““After 1970, however, many American institutions—corporations, unions, universities, others—were required to set aside what in effect were quotas, a process that engaged the federal government as never before in a wide variety of personnel decisions taken in the private sector. This dramatic and rapid transformation of congressional intent took place as a result of executive decisions—especially Nixon's—and court interpretations. Affirmative action of this sort never had the support of democratically elected representatives.41””
![“Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law. That [affirmative action] programs may have been motivated, in part, by good intentions cannot provide refuge from the principle that under our Constitution, the government may not make…” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_action_government-cannot-make-us-equal-it-can-o_2098533.jpg)
![“In those days [1955], affirmative action was for whites only. I might still be working for the grocery store in the small Texas town where I grew up were it not for affirmative action for Southern white boys.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23f/bill-moyers-2625_action_in-those-days-1955-affirmative-action-wa_1982418.jpg)
