Changes

*[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1954/s271 S. RES. 301. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 15, 2021.</ref> who investigated and exposed communist infiltration of the State Department and the [[United States Army]].

*[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1954/s271 S. RES. 301. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 15, 2021.</ref> who investigated and exposed communist infiltration of the State Department and the [[United States Army]].

Dirksen voted for the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> 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 June 19, 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 June 19, 2021.</ref> and the [[24th Amendment]].<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 June 19, 2021.</ref> He helped write and pass the landmark 1964 bill, especially in ensuring enough Republican votes for cloture to end the Southern Democrat filibuster of the legislation.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/civil-rights-act/civil-rights-act-of-1964.html The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> Along with [[Minnesota]] Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]], he was thanked by [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] for his crucial efforts in support of the bill.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/03/archives/johson-bestows-pens-used-on-bill-over-75-given-as-mementos-to.html JOHSON BESTOWS PENS USED ON BILL; Over 75 Given as Mementos to Legislative Backers]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>

Dirksen voted for the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> 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 June 19, 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 June 19, 2021.</ref> and the [[24th Amendment]].<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 June 19, 2021.</ref> He helped write and pass the landmark 1964 bill, especially in ensuring enough Republican votes for cloture to end the Southern Democrat filibuster of the legislation.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/civil-rights-act/civil-rights-act-of-1964.html The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> Along with [[Minnesota]] Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]], he was thanked by [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] for his crucial efforts in support of the bill.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/03/archives/johson-bestows-pens-used-on-bill-over-75-given-as-mementos-to.html JOHSON BESTOWS PENS USED ON BILL; Over 75 Given as Mementos to Legislative Backers]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>

During the [[United States presidential election, 1964|1964 presidential election]], Dirksen supported fellow [[conservative]] [[Barry Goldwater]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/08/archives/rep-halleck-agrees-to-second-goldwater.html Rep. Halleck Agrees To Second Goldwater]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0104.html Dirksen Dead in Capital at 73]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> despite some of their differences and correctly predicted the futility of the [[Moderate Republican]] opposition towards the Arizona senator.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/02/archives/dirksen-asserts-that-goldwater-cant-be-stopped-announces-he-will.html DIRKSEN ASSERTS THAT GOLDWATER CAN'T BE STOPPED; Announces He Will Nominate Arizonan—Discounts Any Move by Eisenhower]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>

During the [[United States presidential election, 1964|1964 presidential election]], Dirksen supported fellow [[conservative]] [[Barry Goldwater]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/08/archives/rep-halleck-agrees-to-second-goldwater.html Rep. Halleck Agrees To Second Goldwater]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0104.html Dirksen Dead in Capital at 73]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> despite some of their differences and correctly predicted the futility of the [[Moderate Republican]] opposition towards the Arizona senator.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/02/archives/dirksen-asserts-that-goldwater-cant-be-stopped-announces-he-will.html DIRKSEN ASSERTS THAT GOLDWATER CAN'T BE STOPPED; Announces He Will Nominate Arizonan—Discounts Any Move by Eisenhower]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>