Transcripts For CSPAN3 Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony 20140703

Awarding the congressional gold medal to dr. Martin luther king, jr. And his wife core letta scott king. This is a little less than an hour. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our honored guest, members of the United States house of representatives, members of the United States senate and the speaker of the United States house of representatives. Ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the United States house of representatives the honorable john boehner. Good afternoon and welcome to the United States capitol. [ applause ] as you can see the dome is under construction. Getting some repairs and theres a technical term for that canopy but the architect said we could refor it refer to it as the doughnut. On july 2nd, 1964 congress completed the most fundamental and consequential ladies and gentlemen legislation of our long history. The Civil Rights Act recognizes every citizen has the right to pursue happiness without discrimination on grounds of race, color, or national origin. This was a Long Time Coming because of dr. Martin luther king, jr. And Coretta Scott king. We have with us many special guests. Were grateful for the presence of president johnsons daughter, Linda Johnson robb along with her husband former senator chuck robb. [ applause ] were also pleased to have with us members of the king family. Let us welcome them all. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of colors by the United States armed forces lower guard and the singing of our National Anthem and the retiring of the colors. O say, can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Ladies and gentlemen please remain standing as the chaplain of the United States house of representatives the Reverend Patrick Conroy gives the invocation. Let us pray. Loving god as Congress Comes together to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, may the hands and hearts of this nation be raised in prayer and praise as we remember also a couple whose lives were intimately involved in those great struggles. The reverend dr. Martin luther king, jr. And Coretta Scott king. Justifiably considered the first family of the Civil Rights Movement. May the breadth of god uphold their noble and heroic story. May it carry to all generations a message to inspire americans, to accept the responsibility of protecting the rights and privileges promised in our founding documents for all citizens, no matter their belonging to a numerical minority in our country. May the sacrifices of Martin Luther and coretta and those of so many who were inspired by them, or who joined them in their struggles for justice echo now and throughout history as a call to us all to be men and women for others, especially for those whose rights are threatened. Ed god, bless america. Grant us peace and equal justice for all both now and into a greater future for our nation. Amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, United States representative from the 11th district of ohio and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus the honorable fudge. [ applause ] good afternoon. Today we commemorate one of the most significant pieces legislation in our history and honor two of the worlds greatest leaders, dr. Martin luther king, jr. And president lyndon b. Johnson exemplify the principles on which our nation was founded. These servant leaders committed their lives to moving America Closer to what it can be. Due to the work of dr. King and president johnson, i am able to stand here today as the third africanamerican and second woman to represent the 11th district of ohio and i greet you on behalf of the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus which im honored to chair. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, did more than help in the discrimination in america. The Civil Rights Act established legal discrimination would no longer be a barrier to what one could achieve, but that achievement should be solely determined by ones ability and ambition. The Civil Rights Act clarified the difference between all men being created equal, and all men receiving equal treatment. The constitution established one as a principle the Civil Rights Act of 64 established the other as a practice. Giving a generation of americans hope that they too could be acknowledged as full citizens of this great nation. As president johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, he stated that americas founders knew freedom would only be secure if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning. With the Civil Rights Act and his other great works, president johnson did his part, and to protect our freedom and with his words, activism and sacrifice dr. King did the same. Today the responsibility lies with every american, especially those of us in this house. The Civil Rights Movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 established equal opportunity and equal protection under the law for every american. And together we must protect it. As dr. King said, the time is always right to do what is right. It is only right that we fulfill the promise of the Civil Rights Act by ensuring every americans right to vote is protected. Let us pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014. [ applause ] now, please join me in reflection as we listen to president johnsons remarks as he signed the Civil Rights Act into law. This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our states, in our homes and in our hearts to eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in our beloved country. So, tonight i urge every public official, every religious leader, every business and professional man, every working man, every housewife, i urge every american to join in this effort to bring justice and hope to all our people and to bring peace to our land. My fellow citizens we have come now to a time of testing. We must not fail. Let us close the springs of racial poison. Let