Martin Luther King Jr. archives: Reagan makes Martin Luther King Day official

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From the NBC Archives: In this archival footage President Ronald Reagan officially makes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday a national holiday. While Reagan originally resisted honoring Dr. King in this fashion, he invited the King family to the White House for the signing ceremony. Among the attendees were civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, comedian Dick Gregory, and then Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

WATCH PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SIGN MLK DAY INTO LAW:

For more stories on the history of the civil rights movement, visit NBC Learn.