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The '''Conservative Coalition''' was a coalition in the U.S. Congress that brought together the majority of the Northern [[Republicans]] and a conservative, mostly Southern minority of the [[Democrats]].  The coalition usually defeated the liberals of the [[New Deal Coalition]]; the Coalition largely controlled Congress from 1937 to 1963. It continued as a potent force until the 1990s when most of the conservative southern Democrats were replaced by southern Republicans. The coalition no longer exists, though debatably some conservative-leaning Democrats (such as Senator [[Joe Manchin]] of West Virginia) perpetuate a weaker form of the coalition by occasionally voting with the Republicans.

The '''Conservative Coalition''' was a coalition in the U.S. Congress that brought together the majority of the Northern [[Republicans]] and a conservative, mostly Southern minority of the [[Democrats]].  The coalition usually defeated the liberals of the [[New Deal Coalition]]; the Coalition largely controlled Congress from 1937 to 1963. It continued as a potent force until the 1990s when most of the conservative southern Democrats were replaced by southern Republicans. The coalition no longer exists, though debatably some conservative-leaning Democrats (such as Senator [[Joe Manchin]] of West Virginia) perpetuate a weaker form of the coalition by occasionally voting with the Republicans.

In its heyday, its most important Republican leader until his death in 1953 was Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]; [[Illinois]] Senator [[Everett Dirksen]] was the key Republican in the 1960s. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]] and Congressmen [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]] and [[Carl Vinson]] of Georgia. Dirksen and the Republicans broke with Southern Democrats and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to insure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].

In its heyday, its most important Republican leader until his death in 1953 was Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]; [[Illinois]] Senator [[Everett Dirksen]] was the key Republican in the 1960s. Two other important Republican figures in the coalition were [[Charles A. Halleck]] and Joseph W. Martin, Jr., though the latter was somewhat more [[moderate]]. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]] and Congressmen [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]] and [[Carl Vinson]] of Georgia. Dirksen and the Republicans broke with Southern Democrats and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to insure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].

Between 1939 and 1963, the coalition was able to exercise virtual veto power over domestic legislation, and no major liberal legislation was passed during this entire near quarter century.  [[Harry Truman]] won reelection in 1948 and carried a Democratic Congress, but the only portion of his [[Fair Deal]] program that passed was cosponsored by Taft. Under [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1963-65 liberals broke the power of the coalition by passing the Civil Rights Act, which was assisted by a newly elected liberal Congress in 1964. Congress passed the liberal [[Great Society]] programs over the opposition of the coalition. However the coalition regained strength in the 1966 election, in the face of massive rioting in the cities, and the tearing apart of the Democratic [[New Deal coalition]] over issues of black power, liberalism, student radicalism and Vietnam.  

Between 1939 and 1963, the coalition was able to exercise virtual veto power over domestic legislation, and no major liberal legislation was passed during this entire near quarter century.  [[Harry Truman]] won reelection in 1948 and carried a Democratic Congress, but the only portion of his [[Fair Deal]] program that passed was cosponsored by Taft. Under [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1963-65 liberals broke the power of the coalition by passing the Civil Rights Act, which was assisted by a newly elected liberal Congress in 1964. Congress passed the liberal [[Great Society]] programs over the opposition of the coalition. However the coalition regained strength in the 1966 election, in the face of massive rioting in the cities, and the tearing apart of the Democratic [[New Deal coalition]] over issues of black power, liberalism, student radicalism and Vietnam.