us pray for wise and understanding hearts. Let us lay aside irrelevant differences. And make our nation whole. Let us hasten that day when our unmeasured strength and our unbounded spirit will be free to do the great works ordained for this nation by the just and wise god who is the father of us all. Ladies and gentlemen, United States representative from the 5th district of georgia, the honorable george lewis. [ applause ] we gather here in the capitol to honor dr. Martin luther king, jr. And his beloved wife Coretta Scott king. One of the most distinguished husband and wife teams of the 20th century. Often history remembers speeches or facts and figures, but i cannot forget their love. From their union came an enduring strength that carried many of us through the darkest days of the movement. When they stood together, their bodies became great pillars of hope, the roof of the American House resting on their shoulders. They led a nonviolent revolution, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. Mrs. King had the rare ability to tell the story of the movement through song, through music, to travel the length and breadth of america she built dr. Mar Martin Luther king, jr. Center for change. They taught us the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. They inspired an entire generation to find a way to get in the way, to find a way to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble. Through their action their speeches and their writings, they helped create the climate for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And the Voting Rights act of 1965. And president Lyndon Johnson signed these two pieces of legislation into law. Without the leadership of Lyndon Johnson, we wouldnt be where we are today and there would be no barack obama as president of the United States of america. [ applause ] so, it is fitting and appropriate on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we honor this unbelievable couple, dr. Martin luther king, jr. And his beloved wife mrs. Coretta scott king. They were my friend. My brother. And my sister. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the United States senator from michigan, the honorable carl levin. [ applause ] thank you and good afternoon, everybody. The congressional gold medal resolution that we are implementing today commemorates the ability of an inspired couple, armed only with the righteousness of their cause to help liberate millions from oppressive racism. We also commemorate today the ability of elected officials. Led by president johnson. Armed only with the desire for justice to overcome the divisions of party in order to help overcome the divisions of race. In october 1960, Martin Luther king, jr. Wrote to his beloved coretta from a georgia prison 230 miles from atlanta, a prison to which he had been hauled in irons in the middle of the night. And this is what he said. I have the faith to believe that this excessive suffering thats now coming to our family will in some little way serve to make america a better country. If the reverend and mrs. King could speak to us now, if our predecessors who passed the Civil Rights Act could speak to us now, would they not challenge us to come together across lines of party and geography in a great cause. Would they not encourage us, for example, to pass legislation restoring the protections of the Voting Rights act. [ applause ] or would they not encourage us to pass legislation reversing the policies that leaves thousands of nonviolent young men languishing in prison. [ applause ] we can best celebrate the lives of those we honor and remember today by channelling their inspiration and to taking on the tasks before us. Tasks surely far, far less daunting than the ones that they undertook. That they undertook. Coming together to help lead our nation on its continuing march toward a more Perfect Union is the duty that they have laid before us. And finally, to martin and dexter and bernice. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to your father and mother that can never be repaid. This congressional gold medal is the most that congress has the power to give. Thank you. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the United States army chorus. We shall overcome, we shall overcome we shall overcome someday, deep in my heart i do believe, we shall overcome someday we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace we shall live in peace some y someday, deep in my heart i do believe, we shall overcome someday we shall all be free, we shall all be free we shall all be free someday, deep in my heart i do believe, we shall overcome someday we shall overcome, we shall be free [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the democratic leader of the United States house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi. Thank you all. Thank you, mr. Speaker, for bringing us togethering in the rotunda. And just think of it, were sitting between under the gaze of the reverend Martin Luther king, jr. And abraham lincoln. Theyre looking at each other directly across the rotunda and here we are [ applause ] its an honor to be here with you with senator reid, senator mcconnell and also with senator levin, our dear colleague, jon lewis, the chair of our Congressional Black Caucus. Marcia fudge and with our democratic assistant leader mr. Clyburn. Awfully honored that he is here as well. I want to join my colleagues in thanking the king family for sharing your mother and father with us. We are deeply in your debt. As senator levin said, this is the congressional gold medal and certainly not enough thanks but as a token of our appreciation to martin, to dexter, to bernice and to dr. Kings Sister Christine king ferris. Thank you for being with us today. This day, of course, would not be possibly without your parents and certainly would not be possible at all without president Lyndon Johnson, so thank you, lynn do d. Inda johns and senator robb. Clab cl [ applause ] again, as we gathered n the rotunda