If $(R,m)$ is a local Noetherian reduced ring of Krull dimension $1$ then $R$ is Cohen-Macaulay, since in a reduced Noetherian ring the set of zero divisors is the (finite) union $U$ of minimal prime ideals, so there exists an element $x\in m$ which is not a zero divisor (otherwise, $m$ lies in $U$ and equals to one of the minimal prime ideals by prime avoidance, which is a contradiction since the height of $m$ is $1$). Now, the singleton $\{x\}$ would be an $R$-sequence, and since the grade of $m$ is at most equal to the height of $m$ the equality occurs.
Now, if $R$ is not local what is the proof?
Thanks for any cooperation!