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During Williams' term as governor, a federal court ordered the state to desegregate its public schools by the fall of 1970. Despite his segregationist past, Williams did not defy the court. Instead, he said that he would use his gubernatorial power to establish a statewide private-school system.<ref name=nyt/> He was chairman of the Southern Governors Conference in 1970-1971.<ref name=digital/>

During Williams' term as governor, a federal court ordered the state to desegregate its public schools by the fall of 1970. Despite his segregationist past, Williams did not defy the court. Instead, he said that he would use his gubernatorial power to establish a statewide private-school system.<ref name=nyt/> He was chairman of the Southern Governors Conference in 1970-1971.<ref name=digital/>

After his term, Williams resumed his law practice. He endorsed Republicans [[Gerald Ford]] in 1976 and served as tge co-chairman of the [[Ronald W. Reagan]] in 1980, rather than the Democratic nominee both years, [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]].<ref name=nyt>EX-MISSISSIPPI GOV. WILLIAMS, STAUNCH SEGREGATIONIST, DIES - The New York Times (nytimes.com), accessed September 28, 2021.</ref>

After his term, Williams resumed his law practice. He endorsed Republicans [[Gerald Ford]] in 1976 and served as the co-chairman of the [[Ronald W. Reagan]] in 1980, rather than the Democratic nominee both years, [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]].<ref name=nyt>EX-MISSISSIPPI GOV. WILLIAMS, STAUNCH SEGREGATIONIST, DIES - The New York Times (nytimes.com), accessed September 28, 2021.</ref>

== References ==

== References ==