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Civil Rights Act Had Many Heroes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2008

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stepped onto a political landmine a few weeks ago when she marginalized the contributions of Martin Luther King to the civil rights movement.

"I would point to the fact that Dr. King's dreams were realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Sen. Clinton said. "When he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the president before had not even tried. But it took a president to get it done."

I've always said that there's never a bad time for a good history lesson, and with the nation observing Dr. King's birthday tomorrow, Clinton's timing was great. Since most Americans today weren't born in 1964, and with growing historical illiteracy among the younger generation, it might serve as a catalyst for them to learn something beyond King's "Dream" speech.

Many Played Crucial Roles

While Lyndon Johnson's contribution to the historic 1964 Civil Rights Act cannot be minimized, it's important to acknowledge a few other crucial players.

For starters, Sen. Clinton should know a bill just doesn't show up on a president's desk. A lot of studying and debating usually takes place in the House and Senate, and then the legislation is voted on by members.

In the case of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Southern Democrats spent weeks filibustering the bill. Senators like Hubert Humphrey countered the stonewalling with impassioned speeches about what the United States stood for. The man most responsible for ending the filibuster, however, was Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, a Republican from Illinois. He later received a special leadership award from NAACP Executive Director Roy Wilkins.

The U.S. Senate imposed cloture for the first time on a civil rights measure, ending the filibuster by a vote of 71-29. President Johnson signed the historic legislation on July 2, 1964, with Dr. King present.

A Real Profile In Courage

To really appreciate Johnson's courageous effort, you have to consider the times and his timing.

Contrary to the mythology created after his assassination, John F. Kennedy was noncommittal when it came to civil rights. Historians debate whether or not he would have ever signed a civil rights bill, but most agree that he would not have signed one before the 1964 presidential election for fear of alienating the old "Solid South" of Democratic white voters. The fact that Johnson fought for the legislation months before Election Day shows his political courage.

The Civil Rights Act was not only a historic piece of legislation, it created a tectonic shift in American politics that is still felt today. By signing the bill, Johnson rearranged the Republican Party from its Midwestern and Northeastern base to the once-solid Democratic South.

Still, none of these political players would have been moved to act without being coaxed into it by King and other black activists.

"One should never discount the bold initiative of Martin Luther King in terms of helping to initiate a change in the legalities and the culture of this nation in terms of race," said Rev. Gil Caldwell, a New Jersey civil rights activist who marched with King. "I would not compare him to or put him in harness with anyone. He stands alone."

Remember that, Sen. Clinton.

Joseph H. Brown is a Tribune editorial writer.

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