REAGAN CIVIL RIGHTS

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 29, 1982 President Ronald Reagan signs 25-year extension of 1965 Voting Rights Act President Reagan today signed into law an extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in an East Room ceremony witnessed by many critics of Mr. Reagan's record in race relations and civil rights. The 25-year extension contained stronger provisions against discrimination than those originally recommended by Mr. Reagan. A grass-roots lobbying and legislative campaign had forced Mr. Reagan and Attorney General William French Smith to abandon their plan to ease the restrictions in the landmark civil rights legislation.