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Kenneth ClarkKenneth Clark
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Session:         Page of 763

Q:

As a matter of fact, didn't he appear to be against the renewal, or at least for considerable weakening, then finally compromised and it went through essentially as it had been?

Clark:

Right.

Q:

Does this tell you anything more about Ronald Reagan?

Clark:

More than what?

Q:

First, he tries to prevent the renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, then finally accommodates and lets it go through.

Clark:

It doesn't tell me any more about Ronald Reagan in general, on the specific thing, than I think about Ronald Reagan as a whole. I mean, I think Mr. Reagan is very--he's a curious combination of consistent inconsistency, and is very effective in that. I think, for example, the hostage--the present hostage thing, and I read all the analysts who talked about this being quite different from the Iran hostage situation, looking from the Carter--I mean, looking Mr. Reagan as a candidate and even in his first term he was very clear and very definite as to what he would and would not do. Now, when confronted with--in spite of the commentators I personally believe that this is a not quite as complex situation as the Iran hostage situation was. He now sees that it isn't that simple as what he said when Carter was confronted with Iran. He is now getting high grades





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