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The '''Conservative Coalition''' was a group of senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress that brought together the majority of the Northern [[Republicans]] and a conservative, mostly Southern minority of the [[Democrats]]. The coalition usually defeated the liberals of the [[New Deal Coalition]]; it largely controlled Congress from 1937 to 1963. The coalition continued as a potent force until the 1990s when most of the conservative southern Democrats were replaced by southern Republicans.

The '''Conservative Coalition''' was a group of senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress that brought together the majority of the Northern [[Republicans]] and a conservative, mostly Southern minority of the [[Democrats]]. The coalition usually defeated the liberals of the [[New Deal Coalition]]; it largely controlled Congress from 1937 to 1963. The coalition continued as a potent force until the 1990s when most of the conservative southern Democrats were replaced by southern Republicans.

The coalition no longer exists, though debatably some moderate-leaning Democrats (such as Senator [[Joe Manchin]] of West Virginia) perpetuate a weaker form of the coalition by occasionally voting with the Republicans and opposing radical legislation. This is currently observed in the [[117th United States Congress]] where Manchin has particularly sided with [[Republicans]] in voicing opposition towards eliminating the filibuster.<ref>Husebo, Wendell (May 12, 2021). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/05/12/joe-manchin-reiterates-opposition-annulling-filibuster-federalizing-elections-after-meeting-president/ Joe Manchin Reiterates Opposition to Annulling Filibuster, Federalizing Elections After Meeting with President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2021.</ref>

The coalition no longer exists, though debatably some moderate-leaning Democrats (such as Senator [[Joe Manchin]] of West Virginia) perpetuate a weaker form of the coalition by occasionally voting with the Republicans and opposing radical legislation. This is currently observed in the [[117th United States Congress]] where Manchin has particularly sided with [[Republicans]] in voicing opposition towards eliminating the filibuster,<ref>Husebo, Wendell (May 12, 2021). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/05/12/joe-manchin-reiterates-opposition-annulling-filibuster-federalizing-elections-after-meeting-president/ Joe Manchin Reiterates Opposition to Annulling Filibuster, Federalizing Elections After Meeting with President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2021.</ref> drawing anger from liberals who advocate for ramming through far-left legislation.

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. Four other important Republican figures in the coalition were Sen. [[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] of [[Michigan]], Rep. [[Charles A. Halleck]] of [[Indiana]], Rep. [[Leslie Arends]] of [[Illinois]], and [[Joseph W. Martin, Jr.]] of [[Massachusetts]], though the latter was somewhat more [[moderate]]. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]] and Congressmen [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]] and [[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 broke with Southern Democrats and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to insure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 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. Four other important Republican figures in the coalition were Sen. [[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] of [[Michigan]], Rep. [[Charles A. Halleck]] of [[Indiana]], Rep. [[Leslie Arends]] of [[Illinois]], and [[Joseph W. Martin, Jr.]] of [[Massachusetts]], though the latter was somewhat more [[moderate]]. The chief Democrats were Senator [[Richard Russell, Jr.]] of [[Georgia]] and Congressmen [[Howard W. Smith]] of [[Virginia]] and [[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 broke with Southern Democrats and provided the [[bipartisan]] votes necessary to insure passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].