On October 9, 1974 President Gerald Ford spoke publicly about his opposition to the ruling of a Federal judge in Boston that forced desegregation in the schools. He based his opinion on the belief that this ruling would not provide the best solution to the race issue in the schools. He also said that while he disapproved of the order, he was appalled by the acts of violence that followed the court hearing.
This is the first time since the landmark ruling of Brown v. the Board of Education in 1954 that a President has publicly stated his disagreement with a desegregation order after a decision has been made.
Some wondered whether the President would send in Federal marshals to help control the streets, but a request for Federal aid would have to come directly from the Boston courts. At the moment of the statement, no request had been made.
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