South Africa Reagan's Abrupt Reversal

The President prepares to match Congress's sanctions line for line

The rising heat from popular and congressional anger over his Administration's tolerant attitude toward South Africa's policy of apartheid was clearly being felt by President Reagan. On Friday, at a hastily called Washington press conference, he conceded that he had spoken "carelessly" last month when he said that South Africa had eliminated racial segregation. An even more dramatic turnaround is in the offing. According to a senior Administration official, the President this week will announce a series of Executive actions that represent a stunning reversal of his Administration's stalwart rejection of legislated economic sanctions against South Africa. The measures to be...

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