Dirksen, Everett McKinley, 1896-1969

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Everett McKinley Dirksen (January 4, 1896 – September 7, 1969) was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. As Senate Minority Leader from 1959 to 1969, he played a highly visible and key role in the politics of the 1960s. He helped write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, both landmark pieces of legislation during the Civil Rights Movement. He was also one of the Senate's strongest supporters of the Vietnam War. A talented orator with a florid style and a notably rich baritone voice, his flamboyant speeches caused his detractors to refer to him as "The Wizard of Ooze".

Born in Pekin, Illinois, Dirksen served as an artillery officer during World War I and opened a bakery after the war. After serving on the Pekin City Council, he won election to the House of Representatives in 1932. In the House, he was considered a moderate and supported much of the New Deal; he became more conservative and isolationist over time, but reversed himself to support US involvement in World War II. He won election to the Senate in 1950, unseating Senate Majority Leader Scott W. Lucas. In the Senate, he favored conservative economic policies and supported the internationalism of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dirksen succeeded William F. Knowland as Senate Minority Leader after the latter declined to seek re-election in 1958.

As the Senate Minority Leader, Dirksen emerged as a prominent national figure of the Republican Party during the 1960s. He developed a good working relationship with Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield and supported President Lyndon B. Johnson's handling of the Vietnam War. He helped break the Southern filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While still serving as Senate Minority Leader, Dirksen died in 1969.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lemble, George Francis, 1924-1974. George Francis Lemble papers, 1958-1968. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, August 6, 1965 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Greenewalt, Crawford H., 1902-1993. Personal papers, 1948-1992. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Adkerson, J. Carson (Joseph Carson), 1892-. Papers of J. Carson Adkerson [manuscript], 1913-1981. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Bush, Prescott Sheldon, 1895-1972. Your Senator's report, 1960-1967. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. Papers, 1900-1973 (bulk 1952-1972). Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Records, 1947-1963, 1947-1958 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. White House Telephone Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, WH Series, Mike Mansfield, 1:25P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Gaines, Irene M. (Irene McCoy), 1896-1964. Papers of Irene M. and Harris B. Gaines, 1913-1970. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Johnson, Magnus, 1871-1936. Magnus Johnson papers, 1923-1941. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Dirksen, Everett McKinley, 1896-1969. [Letter] 1944 June 9, Washington, D.C. [to] O. Frederick Nolde, New York, N.Y. / Everett M. Dirksen. Presbyterian Historical Society, PHS
referencedIn Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Wiley, Alexander, 1884-1967. Papers, 1913-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Owen J. Cleary Papers, 1944-1959 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Stone, Walker, 1904-1973. Papers, 1918-1969. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Ciceu, John V. John V. Ciceu papers, 1962-1965. Nevada State Historical Society
referencedIn Earl Browder Papers, 1879-1990 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Everett McKinley Dirksen Collection Dirksen Congressional Center
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Everett Dirksen, 5:10P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Donald Rumsfeld Papers, 1888-2008, (bulk 1963-2007) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn John Foster Dulles oral history collection, 1964-1967 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections.Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Public Policy Papers.
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn American Committee on Italian Migration. Chicago Chapter (Ill.). Records, 1954-1967. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Shapiro, Samuel H. (Samuel Harvey), 1907-1987. Papers, 1947-1969. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, November 22, 1963 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Cleary, Owen J., 1900-1960. Owen J. Cleary papers, 1944-1959. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Maj Leroy G. Cooper receives award and addresses Congress, Washington, DC National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Morton, Rogers C. B. (Rogers Clark Ballard), 1914-1979. Rogers Morton Papers, 1939-1976, 1960-1976 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Martin, John Butlin, 1909-. John Butlin Martin papers, 1948-1965. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Peterson, Elly, 1914-. Elly Peterson papers, 1943-1997. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Peterson, Elly, 1914-. Elly Peterson papers, 1943-1985. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Alschuler, Samuel, 1859-1939. Papers, 1883-1940 (bulk 1890-1939). Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series I-II, 1833-1975 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. J. Arthur Younger papers, 1951-1968. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Arthur E. Scott photograph collection George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn John Butlin Martin papers, 1948-1965 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Horn, Stephen, 1931- . Senatorial log, 1964. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. Papers, 1854-1961 (inclusive), 1881-1961 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Selective Service System (World War I). 1917 - 1939. Draft Registration Cards. 1917 - 1918. World War I Draft Registration Card for Everett M. Dirksen National Archives at Atlanta
referencedIn Clark, William George, 1924-2001. William G. Clark papers, 1950-1976. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn V. K. Wellington Koo papers, 1906-1992, bulk 1931-1966 Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Correspondence Files for United States Senators, 1950 - 1967 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Papers, 1854, 1881-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Elly Peterson papers, 1943-2006, 1961-1980 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn White House Central Files Name Files, 8/1974 - 1/1977 Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn New Jersey Committee for Fair Representation. Files of the New Jersey Committee for Fair Representation, 1963-1965. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Peirson M. Hall papaers, 1908-1979 The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Everett Dirksen, 11:40A Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Crane, Jasper, 1881-1969. Papers, 1893-1970, (bulk 1926-1969). Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers. 1948 - 1973. Press Releases Subject Files. 1965 - 1973. Ford Press Releases - Miscellaneous, 1969-1973 Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Pilch, Alex, 1913-. Papers, 1967-1972. Wayne State University
