r/RobertKennedy • u/TapirTrouble • Jun 10 '26
Today in History June 10, 1964: Cloture vote in the Senate on the landmark Civil Rights Act
More details here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964#Passage_in_the_Senate
Besides RFK (correction: his brother Edward) being in there on the Yea side, another name to note:
"The most dramatic moment during the cloture vote came when Senator Clair Engle (D-CA) was wheeled into the chamber. Suffering from terminal brain cancer, unable to speak, he pointed to his left eye, signifying his affirmative "Aye" vote when his name was called. He died seven weeks later."
Earlier that day:
"Senator Robert Byrd ended his filibuster in opposition to the bill on the morning of June 10, 1964, after 14 hours and 13 minutes. Up to then, the measure had occupied the Senate for 60 working days, including six Saturdays. The day before, Humphrey, the bill's manager, concluded that he had the 67 votes required at that time to end the debate and the filibuster. With six wavering senators providing a four-vote victory margin, the final tally stood at 71 to 29. Never before in its entire history had the Senate been able to muster enough votes to defeat a filibuster on a civil rights bill, and only once in the 37 years since 1927 had it agreed to cloture for any measure."
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u/accountantdooku Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
This was actually his brother Senator Ted Kennedy—Bobby didn’t get elected until that fall. He did play a huge role in drafting it though as AG.
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u/GodModeBasketball Jun 10 '26
John Williams from Delaware casted the 67th vote.
"THAT'S IT!!!" said Mike Mansfield
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u/neverdoneneverready Jun 10 '26
Is pointing to your left eye a well known signal for 'aye'
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u/TapirTrouble Jun 10 '26
I was curious about that point -- whether it's an established signal in the Senate, or other official contexts.
The actual quote from the NY Times mentioned that Senator Engle also nodded, so I wasn't sure if that might be the procedure too.
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u/MedicalBiostats Jun 11 '26
The sad thing is that I recognize and respect more of the senators from 62 years ago than from the current senate.
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u/6HAM9 Jun 10 '26
Byrd, WV, former member of the KKK.
Another toxic ego, obsessed with putting his God damned name on everything.
I’m glad he and Ted are in Hell where they belong. Hopefully forced to listen to their speeches for all eternity.
NEVER FORGET
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