Chapter 23 Summary and Analysis

During Bush's presidency, several key events occur. The first of these is his nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Bush treds a fine line in this nomination because he wants to appoint someone who is clearly supports conservative values such as opposition to abortion but who can appeal to those who support civil rights. Bush counts on Thomas' skin color to give him a boost in Civil Rights. The plan backfires when Thomas becomes embroiled in a sexual harassment allegation from Anita Hill. Controversy take over the hearings as both sides tell their stories. Though Thomas is narrowly approved for the Supreme Court, the fallout from the nomination forces Bush to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

The second major event of his presidency is the Rodney King trial and its aftermath in Los Angeles. Bush misses many crucial...