Changes

Like his uncle,<ref>Jackson, Leah (November 29, 2011). [http://news.nsula.edu/home/family-donates-john-overton-collection-to-library Family donates John Overton Collection to library]. ''Northwestern State University''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> Brooks played a role in establishing flood control programs.<ref>Suhayda, Merle. [https://www.lib.lsu.edu/sites/default/files/sc/findaid/2492m.pdf Overton Brooks Papers]. ''Louisiana State University''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

Like his uncle,<ref>Jackson, Leah (November 29, 2011). [http://news.nsula.edu/home/family-donates-john-overton-collection-to-library Family donates John Overton Collection to library]. ''Northwestern State University''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> Brooks played a role in establishing flood control programs.<ref>Suhayda, Merle. [https://www.lib.lsu.edu/sites/default/files/sc/findaid/2492m.pdf Overton Brooks Papers]. ''Louisiana State University''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

Along with the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation, Brooks signed the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to school desegregation as ordered by the [[United States Supreme Court]] in the ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' ruling.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GOI-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> He likewise voted against the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> and 1960.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

Along with the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation, Brooks signed the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to school desegregation as ordered by the [[United States Supreme Court]] in the ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' ruling.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GOI-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> He voted both against the initial House passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> which contained strong enforcement provisions, and the final House passage of the weakened Senate version which had Title III stripped and a [[jury trial amendment]] added.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h96 H RES 410. TAKE HR 6127 (CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957) FROM SPEAKER'S DESK AND CONCUR IN SENATE JURY TRIAL AMENDMENT WITH HOUSE-SENATE LEADERSHIP COMPROMISE AMENDMENT.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 26, 2021.</ref> He likewise voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1960.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

Although a segregationist, Brooks angered many people in his district after voting to expand the House Rules Committee from twelve to fifteen members,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1961/h3 H. RES. 127. ENLARGE RULES COMMITTEE TO 15, INCREASING DEMOCRATS BY TWO AND REPUBLICANS BY ONE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> most notably causing diehard racists like the [[Ku Klux Klan]] to burn crosses on his lawn in violent protest.<ref>Glover, Cedric (November 1, 2020). [https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/columnists/2020/11/01/cedric-glover-shreveport-triumvirate-inside-lbj-white-house/6075244002/ Cedric Glover: The Shreveport triumvirate inside LBJ's White House]. ''Shreveport Times''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> The attributed reason for anger towards Brook's vote was because the expansion paved the way for approving civil rights legislation. The committee expansion, which was pushed by House Spaker [[Sam Rayburn]],<ref>FascinatingPolitics (May 26, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/05/26/texas-legends-3-sam-rayburn/ Texas Legends #3: Sam Rayburn]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> also allowed for passage of some New Frontier programs under the presidency of [[John F. Kennedy]], as previously liberal legislation was blocked by the committee due to the power of the [[Conservative Coalition]].<ref>FascinatingPolitics (December 6, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/12/06/howard-w-smith-the-great-obstructionist/ Howard W. Smith: The Great Obstructionist]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> The Southern bloc as a whole was split between their loyalty to Rayburn and their loyalty to Smith.

Although a segregationist, Brooks angered many people in his district after voting to expand the House Rules Committee from twelve to fifteen members,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1961/h3 H. RES. 127. ENLARGE RULES COMMITTEE TO 15, INCREASING DEMOCRATS BY TWO AND REPUBLICANS BY ONE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> most notably causing diehard racists like the [[Ku Klux Klan]] to burn crosses on his lawn in violent protest.<ref>Glover, Cedric (November 1, 2020). [https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/columnists/2020/11/01/cedric-glover-shreveport-triumvirate-inside-lbj-white-house/6075244002/ Cedric Glover: The Shreveport triumvirate inside LBJ's White House]. ''Shreveport Times''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> The attributed reason for anger towards Brook's vote was because the expansion paved the way for approving civil rights legislation. The committee expansion, which was pushed by House Spaker [[Sam Rayburn]],<ref>FascinatingPolitics (May 26, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/05/26/texas-legends-3-sam-rayburn/ Texas Legends #3: Sam Rayburn]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> also allowed for passage of some New Frontier programs under the presidency of [[John F. Kennedy]], as previously liberal legislation was blocked by the committee due to the power of the [[Conservative Coalition]].<ref>FascinatingPolitics (December 6, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/12/06/howard-w-smith-the-great-obstructionist/ Howard W. Smith: The Great Obstructionist]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref> The Southern bloc as a whole was split between their loyalty to Rayburn and their loyalty to Smith.