'''Everett McKinley Dirksen''' (1896–1969) was the leading conservative in the Senate after the untimely death of Senator [[Robert Taft]] in 1953. From Illinois, Dirksen first won his Senate seat in a huge upset by defeating the Senate Majority Leader, a Democrat. Dirksen won by campaigning against communism an siding with Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]].
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'''Everett McKinley Dirksen''' (1896–1969) was the leading [[conservative]] in the [[Senate]] after the untimely death of Senator [[Robert Taft]] in 1953. From Illinois, Dirksen first won his Senate seat in a huge upset by defeating the Senate [[Majority Leader]], a [[Democrat]]. Dirksen won by campaigning against [[communism]] and siding with Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]].
[[Image:Dirksen.jpg|right|thumb|550px|Senator Everett Dirksen (Left) With President Lyndon Johnson, 1966]]
[[Image:Dirksen.jpg|right|thumb|550px|Senator Everett Dirksen (Left) With President Lyndon Johnson, 1966]]
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Dirksen was famous for his oratorical skills and likable, down-to-earth appearance. He was also a very shrewd politician who in just his second term was voted by a wide margin of 20-14 to become the Minority Leader in the Senate. So loved by his colleagues that within three years of his untimely death from cancer they renamed a Senate building as the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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Dirksen was famous for his oratorical skills and likable, down-to-earth appearance. He was also a very shrewd politician who in just his second term was voted by a wide margin of 20-14 to become the [[Minority Leader]] in the Senate. So beloved by his colleagues that within three years of his untimely death from cancer Democrats approved renaming a Senate building as the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
In 1966, Dirksen sponsored a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in public school. It attacted 49 votes, far short of the two-thirds (67 votes) needed for passage. In 1964, Dirksen helped write and pass the Civil Rights Act.
In 1966, Dirksen sponsored a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in public school. It attacted 49 votes, far short of the two-thirds (67 votes) needed for passage. In 1964, Dirksen helped write and pass the Civil Rights Act.