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Civil Rights Act of 1964


Oral History
Oral History
Frank Valeo

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:

"He made a point to say that he had never voted for cloture in his life and he meant not to do that."

"'Tell them I'm going to bring Hickenlooper in here and they're to make any changes in the bill that he wants.'"

"It was really a tremendous moment, and a tremendous moment in American history."

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