Changes

During the 1945–46 congressional session, Bridges voted with the conservative side 91% of the time.<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 31, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf 1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

During the 1945–46 congressional session, Bridges voted with the conservative side 91% of the time.<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 31, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf 1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 23, 2021.</ref>

Along with [[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]], Bridges sought to bar Democrat [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] from taking office in the wake of racist [[voter suppression]] during the 1946 Senate election in Mississippi.<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 March 3, 2021.</ref> Bilbo, running for a third Senate term, openly threatened blacks in the [[Deep South]] state during the campaign and faced calls to be blocked from taking office. Ensuing gridlock was soon broken by [[Minority Leader]] [[Alben Barkley]], who announced that Bilbo would return to Mississippi to be treated for surgery. The virulent racist never returned, dying in August 1947.

Along with [[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]], Bridges sought to bar Democrat [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] from taking office in the wake of racist [[voter suppression]] during the 1946 Senate election in Mississippi.<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 March 3, 2021.</ref> Bilbo, running for a third Senate term, openly threatened blacks in the [[Deep South]] state during the campaign and faced calls to be blocked from taking office. Ensuing gridlock was soon broken by [[Minority Leader]] [[Alben Barkley]], who announced that Bilbo would return to Mississippi to be treated for surgery. The virulent racist never returned, dying in August 1947.

He voted present on the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75|title=HR. 6127: The Civil Rights Act of 1957|publisher=govtrack|date=August 7, 1957|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref> though supported the 1960 version of the bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284|title=HR 8601: Passage of amended bill|date=April 8, 1960 |publisher=govtrack|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref> Both measures, despite being gutted of their strong provisions in the U.S. Senate by Southern Democrats, were signed into law by [[President Dwight Eisenhower]].

He voted present on the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75|title=HR. 6127: The Civil Rights Act of 1957|publisher=govtrack|date=August 7, 1957|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref> though supported the 1960 version of the bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284|title=HR 8601: Passage of amended bill|date=April 8, 1960 |publisher=govtrack|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref> Both measures, despite being gutted of their strong provisions in the U.S. Senate by Southern Democrats, were signed into law by [[President Dwight Eisenhower]].