent of minorities [people of color and women] encounter some form of discrimination" in renting apartments or seeking jobs "when compared with otherwise identical white, male counterparts." Ms. Guinier details police departments' experience in hiring blacks, Puerto Ricans, and, and concludes: "The point is that no single rule predicts success, and no single criterion defines the job. If we understand this, we can learn to use affirmative action as a window, not a wedge." Mr. Connerly asks Mr. Edley, "Professor, how can you reconcile the view that you are opposed to preferences and then file-" CE: "What do you mean by preferences? I don't- I know that all of the Republican talking points that are faxed around say, 'Use the word "preference" as often as possible,' and they say 'Never talk about women, only talk about race.' But I don't really know what you mean by the word 'preferences.' " WC: "Grant me the opportunity of asking the question without the other stuff."

Language(s)
Country of Origin
Place RecordedNew York City, New York, United States
DimensionsDuration: 2 hrs.
FormatText
Medium television programs
Aspect Ratio
4:3
Color
color
Soundtrack
sound
Hoover IDProgram FLS128
Record Number80040.1368
NotesVideo available through special order.
RightsCopyright held by Stanford University. This copy is provided for educational and research purposes only. No publication, further reproduction, or reuse of copies, beyond fair use, may be made without the express written permission of the Hoover Institution Library & Archives on behalf of Stanford University.

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