Vanity Fair and Politico correspondent Todd S. Purdum recounted the dramatic political battle to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as told in his powerful new narrative, An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Purdum’s book is divided into three parts—the first centers on the Kennedy administration, the second part focuses on the House of Representatives, and the final act, on passage in the Senate.
Town Hall
Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
April 02, 2014
Explore Further
Do the Trump Tariffs Violate the Constitution?
Examining the scope of the president’s authority to set tariffs.
The Evolution of the Presidential Pardon From Jefferson to Trump
Brian Kalt of Michigan State College of Law and Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy, explore…
Update: Birthright citizenship cases to be heard at the Supreme Court in May
The Supreme Court will now consolidate three birthright citizenship cases and hear arguments on May 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. A…
Article III and Supreme Court Term Review Featuring Ali Velshi (All Levels)
For our final Fun Friday Session of the 2022-2023 school year, MSNBC’s Ali Velshi returns, joining National Constitution Center…
Donate
Support Programs Like These
Your generous support enables the National Constitution Center to hear the best arguments on all sides of the constitutional issues at the center of American life. As a private, nonprofit organization, we rely on support from corporations, foundations, and individuals.
