To what extent did US presidents hinder African American civil rights from 1865 to 1992?

Huge change occurred in regards to African American civil rights at the hands of US presidents from 1865 to 1992. These can be catagorised into social, political and economic spheres. Where one president brought hope (Lyndon B Johnson), another signaled a step back in race relations (Woodrow Wilson). In many cases, presidents had to react to socio-political events: such as the World Wars, the Wall Street Crash and the Vietnam War. These led to moments of civil rights advocacy, for example Roosevelt's New Deal (1933) after the Great Depression and an increasing amount of political representation of African Americans. But, most of this period was catagorised by political stagnation and oppressive policies towards African Americans. The development of 'black codes', the 'grandfather clause' and Jim Crow laws under presidents such as Hayes and Cleveland marked a period of African American inferiority from 1865-1915. Subsequent change after this only occurred due to a change in social attitudes and an economic awakening of the power the African American population held in society. Therefore, it was for this reason that certain presidents, for example Lyndon B Johnson, were able to pass legislation that reformed the civil rights of African Americans like the Civil Rights Act (1965). It is therefore evident that overall, US presidents did more to hinder than help African American civil rights from 1865 to 1992.