Bill Clinton: “I nominated her because there had never been a full- time practicing civil rights lawyer with a career in civil rights…”

“I nominated her because there had never been a full- time practicing civil rights lawyer with a career in civil rights law heading the Civil Rights Division. I expect the policy to be made on civil rights laws by the United States Congress, and I expect the Justice Department to carry out that policy. Insofar as there is discretion in the policy, that discretionary authority should reside either in the President or the Attorney General in terms of what policies the country will follow. I still think she's a very well- qualified civil rights lawyer, and I hope she will be confirmed. And I think she has every intention of following the law of the land as Congress writes it. Carl [Carl Leubsdorf, Dallas Morning News]?”