Civil Rights: President Signs Historic Bill
Civil Rights: President Signs Historic Bill
"President Johnson signs the most sweeping Civil Rights Bill ever to be written into law, 5 hours after it was passed by Congress." LS traffic on street in DC, Capitol Building in far dist. L/a TLS American flag flying from pole, Capitol Dome, Statue of Freedom. LS Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument in BG; TLS mother walking two children to foot of Lincoln statue at Lincoln Memorial; MS white woman & two kids looking up, admiring statue; l/a MS seated statue of Abe Lincoln; MS Lincoln statue w/ inscription on wall - "In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." LS South Lawn of White House (portico), water fountains in mid ground. MS chandelier, tilt down to TLS President LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (LBJ) shaking hands with guests & politicians including Dr. Rev. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR before taking seat at desk; Vice-President HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, Senator EVERETT DIRKSEN, etc in front row. MSs President Lyndon Johnson at desk, folding paper, then delivering speech: "We must not approach the observance & the enforcement of this law in a vengeful spirit. Its purpose is not to punish. Its purpose is not to divide, but to end divisions, divisions which have lasted all too long. Its purpose is national, not regional. This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities & our states, in our homes & in our hearts to eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in our beloved country. So tonight I urge every public official, every religious leader, every business & professional man, every working man & housewife, I urge every American to join in this effort to bring justice & hope to all our people & to bring peace to our land." TLS audience giving standing ovation, VP Hubert H, Humphrey leading the charge; Attorney General ROBERT F. KENNEDY claps politely, remains seated. Wide MS Congressional leaders surrounding LBJ for signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; MSs President Johnson signing; MS LBJ handing pens to Senator Everett Dirkson & Hubert H. Humphrey; MS Lyndon Baines Johnson handing pen, shaking hands w/ Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. PETER RODINO standing beside MLK, Bobby Kennedy among those in crowd; MS F.B.I. Director J. EDGAR HOOVER shaking hands, receiving pen, civil rights leader A. PHILIP RANDOLPH standing beside him, shaking hands with LBJ, receiving ceremonial pen; MS LBJ handing Attny. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy several pens (one can sense the extreme tension between these two). MS Sen. Everett Dirkson & VP Hubert H. Humphrey shaking hands.