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
Does Article II of the Constitution Grant the President Power to Fire Anyone in the Executive Branch?
Scholars Michael Ramsey and Jed Shugerman debate recent Supreme Court decisions on the president’s removal power
2026 Supreme Court Review: Key Decisions, Executive Power, Civil Discourse
The National Constitution Center and the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law present the…
The Supreme Court in Review: Another Landmark Term
On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court concluded issuing opinions for its October Term 2025. The session was marked by several…
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.