NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Civil Rights Chief Endorses Thomas

Arthur A. Fletcher, chairman of the federal Civil Rights Commission, predicted that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas will “win confirmation” in the Senate. Fletcher offered his own endorsement of Thomas in Washington and said the nominee has the support of at least 64 senators. “The thing that broke the logjam in the South was Sen. Sam Nunn,” Fletcher said. Nunn (D-Ga.) recently said that he expected to vote for Thomas. Fletcher, a black Republican, endorsed Thomas although he favors class-action suits for affirmative action and Thomas opposes them.