"NO EULOGY COULD MORE ELOQUENTLY HONOR JFK'S MEMORY THAN PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL"

LBJ SIGNS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964*.  The act prohibits discrimination based on race in both education and employment.  It also outlaws racial segregation in schools and public transportation.*

President John F. Kennedy proposed the civil rights legislation in June 1963 but a Senate filibuster** prevented its' passage during his lifetime.  President Johnson used both JFK's death and his own legislative experience to push through the legislation.

President Johnson said on November 27, 1963...

"No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor President Kennedy's memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long."

LBJ used 75 pens to sign the bill and as was customary gave away the pens as souvenirs of the historic occasion.

*The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by the House of Representatives 290-130 & by the Senate 73-27.  In the House, only 8 of 102 members who represented states of the former Confederate States of America voted in favor of the bill.  In the Senate, only 1 of 21 Senators who represented states of the former Confederacy voted for the bill.  That was Ralph Yarborough of Texas.

**filibuster:  when one or more members of a legislative assembly delay or prevent a decision being made on a proposal.

LBJ Signs Civil Rights Act of 1964

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

LBJ Presidential Library Image

"THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO ALL THAT RACE HAS NO PLACE IN AMERICAN LIFE OR LAW"

JFK SENDS CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO CAPITOL HILL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent his Civil Rights proposals to Capitol Hill with the request that the legislation be passed before the end of the year.

The President said...

"The time has come for the Congress to join with the executive & judicial branches in making it clear to all that race has no place in American life or law."

JFK wanted voting rights assured and constitutionally mandated school desegregation continued along with equal access to public facilities.

President Kennedy added...

"Justice requires us to insure the blessings of liberty for all Americans....above all because it is right."

The proposals followed JFK's address on Civil Rights in June and the March on Washington of August 1963.  According to the JFK Library, the bill "cleared several hurdles in Congress and won the endorsement of House and Senate Republican leaders," but was not passed until after JFK's death "as a way to honor President Kennedy."

The proposed legislation included the following...

--protection of African Americans against discrimination in voter qualification tests

--outlaw discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce

--authorize the Attorney General to file legal suits to enforce desegregation in public schools

--authorize withdrawal of federal funds from programs practicing discrimination

--outlaw discrimination in businesses of more than 25 employees

--creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

On November 27, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in an address to a joint session of Congress just five days following JFK's assassination, said...

"No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor President Kennedy's memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long."

President Kennedy's proposals passed as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964 and were signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

SOURCES

"Address to a Joint Session of Congress, November 27, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson, " Miller Center, www.millercenter.org/

"The March on Washington and the Civil Rights Act of 1964," John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, www.jfklibrary.org/

John F. Kennedy

Official White House Portrait

JFK'S CIVIL RIGHTS BILL

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1985

JFK SENT CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO CONGRESS 53 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-three years ago today, June 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent his Civil Rights proposals to Capitol Hill with the request that the legislation be passed before the end of the year.

The President said...

"The time has come for the Congress to join with the executive & judicial branches in making it clear to all that race has no place in American life or law."

JFK wanted voting rights assured and constitutionally mandated school desegregation continued along with equal access to public facilities.

President Kennedy added...

"Justice requires us to insure the blessings of liberty for all Americans....above all because it is right."

The proposals followed JFK's address on Civil Rights in June and the March on Washington of August 1963.  According to the JFK Library, the bill "cleared several hurdles in Congress and won the endorsement of House and Senate Republican leaders," but was not passed until after JFK's death "as a way to honor President Kennedy."

The proposed legislation included the following...

--protection of African Americans against discrimination in voter qualification tests
--outlaw discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce
--authorize the Attorney General to file legal suits to enforce desegregation in public schools
--authorize withdrawal of federal funds from programs practicing discrimination
--outlaw discrimination in businesses of more than 25 employees
--creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

On November 27, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in an address to a joint session of Congress just five days following JFK's assassination, said...

"No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor President Kennedy's memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long."

President Kennedy's proposals passed as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964 and were signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

SOURCES

"Address to a Joint Session of Congress, November 27, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson, " Miller Center, www.millercenter.org/

"The March on Washington and the Civil Rights Act of 1964," John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, www.jfklibrary.org/

John F. Kennedy

Official White House Portrait

JFK'S CIVIL RIGHTS BILL PROPOSED

JFK ASKED CONGRESS TO PASS HIS CIVIL RIGHTS BILL BEFORE YEAR'S END

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-two years ago today, June 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent his civil rights proposals of 1963 to the Congress of the United States with the request that the legislation be passed before the end of the year.

The President said:

"The time has come for the Congress to join with the executive and judicial branches in making it clear to all that race has no place in American life or law."