under the gaze of president lincoln we recall the gettysburg address when the great emancipator harkened back not to the constitution but to the declaration of independence. Ours was a new nation, he said, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men were created equal. That is the promise of america and in making that promise come true that was the dream of dr. Martin luther king, jr. And Coretta Scott king. A century after the gettysburg address, a century later, dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and called our nation to act on those words to reassert the vision of our founding fathers. A year later, dr. King stood as an honored guest as president johnson signed the civil rights bill into law. 50 years later, here we are, the law stands as a pillar of fairness, justice, and equality and enduring testament to the sole force of dr. King and Coretta Scott king. The Civil Rights Act transformed our country. It made america more american. In 1959, the kings traveled to india, mr. Lewis referenced nonviolence. They traveled to india to study mahatma gandhis principles of nonviolence so they could apply it to the civil rights struggle here at home. Actually, the indians and the kings learned from each other. Its interesting to note that in sanskrit the word for nonviolence that same word that means nonviolence and also insistence on the truth. Insistence on the truth. [ applause ] they knew it would mean sacrifice and struggle for their family and for many across the country. And for the kings that they would insist on the truth at the heart of our nation that all men and women are created equal. Dr. King was not only nonviolent in his actions but nonviolent in his words. That was the source of great strength to him and coretta and to the movement. When the Civil Rights Act was passed, we would never have dreamed some of you werent born, for the rest of us it was our youth right, steny . [ laughter ] we would never dream v dreamed that on this 50th anniversary we would look out on the mall and there would be a monument, a memorial, to the reverend Martin Luther king as a neighbor to the Lincoln Memorial. [ applause ] and referencing what, again, mr. Lewis said, and what would president lincoln think . And what would reverend king think that on that day when that Martin Luther king memorial was dedicated it was dedicated by president barack obama. [ applause ] all of this progress was made possible because of dr. Kings insistence on the truth. And that insistence on the truth stirred the leadership of president kennedy and the legislative virtuosity and leadership of president Lyndon Johnson. And because and, of course, because of the courage of Civil Rights Activists across the country and including this week we mourn james cheney, Michael Swerner and andrew goodman. They and so many others made this possible. At the time, ill acknowledge that the Civil Rights Act was incomplete without the Voting Rights act. President johnson and dr. King would press for the Voting Rights acts passage in the next congress. It was only a matter of months later. And today those twin triumphs of civil rights stand among the greatest legislative accomplishments of our country [ applause ] and so as we bestow the medal on dr. Martin luther king and Coretta Scott king we must insist on the truth. And this truth is to truly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Thank you all [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [ applause ] america, as we know, is the land of promise and opportunity. Its a conviction that unites all of us americans and one we repeat quite often. But for too long in this country that wasnt the case for a large segment of our population. And for nearly a century after the end of the civil war millions of africanamericans continue to be consistently denied the most basic a cancer of intolerance and injustice was allowed to metastasize while many with the power to top it wasnt looking. Or didnt want to. A pastor with a booming voice and a potent message helped change all of that. Pu through the power of his words and the force of his example dr. Martin luther king, jr. Made those who may have wanted to look away focus on what he once called the long night of racial injustice. He inspired a generation of young people to action and he confronted the defenders of segregation head on. Not with violence but reason, argument and an uncavering confidence in the justness of his cause. Dr. King knew that his role was not just to expose or to confront injustice, but to prepare the country to actually do something about it. And by the time the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, the country was ready. Thanks to him and the countless many who took up his cause convinced as he once put it, that civilization and violence are antithetical. Dr. King and his followers may have had to brave jail cells and fire hoses and, in the case of dr. King, paid the ultimate price. But the sacrifice was never in vain change came, because when dr. Martin luther king, jr. Led marches, people noticed. They listen and washington acted. Without the mighty strength of this man convinced of the rightness of his cause, speaking truths for which he and those who loved him paid so dearly the course of our nations history would have been less just. So dr. Martin luther king deserves as much credit as any president or senator for the passage of the landmark legislation we commemorate today. But its also fitting today to recognize those others who worked so hard to make the Civil Rights Act possible. President s kennedy and johnson and many senators whose essential role in this fight is sometimes overlooked. Every time i walk into my office im reminded of the heroic role of one of my predecessors as republican leader Everett Dirkson played in this great effort. [ applause ] and his famous words when the votes were secured for passage stronger than all the armies, he said, referring to victor hugo, is an idea whose time has come. And the