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In its heyday, its most important Republican leader until his death in 1953 was Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]; [[Illinois]] Senator [[Everett Dirksen]] was the key Republican in the 1960s. Five other important Republican figures in the coalition were Sen. [[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] of [[Michigan]], Rep. [[Howard Buffett]] of [[Nebraska]], Rep. [[Charles A. Halleck]] of [[Indiana]], Rep. [[Leslie Arends]] of [[Illinois]], and [[Joseph W. Martin, Jr.]] of [[Massachusetts]]. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]],<ref group=note>While a member of the Coalition, Russell consistently supported notable liberal policies throughout his Senate career.</ref> Rep. [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]], and Rep. [[Carl Vinson]] of Georgia. Sen. [[Harry F. Byrd]] of [[Virginia]] was also a crucial figure in opposing [[New Deal]] programs since the mid-1930s.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/byrd-harry Byrd, Harry]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved April 21, 2021.</ref> Dirksen and the Republicans sharply broke with the Southern Democrats over [[civil rights]] and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to ensure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]], 1960, and [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]].

In its heyday, its most important Republican leader until his death in 1953 was Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]; [[Illinois]] Senator [[Everett Dirksen]] was the key Republican in the 1960s. Five other important Republican figures in the coalition were Sen. [[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] of [[Michigan]], Rep. [[Howard Buffett]] of [[Nebraska]], Rep. [[Charles A. Halleck]] of [[Indiana]], Rep. [[Leslie Arends]] of [[Illinois]], and [[Joseph W. Martin, Jr.]] of [[Massachusetts]]. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]],<ref group=note>While a member of the Coalition, Russell consistently supported notable liberal policies throughout his Senate career.</ref> Rep. [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]], and Rep. [[Carl Vinson]] of Georgia. Sen. [[Harry F. Byrd]] of [[Virginia]] was also a crucial figure in opposing [[New Deal]] programs since the mid-1930s.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/byrd-harry Byrd, Harry]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved April 21, 2021.</ref> Dirksen and the Republicans sharply broke with the Southern Democrats over [[civil rights]] and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to ensure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]], 1960, and [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]].

Between 1939 and 1963, the coalition was able to exercise virtual veto power over domestic legislation, and no major liberal legislation was passed during this entire near quarter century. [[Harry Truman]] won reelection in 1948 and carried a majority-Democrat Congress, but the only portion of his Fair Deal program that passed was cosponsored by Taft. Under [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1963–65, liberals broke the power of the coalition by passing the Civil Rights Act, which was assisted by a newly elected liberal Congress in 1964. Congress passed the liberal [[Great Society]] programs over the opposition of the Southern Democrat members of the coalition. However, the coalition regained strength in the 1966 elections in the face of massive rioting in the cities and the tearing apart of the Democratic [[New Deal coalition]] over issues of black power, liberalism, student radicalism and the [[Vietnam War]].

Between 1939 and 1963, the coalition was able to exercise virtual veto power over domestic legislation, and no major liberal legislation was passed during this entire near quarter century. [[Harry Truman]] won reelection in 1948 and carried a majority-Democrat Congress, but the only portion of his Fair Deal program that passed was cosponsored by Taft. Under [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1963–65, liberals broke the power of the coalition by passing [[War on Poverty]] legislation, such as the Food Stamp Act of 1964. Congress passed the liberal [[Great Society]] initiatives over the opposition of some Southern Democrat members of the coalition. However, the coalition regained strength in the 1966 elections in the face of massive rioting in the cities and the tearing apart of the Democratic [[New Deal coalition]] over issues of black power, liberalism, student radicalism and the [[Vietnam War]].

In 1981 President [[Ronald Reagan]] won over enough conservative southern Democrats—called '''Boll Weevils'''-- to carry his major tax cuts through a House nominally controlled by the Democrats. Led by Congressman [[Phil Gramm]] of Texas,<ref>Gramm later became a Republican. On Gramm see David Frum, "Righter Than Newt," ''The Atlantic Monthly'' v. 275#3 (March 1995) pp 81+, online at [[Questia]]</ref> they helped Reagan enact many of his domestic policy proposals, to increase defense spending sharply, and to block leftists' attacks on Reagan's anti-Communist policies in Central America. They also helped dismantle some of the remnants of [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s [[Great Society]].<ref>The "boll weevil" was a pest that ruined cotton plants across the South in the early 20th century, and forced the region to diversify out of cotton.</ref> Reagan did not campaign against them, so they kept their seats a few years longer.<ref>Lou Cannon, ''President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime'' (2000) pp 89, 754</ref>

In 1981 President [[Ronald Reagan]] won over enough conservative southern Democrats—called '''Boll Weevils'''-- to carry his major tax cuts through a House nominally controlled by the Democrats. Led by Congressman [[Phil Gramm]] of Texas,<ref>Gramm later became a Republican. On Gramm see David Frum, "Righter Than Newt," ''The Atlantic Monthly'' v. 275#3 (March 1995) pp 81+, online at [[Questia]]</ref> they helped Reagan enact many of his domestic policy proposals, to increase defense spending sharply, and to block leftists' attacks on Reagan's anti-Communist policies in Central America. They also helped dismantle some of the remnants of [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s [[Great Society]].<ref>The "boll weevil" was a pest that ruined cotton plants across the South in the early 20th century, and forced the region to diversify out of cotton.</ref> Reagan did not campaign against them, so they kept their seats a few years longer.<ref>Lou Cannon, ''President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime'' (2000) pp 89, 754</ref>