Albert Gore, Sr.
Albert Arnold “Al” Gore, Sr. (December 26, 1907 – December 5, 1998) was a Democratic Party politician and segregationist who served as a United States Representative and United States Senator from Tennessee. He was the father of former Vice President and 2000 Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore. Gore voted against major civil rights legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
1964 Civil Rights Act
As he was facing re-election in 1964, Gore joined fellow segregationists in his party in opposing the Civil Rights Act of 1964[1] despite having previously voted for civil rights legislation,[2][3] having further attempted to weaken the bill down with the Gore Amendment.[4] Such was defeated in the Senate by a very wide margin, only receiving support from other racist Southerners such as J. William Fulbright. Gore had also resisted calls to end the filibuster on the major legislation.[5]
His political motive in voting against the bill became clear a year later; after being re-elected in 1964, Gore voted in favor of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.[6]
References
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