(July 4, 2004) History, commonly “an account of past events,” has always suggested to me long ago and super significant. And although I know history is recorded daily and today’s news is tomorrow’s history, I rarely view the politics I experience and relate in this column as historical accounts.

This is an exception.
Clearly the most significant American history written in my lifetime encompassed the second half of the 20th century and was known as the civil rights movement. And one of the most significant moments of that movement occurred 40 years ago as the nation was preparing to celebrate Independence Day in 1964.

To be more precise, 40 years ago this July 4 weekend, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law — a bill that changed the face of America. It opened all public accommodations — theaters, restaurants, and hotels — to all Americans regardless of race, color, religion or national origin. It ended discriminatory practices in employment on the basis of race or sex, and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce the law.

I lived through the period; I remember some of the moments. I was part — a very small but proud part — of the momentous movement.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act was a landmark legislative attempt to improve the quality of life for African Americans and other minority groups. Although civil rights had a long political history, the 60’s marked a period of intense activity by the federal government to protect minority rights. The Act certainly didn’t resolve all problems of discrimination, but it significantly paved the way for future gains by lessening racial restrictions on the use of public facilities, providing more job opportunities, strengthening voting laws, and limiting federal funding of discriminatory programs.

The story of the 1964 Civil Rights Act provides a unique window to understanding the social climate regarding minority rights, the obstacles to and forces of political and social change, and the nature of legislative activity. It reveals the intricate process by which a bill becomes law.

Every compassionate, progressive American saw their vision of tomorrow shot down on November 22, 1963. The assassination of John Kennedy left most civil rights advocates and most Americans grief-stricken and directionless.

In the 1960 presidential campaign Kennedy advocated a new Civil Rights Act. However, Kennedy needed southern support in Congress for several of his other programs so political pressures prevented him from introducing civil rights legislation in 1961 and 1962. He did take steps to ensure minority rights in voting, employment, housing, transportation, and education by executive action.

Kennedy’s personal commitment spurred on by growing civil disobedience of African Americans set the stage for a new legislative initiative to deal with the problem of federal protection of civil rights.

In his third year in office he acted on his campaign promise. In a nationally televised address to the people on June 6, 1963, Kennedy urged the nation to take action toward guaranteeing equal treatment of every American regardless of race. Later that week he was back on television pointing out that: “The Negro baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the nation in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day; one third as much chance of completing college; one third as much chance of becoming a professional man; twice as much chance of becoming unemployed; about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year; a life expectancy which is seven years shorter; and the prospects of earning only half as much.”

Soon after, he proposed that Congress consider civil rights legislation that would address voting rights, public accommodations, school desegregation, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, and more.

Congress was still debating Kennedy’s civil rights initiative when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963.

Our vision, our hearts and our nation stood still.
Although the new President, Texan Lyndon Johnson, had helped engineer the Civil Rights Act of 1957, he was perceived as no friend of the civil rights movement.

Johnson, however, a skillful and expert legislator, picked up the fallen mantle and took up the cause. As longtime Senate Majority Leader, Johnson honed his skills twisting arms, cutting deals and passing legislation.

On Nov. 27, 1963, just one day after the Kennedy funeral, addressing the Congress and the nation for the first time as president, Johnson called for passage of the civil rights bill as a monument to the fallen Kennedy. “Let us continue,” he declared, promising “the ideas and the ideals which [Kennedy] so nobly represented must and will be translated into effective action.” While Kennedy was the visionary leader, Johnson was master of the process, and used his talents and the prestige of the presidency in support of the bill.

The turbulent times reflected the changing nature of social conditions in the United States with minority groups growing more vocal and persuasive in their demands, and many white Americans embraced the need for civil rights laws. It was a time that saw this writer and his friends on many a picket line demanding racial equality. The social conditions contributed to Congressional pressure and Johnson’s ability to line up votes.

On Feb. 10, 1964, the House of Representatives passed the measure by a regionally divided but lopsided 290-130 vote.

But the real battle would be in the Senate, where rules had allowed southerners in the past to mount filibusters that had effectively killed nearly all civil rights legislation.

One of the bill’s main opponents, long-time Johnson friend and mentor, Georgia Senator Richard Russell, told the Senate: “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our [Southern] states.” Russell organized 18 Southern Democratic senators to filibuster the bill.

Johnson pulled every string he knew, and mounted a massive lobbying campaign, including inundating the Capitol with religious leaders of all faiths and colors. Civil rights and religious groups including the NAACP, CORE, the Urban League, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conf-erence and others joined the effort to advocate for African American and civil rights. These groups, which had combined to orchestrate the successful March on Washington in 1963, became the core of the lobbying effort.

The strategy paid off, and in June the Senate voted to close debate; a few weeks later, on July 2, 1964, it passed the most important piece of civil rights legislation in the nation’s history.

Concerned about potential violent reactions to his signing the bill over the July 4 holiday, Johnson conferred with his Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Minnesota Senator Democrat Hubert Humphrey and Senate ally Republican Minority Leader Illinois’ Everett Dirksen, and just hours after its passage, on nationwide television enacted the landmark legislation with the following words:

“We believe that all men are created equal — yet many are denied equal treatment. We believe that all men have certain inalienable rights. We believe that all men are entitled to the blessings of liberty — yet millions are being deprived of those blessings, not because of their own failures, but because of the color of their skins.

The reasons are deeply embedded in history and tradition and the nature of man. We can understand without rancor or hatred how all this happens. But it cannot continue. Our Constitution, the foundation of our Republic, forbids it.

The principles of our freedom forbid it. Morality forbids it....”

And 40 years ago this country had reason to celebrate on July 4 .

Hope your holiday was good.

The leadersship that guided the 1964 Civil Rights Bill through the Sente. (L. to r.) Senators Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirksen with President Lyndon Johnson.