The Door of Hope

“Readers interested in the devolution of Republicans’ commitment to racial justice—the descent from the party of Lincoln to the party of Reagan—will reap substantial rewards from this fascinating and disturbing book.”—American Historical Review

“Provides a lot of information about the Republican presidential tours of the South that will be new even to specialists in the history of American race relations.”—H-Net Reviews

“By using information carefully gleaned from presidential papers, African American newspapers, and other sources, Frantz reminds readers that the effort began earlier and involved difficult issues. A significant contribution.”—Choice

 “This is new political history of the very best kind and history that helps explain today’s politics of white resentment as well as Republican disdain for the public sector and government itself.”—David W. Blight, author of American Oracle

 “A fascinating, heartbreaking story with much resonance to twenty-first-century American politics and race relations.”—John Milton Cooper Jr., E. Gordon Fox Professor of American Institutions, Emeritus, University of Wisconsin—Madison