time has come for equality of opportunity and sharing and government in education and in employment and it will not be stayed or denied. It is here, he said. [ applause ] near that portrait of dirksen hangs my portrait of a role model of a young man. John Sherman Cooper kentucky. He worked tirelessly to not let the Civil Rights Act be derailed. Those in the segregationist camp tried to hold up the bill but dirksen and other democratic allies, many like Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield finally prevailed. I can watching senator cooper round up the necessary votes. It was a powerful lesson in how determined many and women can use the senate to achieve our founding purpose. At important moments in our his tri senate has served an outsized role in leading us toward the more Perfect Union we desire. I believe the senate can be that place again and that it must if were to stay true to the vision of the man we honor today. And its true that politicians sometimes need leaders like Martin Luther king to help focus their attention first. So we thank you, members of the king family, for giving us this opportunity to thank dr. King and you for that work and that legacy and for the idea that inspired him which we all renew today. May we all continue to draw inspiration from the vision and the memory of this great man. And from the leaders who helped to translate that vision into law. Thank you. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the majority leader of the United States senate, the honorable harry reid. [ applause ] today, of course, we gather to celebrate the 509 anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For people in this historic building, there are people who fought to overcome in obstacles in passing this historic legislation. As weve learned, certainly it was a team effort. Speakers to previous my speaking today have indicated that, and that certainly is the case. In the senate, majority leader Mike Mansfield and his floor manager Hubert Humphrey crossed party lines with republican leader Everett Dirksen and republican whip thomas to overcome every attempt to repeal this bill. And house of representatives, democrat emmanuel seller and republican Charles Hall Lech proved that equality need not be a partisan issue. They rallied their parties to support the Civil Rights Act. And the legislation has support for the white house. It was first championed by john kennedy and pushed across the finish line by president Lyndon Johnson. Linda, i think it would be appropriate for you to stand and be recognized as Lyndon Johnsons daughter. [ applause ] so we all thank those named and unnamed to helped craft and pass the Civil Rights Act. It was difficult, as i said before, it was a team effort. They refused to let inequality continue to n our great nation. But the battle against racism in america wasnt only waged here in washington, d. C. The battle for civil rights was fought on bus rides through south carolina, mississippi, and even on the Edmund Pettus bridge in selma, alabama. One of those who fought for equality weve already heard from congressman john lewis. While still a teenager he worked alongside dr. Martin luther king, jr. He soon became one of the principal leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. When i they jon lewis and others fought for equality, lets look at specifically jon louis. Hoz body bears the scars of the vicious attacks perpetrated by racists. He was beaten for entering a whites only waiting room. His bus was firebombed by the ku klux klan and later on this same trip he was beaten by an angry mob, his head smashed with a wooden crate and those were just a handful of examples of the struggle that people went through. But three years ago i stood next to john lewis as we reenacted through him the selma march. She shared with us what happened on that bridge that day and told us that what happened on that day, with the Police Beating him and others, he, of course, that day suffered a fractured skull and nearly died. But even in the face of such violence, john lewis never wavered from dr. Kings revolution of nonviolence. And he never stopped fighting for freedom and he still hasnt stopped. [ applause ] he coordinated the mississippi freedom summit, a campaign to register black voters in the state of mississippi. He rallied young men and women, predominately college students, to mississippi. Those volunteers were arrested, beaten and murdered, some of them were but still the movement did not stop, it kept moving. I was here in washington, d. C. Working and going to school when dr. King delivered his i have a dream speech. I, along with the rest of america, was moved by his words and are still moved every time we hear that speech again and watch it again. But just a year later after he gave that speech i was back in nevada in my home. I was in a Las Vegas Convention center where dr. King spoke. Ill never forget how he urged that relatively small crowd there that evening, people of all backgrounds, to learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools. And, of course, i am none of us ever will forget how dr. King gave his life for the cause of equality. So for those who fought for equality, for civil rights, congressman lewis, dr. King and countless others, the scars borne and the lives sacrificed and the price paid for freedom and equality, its because of their sacrifice that we today, we honor, we commemorate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the honorable john boehner. [ applause ] in the fanfare of history, its easy to overlook the small moments that make big things possible. So lets go back to july 2, 1963 and to somewhere far from these halls. Lets go to pickwell, ohio. Never been. Small pleasant town in west central ohio, in my congressional district. Its not far from dayton where the Wright Brothers got their start. Flying into dayton that day was a man named burke marshall. The assistant attorney general of the United States. He was picked up by the soninlaw