Lucas Nomination Killed in Senate : Panel’s Action on Civil Rights Post a Big Defeat for Bush

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee, on a pair of 7-7 tie votes, today killed William Lucas’ nomination to be the nation’s top civil rights enforcer.

The committee’s action was a stinging defeat for President Bush, who said last week that he supported Lucas “100%” and was convinced “that much--not all--that much of the criticism of him is pure American politics.”

But Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Ala.), who cast a critical vote against Lucas, said, “He’s lacking in experience and qualifications, his managerial accomplishments are debatable.”

Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh blamed the defeat on “raw politics,” and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) urged President Bush to make an interim appointment.

Two Tie Votes

The committee first refused to give a favorable recommendation to Lucas for the post of assistant attorney general for civil rights. On a second 7-7 tie vote, it rejected sending the nominee to the full Senate without any recommendation.

Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) joined six Republicans in supporting Lucas while seven Democrats voted against him.

Civil rights groups and their Senate allies campaigned for Lucas’ defeat, saying the 61-year-old former sheriff of Wayne County, Mich., lacked the experience and knowledge to be effective in the civil rights position.

Before the committee acted, Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), the panel’s ranking Republican, urged approval, saying, “It seems to me that we ought to give this black man a chance.”

Said Thurmond, one of the best-known critics of civil rights legislation: “He’s a minority, of course. Years ago, minorities didn’t have a chance, I know.”

Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) said efforts by Lucas supporters to portray opposition to him as racially motivated amounted to “a cynical setup.” He noted that opponents included Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and other lawmakers who have been strong champions of civil rights.

Lack of Experience

Thurmond said he knew of no realistic way for the Lucas nomination to come to the Senate floor.

The primary argument against Lucas was that he lacked experience. Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) cited a remark by the nominee that he was “new to the law.”

“Would we accept a key economics adviser who is new to economics? Would we accept a science adviser who is new to science?” Metzenbaum asked.

Supporters said Lucas would apply the hard lessons he had learned in his climb from dishwasher to policeman to FBI agent to Wayne County official.