Changes

==History==

==History==

The Act was passed by the U.S. Congress over strong opposition within the [[Democratic Party]]; President [[Lyndon Johnson]] turned to Minority Leader [[Everett Dirksen]] for [[Republican]] support <ref>[http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_histmats_civilrights64_cloturespeech.htm Everett McKinley Dirksen's Finest Hour: June 10, 1964], ''The Peoria Journal Star'', June 10, 2004, retrieved from The Dirksen Congressional center 05/20/07.</ref> to break the Southern Democratic [[filibuster]]. Dirksen spoke on the Senate floor,

The Act was passed by the U.S. Congress over strong opposition within the [[Democratic Party]]. President [[Lyndon Johnson]] turned to Minority Leader [[Everett Dirksen]] for [[Republican]] support <ref>[http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_histmats_civilrights64_cloturespeech.htm Everett McKinley Dirksen's Finest Hour: June 10, 1964], ''The Peoria Journal Star'', June 10, 2004, retrieved from The Dirksen Congressional center 05/20/07.</ref> to break the Southern Democratic [[filibuster]]. Dirksen spoke on the Senate floor,

{{Cquote|The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing of government, in education, and in employment. It must not be stayed or denied. It is here!}}

{{Cquote|The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing of government, in education, and in employment. It must not be stayed or denied. It is here!}}

Sen. [[J. William Fulbright]] <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,871879,00.html?iid=chix-sphere Picking the Team], ''TIME Magazine'', December 12, 1960.</ref> who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by [[President Clinton]], and Sen. [[Al Gore, Sr.]], father of  [[Vice President Al Gore]] voted against the Voting Rights Act.  

Sen. [[J. William Fulbright]] <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,871879,00.html?iid=chix-sphere Picking the Team], ''TIME Magazine'', December 12, 1960.</ref> who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by [[President Clinton]], and Sen. [[Al Gore, Sr.]], father of  [[Vice President Al Gore]] voted against the Voting Rights Act.  

Majority Leader Mike Mansfield said of the Republican leader, "The whole country is in debt to the Senator from Illinois."  

Majority Leader Mike Mansfield said of the Republican leader, "The whole country is in debt to the Senator from Illinois."

==Clinton era violations of the Voting Rights Act==

==Clinton era violations of the Voting Rights Act==