Everett Dirksen

The man pictured is Everett McKinley Dirksen. He was born in Illinois in 1896 and was a Republican that served in the House of Representatives and the US Senate representing his state. He was vital in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If not for him, it probably would not have passed. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 1959 until his death in 1969.

Dirksen helped write and pass the Act during the Civil RIghts movement. He and Hubert Humphries (D) were tasked by Lyndon B Johnson to get it passed. The Southern Democrats headed by Democrat Richard Russell wanted to oppose and derail the Civil Rights Bill. The Southern Democrats filibustered the bill for 60 straight working days. Dirksen continued to work on the bill and it led to the end of the filibuster and the passage of the Act. This filibuster almost killed the Civil Rights Act.

After its passage it was signed by Lyndon B Johnson.

Dirksen gave a speech in the Senate where he reminded his Republican colleagues that the Republican Party stood for equality since its founding in the years before the Civil War.

More important and vital legislation he was involved in:

United Nations bond issues of 1962, nuclear test ban treaty of 1963, and financing of America's space program.

The Dirksen Senate Office Building is in Washington, DC and the Dirksen United States Courthouse is in Central Chicago.

I don't think many know about him and the vital role he played in the Civil Rights act. Every piece I read stated the same thing. Without him, the Civil Rights Act may not have passed. I think he was pretty great to fight so hard for it. I wanted to make sure he was reconized for his work. There is a lot of information online about him.