| | Hickenlooper was a strong supporter of [[civil rights]], having backed desegregation efforts and the [[24th Amendment]] to outlaw the [[poll tax]] in all federal-level elections.<ref name="The First Hickenlooper"/> He voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[1957 Civil Rights Act|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/s226 S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 27, 2021.</ref> and 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref> as well as the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78 TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 21, 2021.</ref> However, he merely voted "present" on the Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 21, 2021.</ref> | | Hickenlooper was a strong supporter of [[civil rights]], having backed desegregation efforts and the [[24th Amendment]] to outlaw the [[poll tax]] in all federal-level elections.<ref name="The First Hickenlooper"/> He voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[1957 Civil Rights Act|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/s226 S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 27, 2021.</ref> and 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref> as well as the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78 TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 21, 2021.</ref> However, he merely voted "present" on the Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 21, 2021.</ref> |
| − | After notorious Mississippi [[segregation]]ist senator and former Klansman [[Theodore Bilbo]] faced calls to be denied his Senate seat after intimidating and inciting violence against black voters in his 1946 re-election, Hickenlooper joined Republican [[Styles Bridges]] of New Hampshire in working to halt Bilbo,<ref name="The First Hickenlooper"/><ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''senate.gov''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref> as Republicans had just gained a bare Senate majority. As gridlock ensued with Southern senators starting filibusters, Minority Leader [[Alben Barkley]] broke the impasse in announcing that Bilbo would return to Mississippi for surgery. The racist demagogue never recovered to return to Congress, dying in 1947 of oral cancer. | + | After notorious Mississippi [[segregation]]ist senator and former Klansman [[Theodore Bilbo]] faced calls to be denied his Senate seat after intimidating and inciting violence against black voters in his 1946 re-election, Hickenlooper joined Republican [[Styles Bridges]] of New Hampshire in working to halt Bilbo,<ref name="The First Hickenlooper"/><ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref> as Republicans had just gained a bare Senate majority. As gridlock ensued with Southern senators starting filibusters, Minority Leader [[Alben Barkley]] broke the impasse in announcing that Bilbo would return to Mississippi for surgery. The racist demagogue never recovered to return to Congress, dying in 1947 of oral cancer. |