President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights

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In January, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson met with civil rights leaders and told them that he would push for a law protecting voting rights after Congress passed an education bill and Medicare. Civil rights leaders refused to wait. After they were violently attacked on March 7 during a peaceful protest march in Selma, Alabama, an outraged nation, Congress, and the president would no longer wait. On March 15, Johnson appeared before a televised, joint session of Congress to deliver a stirring, historic speech calling on Congress to pass a voting rights bill. The president embraced the rhetoric of the civil rights movement, declaring that the nation “must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And, we shall overcome.” With the exception of Southerners, the entire House chamber stood and cheered, interrupting the president with thirty-nine ovations.

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Citation

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973. "President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights." President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights, March 15, 1965; “S. 1564, 1 of 7” folder, Legislative Bill Files, Box 26; Committee on the Judiciary; 89th Congress; Records of the U.S. Senate, RG 46; National Archives.. Accessed 29 March 2024. https://acsc.lib.udel.edu/exhibits/show/legislation/item/197.

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Title

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights

Subject

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Description

In January, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson met with civil rights leaders and told them that he would push for a law protecting voting rights after Congress passed an education bill and Medicare. Civil rights leaders refused to wait. After they were violently attacked on March 7 during a peaceful protest march in Selma, Alabama, an outraged nation, Congress, and the president would no longer wait. On March 15, Johnson appeared before a televised, joint session of Congress to deliver a stirring, historic speech calling on Congress to pass a voting rights bill. The president embraced the rhetoric of the civil rights movement, declaring that the nation “must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And, we shall overcome.” With the exception of Southerners, the entire House chamber stood and cheered, interrupting the president with thirty-nine ovations.

Creator

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973

Source

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights, March 15, 1965; “S. 1564, 1 of 7” folder, Legislative Bill Files, Box 26; Committee on the Judiciary; 89th Congress; Records of the U.S. Senate, RG 46; National Archives.

Publisher

Association of Centers for the Study of Congress

Date

1965-03-18

Contributor

Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives and Records Administration

Rights

Materials on this site are provided for educational use under Fair Use outlined by U.S. Copyright law. This item may be protected under copyright. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission from the copyright holder before publishing or reproducing materials. For assistance, please contact the contributor of this material.

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JPEG/PDF

Language

English

Type

Document

Identifier

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