of the congressman that he needed to see, william mccullough, the Top Republican on the house judiciary committee. Now, mccullough was a farm kid who went to a oneroom schoolhouse but he was also a world war ii vet with a law degree from ohio state. The white house would try to rush him into something and hed say hold on, hold on, im just a country guy whos got to muddle along a little. But without him president kennedy had said, the bill cant be done. So marshalls there on this urgent business, hes expected to meet mccullough straight away. Unfortunately, the soninlaw says the congressman is busy speaking to the pickler botarians. So they go for a long lunch and take a scenic tour of the miami valley. They get into town, mccullough is still with the rotarians. Well, the meeting finally started and he looks at the assistant attorney general and says im going to tell you two things ill support this bill as long as the senate you commit that the senate not weaken this bill. I kind of like the sound of that myself. [ laughter ] and, two, that the credit for moving this bill is shared between both parties. I like that sound of that as well. [ applause ] and so the deal was struck. And a year later when the final vote neared, the house paused for a standing ovation for William Moore mccullough. You know, there is no indispensable man, but there is a common man, the one who makes no distinction between the assistant attorney general and the local rotarian. He doesnt use his status for personal gain, he uses it to serve others. For him, the biggest thing is the right thing. It isnt a household name and it doesnt have to be. You can find him right there not in the fanfare but in the fabric of history. My slope that this Gold Medal Ceremony today serves to honor dr. King and all who set out to answer what he called the most urgent question. What what are you doing for others . [ applause [ applause ] [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, founding director of the National Smithsonian museum of africanamerican history and culture, mr. Lonnie g. Bunch, iii. [ applause ] good afternoon. The National Museum of africanamerican history and culture on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution is humbled and honored to help preserve the legacy of Martin Luther king, jr. , and Coretta Scott king by accepting into our care the congressional gold medal. There is little that i can add to the welldeserved accolades that have already been spoken except maybe to offer my thanks on behalf of those of us who were too young to participate actively in the Civil Rights Movement but who were the beneficiaries of the leadership and the courage of dr. And mrs. King. As a result of their marches in selma and birmingham and chicago, generations of africanamerican have had the opportunity to march but march in their university graduations. [ applause ] clap as a result of their sacrifices and their commitment to and fairer america, many of just experienced possibilities once unimagined. Thanks to dr. And mrs. King, our lives and our opportunities were transformed and america was made better. There really is nothing more powerful than a people, than a nation that is steeped in its history and there are few things as noble as honoring all of our ancestors by remembering. With the acquisition of this medal, the smithsonian will ensure that as long as theres an america, the courage, the impact, and the legacy of Martin Luther king, jr. And Coretta Scott king will be honored, preserved and remembered. Thank you very much [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please stand as the chaplain of the United States senate dr. Barry black gives the benediction. Let us pray. Gracious god, you created us to live in harmony. Thank you for this opportunity to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and to posthumously award the congressional gold medal to two drum majors for justice and freedom, dr. Martin luther king, jr. , and Coretta Scott king. Empower us to work as did martin and coretta to build a beloved community where the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind will become a reality. In the spirit of martin and coretta, stir us to resist oppression with transformative love. In the spirit of martin and coretta, inspire us to continue our commitment to nonviolence, direct action in the spirit of martin and coretta make us your active disciples who join you in your work of bringing deliverance to captives. Restore us to our best selves with new strength and a hopeful faith hastening the day when all of your children can join hands and sing in the words of the negro spiritual free at last, free at last, thank god all mighty were free at last. We pray in your sovereign name. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain at your seats for the departure of the official party and until your row is invited to depart by a Visitor Services representative. Thank you. Up next, Senate Historian don richie discusses the congressional debate and passage of the 1964 civil Civil Rights Act with former cbs correspondent roger mudd and former haroldtribune reporter andy glass. This is an hour. This session will be with two very distinguished guests today, two veteran reporters who covered the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Just by way of introduction, were in one of the most historic rooms in the capitol complex, the Senate Caucus room, now known as the kennedy caucus room is the room where the mccarthy hearings were held, the watergate hearings were held, this is the room where john f. Kennedy announced his candidacy for president. Its room where a lot of nominees have been grilled by committees. Thereby have been a lot of inquisition, but today were not doing an inquisition, were doing a conversation and were very pleased to have andy glass and roger mudd as our guests today. Andy glass was born in warsaw, poland, and arrived in the United States during world war ii. He became a citizen in 1948. Hes a graduate ofth