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June 27, 1934- The National Housing Act is signed by Democrat FDR and with it, begins the process of "redlining" urban areas which segregated the cities with color coded maps and set many areas in black neighborhoods into high hazard zones that were off limits to bank loans.
August 17, 1937- Democrat U.S. Senator Hugo Black is appointed to U.S. Supreme Court by FDR as his Ku Klux Klan background is later discovered after the confirmation. The GOP angrily said that FDR had knowledge of this prior, which he denied.
June 24, 1940- A plank of the Republican party platform calls for the integration of the military and suggests to the FDR administration that "Discrimination in the civil service, the army, navy, and all other branches of the Government must cease."
Backtrack: November 8, 1938- Republicans make large gains in the midterm elections by flipping 81 seats from the Democrats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate which helps curb FDRs new deal programs. Both chambers would still have Democrat majority just not the unchecked power
June 26, 1944- The Republican party platform demands an immediate congressional inquiry into the integration of the military and urges Democrats to also support anti-lynching, anti-poll tax legislation as well as a two term limit for President.
Backtrack: April 3, 1944- The Supreme Court strikes down the Democratic Party’s “whites only” primary election system in SC, FL, MS, AL, TX, AR and GA; ruling it violated the 14th amendment when it ruled Smith v. Allwright, which increased black voting in 400% by 1948.
May 17, 1954 - Recently nominated by President Eisenhower, Chief Justice Earl Warren, the three-term Republican Governor (CA) and Republican Vice Presidential nominee in 1948, hands down the 9-0 decision on school desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
November 25, 1955- The Eisenhower administration through the Interstate Commerce Commission, bans all racial segregation on interstate bus and train travel as well as in separate waiting rooms for black and white people.
March 12, 1956- 99 Democrats and 2 Republicans sign and issue the "Southern Manifesto" which strongly condemns the Brown v. School Board decision and urges "Resistance" against the "unlawful decision".
June 5, 1956- Republican federal judge in Alabama and D-Day veteran Frank Minis Johnson jr rules in favor of Rosa Parks and strikes down “blacks to the back of the bus” law. Martin Luther King Jr. would later say he was "The man who gave true meaning to the word Justice"
June 29, 1956- President Eisenhower signs a bi-partisan bill to create the Interstate Highway system which spans 41,000 miles to be used as civilian travel but also a means of emergency troop transport and civilian evacuation in the event of a nuclear attack.
Oct 19, 1956- At the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner in NY, Richard Nixon said “American boys and girls shall sit, side by side, at any school – public or private – with no regard paid to the color of their skin. Segregation, discrimination, and prejudice have no place ”
Sept 4, 1957- The Democrat Governor of Arkansas orders the National Guard to block black students from entering the Little Rock High school. Republican President Dwight Eisenhower orders the 101st Airborne to deploy on 9/23 and ensure that the nine children are given passage.
Sept 9, 1957- Eisenhower signs the '57 Civil Rights Act which passed the House with 90% of GOP vs Dem 62% support and passed the Senate with 100% GOP vs Dem 52% support and only after Senate Majority leader Lyndon B Johnson watered down the House Bill and protections from it.
February 5, 1959- President Eisenhower proposes a new Civil Rights bill to Congress and amend the '57 CRA saying that "that every individual regardless of his race, religion, or national origin is entitled to the equal protection of the laws."
May 6, 1960- After a 125 hour filibuster from 18 Democrats, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 is signed by President Eisenhower. The bill passes with 91% of GOP support in the House and 100% in the Senate. (51% of Democrats supported the bill in the House and 58% in the Senate.)
June 9, 1964- Republicans condemn the 75 day (60 working day) group filibuster on the '64 Civil Rights Bill led by U.S. Senator and former Klansman Robert Byrd (D-WV). Byrd argued the bill “would impair the civil rights of all Americans. It cannot be justified on any basis"
July 2, 1964- (D) LBJ signs the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The House GOP voted in favor 78% to Democrats 60%.
The Senate GOP voted in favor 82% to Democrats 69% that Illinois (R) Senator Everett Dirkson was key to it passing.
House votes again with 80% GOP to Democrat 60% in favor.
The House GOP voted in favor 78% to Democrats 60%.
The Senate GOP voted in favor 82% to Democrats 69% that Illinois (R) Senator Everett Dirkson was key to it passing.
House votes again with 80% GOP to Democrat 60% in favor.
November 3, 1964- Republicans lose the Presidential in a landslide running with Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), a libertarian leaning Senator who voted against the '64 Civil Rights Bill gets a lot of negative press as a result but manages to win several deep south states.
November 3, 1964- Vermont votes for a Democrat in the Presidential election for the first time; ending a 108 year streak of voting Republican. Vermont would return to voting GOP the following cycle and would do so until '92.
March 21, 1965- Republican US District judge Frank Johnson authorizes Martin Luther King’s protest march from Selma to Montgomery, overruling Democrat Governor George Wallace's order. The march to the capitol happened two days later with thousands of marchers and clergy members.
August 6, 1965- The Voting Rights Act is signed by Democrat LBJ and provides protections against discrimination in Federal Elections and bans literacy requirements.
82% of the House GOP and 78% of Democrats vote in favor.
94% of the Senate GOP and 74% of Democrats vote in favor.
82% of the House GOP and 78% of Democrats vote in favor.
94% of the Senate GOP and 74% of Democrats vote in favor.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 passes in the House with 87% of GOP and 68% of Democrats support and passes in the Senate with 81% of GOP vote and 63% of Democrats but is changed and watered down by Senate Democrats and the House passes it with just 53% of GOP vote and 61% of Dems.
November 5, 1968- Richard Nixon wins the Presidency running against Segregationist (D) George Wallace (who ran as a 3rd party ticket and wins the deep south) and (D) Hubert Humphrey. Nixon's pushes "Law and Order" after drugs, soaring homicide rates and crime sweeps the nation.
October 27, 1970- President Richard Nixon signs the Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Prevention Act after the urban decline resulting from the exploding drug problems in urban areas. (D) Rep. Shirley Chisholm (NY) votes in favor and likens the drug problem to "the bubonic plague".
August 14, 1974- (R) President Gerald Ford repeals FDR's 1933 obviously unconstitutional Executive Order; that made private ownership of gold illegal. Ford's new EO "permits US citizens to purchase, hold, sell, or otherwise deal with gold in the US or abroad".
October 15, 1976- A Vice Presidential debate between Bob Dole and Walter Mondale was the first in history and a nationally televised event. (R) Bob Dole was an early supporter of the Pro-life movement and an "early life amendment", while (D) Mondale was a pro-choice candidate.
November 13, 1979- Ronald Reagan announces his run for Presidency in a speech from the New York Hilton which highlights the failures and weaknesses of the Carter administration including high inflation, inept foreign policy and an unrealistic energy policy
July 7, 1981- Ronald Reagan fulfills a campaign promise of nominating the first female to the Supreme Court if given the chance by choosing Sandra Day O'Connor to fill Justice Potter Stewart's seat. She would be approved by the Senate with a 99-0 vote.
September 9, 1982- "until someone can prove the unborn human is not alive, we must give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is. And thus, it should be entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - 21:55
June 20, 1982- President Reagan signs a 25 year extension on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 calling it the "crown jewel of American liberties."
Nov. 2, 1983- President Reagan signs into law the making of Martin Luther King day as a national federal holiday in all 50 states starting in 1986.
August 10, 1988- Reagan signs the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which formally apologizes for the treatment of Japanese Americans stemming from FDR's Executive Order 9066 during WWII as well as a redress check of $20k to every survivor of an internment camp.
