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1964 |
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Shortly after 2:00 p.m., the House cleared H.R. 7152 for President Johnson’s signature when it adopted, by a 289-126 (with one voting present) roll call vote, H. Res. 789 to approve the bill as amended. Republicans favored it 136 to 35; Democrats supported it, 153-91.
"Already the second invasion of the Southland has begun," complained Chairman Smith bitterly. "Hordes of beatniks, misfits and agitators from the North, with the admitted aid of the Communists, are streaming into the Southland mischief-bent, backed and defended by other hordes of federal marshals, federal agents and federal power."
Once the vote was taken, Speaker McCormack signed the official copy of H.R. 7152 and gave it to a clerk who carried to the Senate. There, Carl Hayden, president pro tempore, affixed his signature.
Following congressional action, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (PL 88-352). The signing ceremony was broadcast nationwide on television at 6:45 p.m. from the East Room of the White House.
The president used more than 70 pens, dipping each in an inkwell, to sign the bill. He gave the first pen to Dirksen, the second to Humphrey.
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President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (video) |
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“Radio and Television Remarks Upon Signing the Civil Rights Bill” (audio included) |
The legislation contained new provisions to help guarantee blacks the right to vote; guaranteed access to public accommodations such as hotels, motels, restaurants, and places of amusement; authorized the federal government to sue to desegregate public facilities and schools; extended the life of the Civil Right Commission for four years and gave it new powers; provided that federal funds could be cut off where programs were administered discriminatorily; required most companies and labor unions to grant equal employment opportunity; established a new Community Relations Service to help work out civil rights problems; required the Census Bureau to gather voting statistics by race; and authorized the Justice Department to enter into a pending civil rights case.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964 |
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Racial violence broke out in New York City and later spread to Rochester, NY.