"We have lost the South for a generation." — Lyndon Johnson, to an aide, immediately after signing the Civil Rights Act
LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1964 as MLK looks on
It almost never fails that every Martin Luther King Day you hear some of the same old tired Republicans say, it was because of them that the 1964 Civil Rights Act even passed. That is partly true because if all Republicans had voted 'no', then of course, the Act would not have passed. But, it's just as, or even truer, that without 'Northern' Democrat votes, and support, it would not have passed.
Below are some statistics on the vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As you can see, the group that led the opposition to the Civil Rights Act was by far 'Southern' Democrats. Senate and House 'Southern' Democrats voted overwhelmingly 'no', 8-108. But, also note that not a single 'Southern' Republican voted 'yes', either.
Another significant glimpse of those times in terms of Party politics is that Barry Goldwater, a vocal opponent of the Civil Rights Act, was the Republican nominee for president in 1964. Hardly seems like the Party of race relations.
Lyndon Johnson's quote from above about "We", (meaning Democrats) have just lost the South for a generation", is off by about a generation and a half; It's been 42 years and Democrats are still 'lost' in the South.
Those 'Southern Democrats' who voted 'no' on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became Republicans and that's what they remain today.
So when you hear that same tired old rant every year on MLK Day about how Republicans saved the day for the American Negro back in 1964, just show them the statistics and remind them of who probably constitutes nearly 65-75% of their Party today. Former ‘Southern’ Democrats who called themselves Dixiecrats.
Vote statistics
Vote totals:
The Original House Version: 290-130
The Senate Version: 73-27
The Senate Version, as voted on by the House: 289-126
By Party: The Original House Version:
Democratic Party: 153-96
Republican Party: 138-34
The Senate Version:
Democratic Party: 46-22
Republican Party: 27-6
The Senate Version, voted on by the House:
Democratic Party: 153-91
Republican Party: 136-35
By Party and Region:
The Original House Version:
Southern Democrats: 7-87
Southern Republicans: 0-10
Northern Democrats: 145-9
Northern Republicans: 138-24
The Senate Version:
Southern Democrats: 1-21
Southern Republicans: 0-1
Northern Democrats: 46-1
Northern Republicans: 27-5
Wikipedia
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and how the South was lost
"We have lost the South for a generation." — Lyndon Johnson, to an aide, immediately after signing the Civil Rights Act
LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1964 as MLK looks on
It almost never fails that every Martin Luther King Day you hear some of the same old tired Republicans say, it was because of them that the 1964 Civil Rights Act even passed. That is partly true because if all Republicans had voted 'no', then of course, the Act would not have passed. But, it's just as, or even truer, that without 'Northern' Democrat votes, and support, it would not have passed.
Below are some statistics on the vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As you can see, the group that led the opposition to the Civil Rights Act was by far 'Southern' Democrats. Senate and House 'Southern' Democrats voted overwhelmingly 'no', 8-108. But, also note that not a single 'Southern' Republican voted 'yes', either.
Another significant glimpse of those times in terms of Party politics is that Barry Goldwater, a vocal opponent of the Civil Rights Act, was the Republican nominee for president in 1964. Hardly seems like the Party of race relations.
Lyndon Johnson's quote from above about "We", (meaning Democrats) have just lost the South for a generation", is off by about a generation and a half; It's been 42 years and Democrats are still 'lost' in the South.
Those 'Southern Democrats' who voted 'no' on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became Republicans and that's what they remain today.
So when you hear that same tired old rant every year on MLK Day about how Republicans saved the day for the American Negro back in 1964, just show them the statistics and remind them of who probably constitutes nearly 65-75% of their Party today. Former ‘Southern’ Democrats who called themselves Dixiecrats.
Vote statistics
Vote totals:
The Original House Version: 290-130
The Senate Version: 73-27
The Senate Version, as voted on by the House: 289-126
By Party: The Original House Version:
Democratic Party: 153-96
Republican Party: 138-34
The Senate Version:
Democratic Party: 46-22
Republican Party: 27-6
The Senate Version, voted on by the House:
Democratic Party: 153-91
Republican Party: 136-35
By Party and Region:
The Original House Version:
Southern Democrats: 7-87
Southern Republicans: 0-10
Northern Democrats: 145-9
Northern Republicans: 138-24
The Senate Version:
Southern Democrats: 1-21
Southern Republicans: 0-1
Northern Democrats: 46-1
Northern Republicans: 27-5
Wikipedia
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