JFK's proposals included the protection of voting rights, constitutionally mandated school desegregation, and equal access to public facilities.

The President also said:

"Justice requires us to insure the blessings of liberty for all Americans... because it is right."*

The Congress adjourned on December 30, 1963, however,  without having taken a vote on JFK's Civil Rights bill.

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, JFK's successor, signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The act prohibits discrimination based on race in both education and employment.  It also outlaws racial segregation in schools and public transportation.

LBJ Signs Civil Rights Act of 1964

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

LBJ Presidential Library Image

ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUND DEAD

July 2, 1961


ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUND DEAD 


American Pulitzer Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway was found dead at his home this morning in Ketchum, Idaho.


Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize for his most outstanding novel, The Old Man & the Sea, in 1952.


During the 1920s, Hemingway was the member of a group of expatriate American writers living in Paris.  It was there that he wrote The Sun Also Rises & A Farewell To Arms.


Hemingway was found in the foyer of his home at 7:30 a.m. local time by his wife.  A double-barreled shotgun was lying by is side.


It is not known at this time if there will be an investigation, but there are some indications that the legendary writer may have taken his own life


July 2, 1961


PRESIDENT KENNEDY HONORS HEMINGWAY


After receiving word of the death of American writer Ernest Hemingway today, President Kennedy said Hemingway....


"almost single-handedly transferred the literature & ways of thought of men & women in every country in the world."

                Ernest Hemingway
                 JFK Library Photo


July 2, 1961


JFK MEETS POPE PAUL VI AT THE VATICAN


John F. Kennedy, the 1st Catholic President of the United States, met the new Pope, Paul VI, today at the Vatican.


The meeting took place just 2 weeks after the new Pope took over as head of the Catholic Church.


The Pope spoke to the President about the contributions of the United States o world peace & space exploration.


Only 2 other Presidents in the past had met with the Pope.  They were Woodrow Wilson & Dwight D. Eisenhower.

                 JFK & Pope Paul VI


July 2, 1963


JFK VISITS NATO HQ IN NAPLES, ITALY


President John F. Kennedy visited the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization today in Naples, Italy.


JFK affirmed the mandate that an attack on one member of the organization is considered an attack on all.


July 2, 1964


LBJ SIGNS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT


In 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy made passage of a new civil rights bill a key component of his campaign for the Presidency.


President Kennedy appointed Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson to the chairmanship of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.


Today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964.


The act prohibits discrimination based on race in both education & employment.  It also outlaws racial segregation in schools & public transportation.*


*LBJ used 75 pens to sign the bill, giving away the pens as souvenirs of the historic occasion.

   LBJ Signs Civil Rights Act of 1964
         Photo by Cecil Stoughton

July 2, 1960

TRUMAN WILL NOT ATTEND CONVENTION

Former President Harry S Truman announced today that he will not attend the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles later this month.

Truman went on to say that he considers the convention to be "a pre-arranged affair" & "controlled" by the Kennedy supporters.

The former President's main objection to JFK seems to be his lack of experience.

Truman called on Kennedy to withdraw from the race.

July 2, 1881


PRESIDENT GARFIELD SHOT AT TRAIN DEPOT


President James A. Garfield was shot today as he walked through the railway station in Washington, D.C.


The shooter, identified as Charles J. Guiteau, was taken into custody at the scene.


The President, who has only been in office about 4 months, was hit twice, once in the back & once in the arm.


Doctors attending to Garfield say that the bullet that entered the back has caused a very serious wound.*


*Garfield died from complications of the gunshot wound in the back on September 19, 1881.  


Vice President Chester A. Arthur became President & the assassin, Guiteau, was found guilty & hanged in June 1882.

             President Garfield Is Shot
          by A. Berghaus & C. Upham
            Frank Leslie's Illustrated
                       July 16, 1881


July 2, 1863


FIGHTING CONTINUES AT GETTYSBURG


Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia launched attacks today on Union positions south of the Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg.


The Confederate attacks were on Culp's Hill & Little Round Top.


While both armies sustained heavy casualties, the Union continued to hold their positions by the end of the day.

   Gettysburg: The 2nd Day of Battle
       Battle Map by Hal Jespersen
                    www.posix.com


July 2, 1776


CONGRESS VOTES FOR INDEPENDENCE


The Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia today adopted the resolution proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia calling for independence from Great Britain.


Representatives of 12 colonies voted for the resolution.  


Only New York abstained.*


*John Adams of Massachusetts, in a letter to his wife Abigail, wrote that July 2 would be a day that would be celebrated "with illuminations". 


 He was right about the fireworks, but missed the date by 2 days.

     Committee Presents Declaration 
                  by John Trumbull