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A [[civil rights]] advocate, Knowland gave strong support to the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]],<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/law/civil-rights-act-1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> which he ensured Senate passage<ref>Knight, Martin (March 1, 2020). [https://redstate.com/diary/martin_a_knight/2020/03/01/791552-n241095 The Republican Party, Race and the South - Correcting The Record]. ''RedState''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> which he was the floor manager of<ref name=snac/> and voted for along with over 90% of Senate Republicans.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> He opposed efforts supported by the majority of Senate Democrats (both Northern and Southern) at the direction of future president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] (who was the [[Senate Majority Leader]] at the time) which watered down the bill, voting against the removal of Title III (which allowed the [[United States Attorney General]] to seek preventative relief in civil rights cases)<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s71 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO DELETE AUTHORITY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEEK PREVENTIVE RELIEF IN CIVIL RIGHTS CASES UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> and the [[jury trial amendment]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s73 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO GUARANTEE JURY TRIALS IN ALL CASES OF CRIMINAL CONTEMPT AND PROVIDE UNIFORM METHODS FOR SELECTING FEDERAL COURT JURIES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> According to Johnson biographer [[Robert A. Caro]] following the passage of the latter weakening amendment:<ref>Caro, Robert Allan (2003). ''Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson'' (p. 988). Knopf, A. A.</ref>

A [[civil rights]] advocate, Knowland gave strong support to the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]],<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/law/civil-rights-act-1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> which he ensured Senate passage<ref>Knight, Martin (March 1, 2020). [https://redstate.com/diary/martin_a_knight/2020/03/01/791552-n241095 The Republican Party, Race and the South - Correcting The Record]. ''RedState''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> which he was the floor manager of<ref name=snac/> and voted for along with over 90% of Senate Republicans.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> He opposed efforts supported by the majority of Senate Democrats (both Northern and Southern) at the direction of future president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] (who was the [[Senate Majority Leader]] at the time) which watered down the bill, voting against the removal of Title III (which allowed the [[United States Attorney General]] to seek preventative relief in civil rights cases)<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s71 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO DELETE AUTHORITY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEEK PREVENTIVE RELIEF IN CIVIL RIGHTS CASES UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> and the [[jury trial amendment]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s73 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO GUARANTEE JURY TRIALS IN ALL CASES OF CRIMINAL CONTEMPT AND PROVIDE UNIFORM METHODS FOR SELECTING FEDERAL COURT JURIES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.</ref> According to Johnson biographer [[Robert A. Caro]] following the passage of the latter weakening amendment:<ref>Caro, Robert Allan (2003). ''Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson'' (p. 988). Knopf, A. A.</ref>

{{cquote|Clarence Mitchell went to Knowland's office to discuss what to do now, and could hardly believe what he saw there. "That big, strong, brusque Knowland actually broke down and cried," Mitchell was to recall.}}

{{cquote|In the wake of the vote, emotions spilled over. [[Richard Nixon]] could not contain his frustration and rage. When, as he was leaving the Chamber, reporters asked his reaction, the Vice President said, "This is one of the saddest days in the history of the Senate. It was a vote against the right to vote." Clarence Mitchell went to Knowland's office to discuss what to do now, and could hardly believe what he saw there. "That big, strong, brusque Knowland actually broke down and cried," Mitchell was to recall.}}

The 1957 civil rights debate was not the only time Knowland proved to be outmaneuvered by the deceitful and shrewd  Johnson.<ref name=snac/><ref>FascinatingPolitics (August 30, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/08/30/the-wizard-of-ooze-everett-dirksen-of-illinois/ The Wizard of Ooze: Everett Dirksen of Illinois]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 22, 2021.</ref> After leaving the Senate, he was replaced as the Senate GOP leader by fellow [[Illinois]] conservative [[Everett Dirksen]], who defeated [[Kentucky]] [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Sherman Cooper]] for the post.

The 1957 civil rights debate was not the only time Knowland proved to be outmaneuvered by the deceitful and shrewd  Johnson.<ref name=snac/><ref>FascinatingPolitics (August 30, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/08/30/the-wizard-of-ooze-everett-dirksen-of-illinois/ The Wizard of Ooze: Everett Dirksen of Illinois]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 22, 2021.</ref> After leaving the Senate, he was replaced as the Senate GOP leader by fellow [[Illinois]] conservative [[Everett Dirksen]], who defeated [[Kentucky]] [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Sherman Cooper]] for the post.