The Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Debate & Filibuster—Audio

Frank Valeo: Secretary of the Senate, 1966-1977; Secretary to the Majority, 1963-1966; Administrative Assistant to Senator Mike Mansfield, 1958-1963

Frank Valeo was the newly appointed Senate Democratic party secretary when he found himself "counting heads" for Majority Leader Mike Mansfield during the protracted debate over the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Featured Excerpts and Audio Clips:

"…Mansfield wasn't about to go round-the-clock, and Mansfield told him that he was going to do it his way…. And Johnson deferred to that."

"Once you had a quorum on the floor, there was no way in which you could make the majority look foolish."

"…if this goes on much longer, I’m going to have to vote for cloture."

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