President Johnson signs 1964 Civil Rights Bill

At the White House, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Bill in July 1964 after a short speech to the nation.

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  News & Politics

[Celtic Chrys]

With the many videos I've seen from this time over the years, I've never seen this one, and it's lovely to see that Dr. King did get to see this historic moment, and at least see the promise that his dream was possible. Thanks for posting this.

[shysterlicious]

This video is something extraordinary. Not only in watching Pres. Johnson signing such a revolutionizing piece of legislation, but also in witnessing a snippet of what the legislative process looked like back then. The process might still be very similar today, but here you have the ACTUAL historic images of some of the people you read about in text books doing what they did when they were alive.

[ImperatorZor]

History is not the clash of black hatted villains and white hatted heroes. Those who do good deeds may do a few ill ones on the side and vice versa. The vietnam war was not a good thing, but President Johnson has my respect over civil rights.

[Roland Hernandez]

Fricking LOVE LBJ.

[Brian Burns]

The Vietnam debacle and shady backroom dealing to get votes ruined his legacy and the great amount of good he had done.

[1docaziz]

this is so cool

[Paul Berry]

My mother walked with King, my Father & Uncles were in Vietnam, my Great Granmother HAD to work for Police Chief Commissioner "Bull Connor" of Birmingham. HOWEVER, I can agree with you about the Vietnam war big time...but that event which in my opinion is parallel to Iraq/Afghanistan. I still would say President Johnson had a great Presidency. President LBJ did an outstanding job of getting Social Change. It wasn't the Social Programs that bankrupt us it was the WAR

[b1i2l336]

Yes, I know most historians hold his presidency in high esteem, but the VietNam debacle was most definitely a catastrophe, and I would add the fact that all those government programs plus that war nearly bankrupted and severely divided the nation. I lived during those times, and they were terrible: innocent kids being beaten and killed, college campuses shut down, etc.

[Paul Berry]

Actually, his Presidency is not considered a catastrophe..but we can view his Presidency as Forward Moving for the US Society. His Presidency helped many people of color and the elderly.

[Paul Berry]

THATS GREAT...because we live in the United States...and I'm from Alabama

[queensny2009]

Had johnson seeked relection in 1969, he would have become the 2nd longest president in u.s. history (close to 10 years) next to fdr.

[DoubleTalkingJive]

LBJ was only 55 years old in this video, but he looks at least two decades older.