Nikki Haley's Civil War Remarks Spark Controversy and Dialogue on Slavery's Legacy
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attempted to address criticism over her previous comments about the Civil War, which omitted slavery as a cause, by stating she had "Black friends growing up" and was educated about slavery in South Carolina. During a CNN town hall, Haley acknowledged her mistake and explained that she had been "thinking past slavery" when discussing the Civil War's causes. Her initial comments and subsequent defense have posed challenges for her campaign.