Since 1846, when the U.S. Senate wrangled for two months over the Oregon resolution (which led to a treaty defining U.S.-British jurisdiction in the Pacific Northwest), no other debate ever made a bigger demand on Senate time and vocal cords. The Senate's civil rights debate began last Feb. 15 and ended, 53 days later, last week. In a swift vote, powered by an overwhelming, 71-10-18 majority, the Senate passed the 1960 civil rights bill and sent it back to the House for, hopefully, quick agreement by a floor vote. When that happens,...
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