“Given some of the things Bradford wrote, his confirmation could well have set off a major reaction against Reagan.”
Nonsense. Only the South hating neocons were making a stink. Even the Democrats weren’t. And no one was tearing down Battle Flags and Confederate statues in 1980.
That didn’t start until recent years as GOPe opportunists like Nikki Haley began holding hands with Antifa while happily eradicating Politically Incorrect American history. Party on, statue smashers!
But nobody was going around saying that the Confederacy was right.
Or only very few people were, Mel among them.
I get that neos and paleos have some massive feud going on, but Reagan dodged a bullet when he didn't appoint Mel Bradford.