Southern Senators Filibuster Civil Rights Act for 60 Days

Southern Democratic senators launched the longest filibuster in U.S. Senate history against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, speaking for 60 days beginning in late March. Led by Senator Richard Russell of Georgia, 18 Southern senators delivered over 10 million words of floor speeches. Cloture was finally invoked on June 10, 1964 — the first successful cloture vote on a civil rights bill.