THE CONGRESS: Southern Supremacy

The filibuster ended with a spate of triumphant Southern drawls, followed by final bitter words from the losers. Then it subsided with both sides glaring at each other.

In the closing hours, Louisiana's 57-year-old Allen Ellender hung up a filibuster record by mumbling for twelve hours 20 minutes, the longest time any Senator had ever talked without relief. "I underwent a dehydration process for two days before I spoke," the Senator explained with the pride of a gabby flagpole-sitter. He refueled himself during his performance with nothing more than two glasses of water, one glass of orange juice, seven chocolate...

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