civil rights. that s a noble cause, but it s a lost cause. you know what johnson says to them? well, what the hell is the presidency for then? no memorial orration or eulogy could more eloquently honor president kennedy s memory than the earliest passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long. johnson gets that civil rights bill moving in the first few weeks after kennedy s assassination. dixiecrats led by richard russell announced a filibuster. that is they would continue to talk and prevent the bill from coming forward for a straight up our down vote. this bill which we feel is a perversion of the american way of life and a great blow at the right of dominion over private property that has been the genesis of our greatness. lbj and his allies knew they