referencedIn Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Congressional Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Records of the Army Staff. 1903 - 2009. Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel, Defense Department and Other Government Officials, Royalty, and Heads of State. 1964-1974. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Publicity photographs of U.S. Senator Hugh Scott, 1958-1973. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Pre-Presidential Papers of Richard M. Nixon. 1946 - 1963. General Correspondence Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn George Francis Lemble papers, 1958-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Everett Dirksen, 1:50P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Ryerson Family. Papers, 1803-1971 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Ludlow mss., 1898-1948 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Harold Phelps Stokes papers, 1908-1969 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn O'Connor, Len. Len O'Connor papers, 1950-1969, 1983. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Meek, Joseph T. (Joseph Thomas), 1904-1976. Joseph T. Meek papers, 1947-1971. Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Dirksen, Everett McKinley. Letter to Cyril Clemens. Washington, DC. 1965 Aug. 24. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Jean, Charles A., 1886-1971. Charles A. Jean papers, 1927-1970 (bulk 1959-1960). Southern Illinois University, Morris Library
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Everett Dirksen, 1:35P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn William H. Taylor Case Files, 1938-1957 Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Smith, George Howard Edward, 1898-1962. George Howard Edward Smith papers, 1917-1962 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, March 14, 1965 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. ARRIVAL OF SEN. EVERETT DIRKSEN, (R-ILL), K-14 AND 8TH ARMY HEADQUARTERS, KOREA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smith, Ralph T. (Ralph Tyler), 1915-1972. Papers, 1969-1971. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, November 4, 1964 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Richard Hodgins, Sr. Cartoons., circa 1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 20, 1965 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Dirksen, Everett McKinley. Everett McKinley Dirksen : commercials, 1968. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Smith, George H. E. (George Howard Edward), 1898-1962. George Howard Edward Smith papers, 1917-1962 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Page, Archer Anderson, 1887-1974. Scrapbooks, 1908-1978. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Minow, Newton N., 1926-. Papers, 1954-1965. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Robert A. Taft Papers, 1885-1980, (bulk 1938-1953) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Harris, Fred R., 1930-. Papers, 1963-1976. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Ogden Rogers Reid papers, 1925-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Congress of Racial Equality. Chicago Chapter. Congress of Racial Equality, Chicago Chapter records, 1956-1966. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Robert Taft, Jr. Papers, 1897-1993, (bulk 1963-1976) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Office Files Relating to Congressional Relations, 1947 - 1959 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. Louis Carlisle Walker papers, 1881-1963. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Ryerson family. Papers, 1803-1971 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Wilber M. Brucker Papers, 1877-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Kotz, Nick. Papers, 1935-2004. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, June 25, 1967 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Everett Dirksen, 12:15P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Congressional Correspondence, 1951 - 1954 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Tieken, Robert, 1903-1973. Tieken family papers, ca. 1930-1972. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Roger Mudd Papers Washington & Lee University, James G. Leyburn Library
referencedIn Solon J. Buck Papers, 1778-1962, (bulk 1934-1957) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Gingiss, Benjamin J., 1911-1999. Benjamin Gingiss papers, 1905, 1925-1987 (bulk 1965-1985). Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Lyle, Guy Redvers, 1907-1994. Autograph collection, 1949-1978. Francis Marion University, James A Rogers Library, James A. Rogers Library
referencedIn George Howard Edward Smith papers, 1917-1962 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn American Committee on Italian Migration, Chicago Chapter (Ill.) Records, 1954-1967 University of Minnesota Libraries. Immigration History Research Center [ihrc]
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR COOPER'S MA-9 FLIGHT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Republican Party (Wis.). Republican Party of Wisconsin records, 1900-1988. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith Adkerson, J. Carson (Joseph Carson), 1892- person
associatedWith Alschuler, Samuel, 1859-1939. person
associatedWith American Committee on Italian Migration. Chicago Chapter (Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith American League for an Undivided Ireland. corporateBody
associatedWith Arthur E. Scott, 1917-1976 person
parent-in-law of Baker, Howard H., Jr. (Howard Henry), 1925- person
associatedWith Browder, Earl, 1891-1973 person
associatedWith Brucker, Wilber Marion, 1894-1968 person
associatedWith Buck, Solon J. (Solon Justus), 1884-1962 person
correspondedWith Ciceu, John V. person
associatedWith Clark, William George, 1924-2001. person
associatedWith Cleary, Owen J., 1900-1960. person
associatedWith Clemens, Cyril, 1902-1999, person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Congress of Racial Equality. Chicago Chapter. corporateBody
associatedWith Crane, Jasper, 1881-1969. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith EDITH NOURSE ROGERS, 1881-1960 person
associatedWith Emma (Guffey) Miller, 1874-1970 person
correspondedWith Gaines, Irene M. (Irene McCoy), 1896-1964. person
associatedWith Gingiss, Benjamin J., 1911-1999. person
associatedWith Greenewalt, Crawford H., 1902-1993. person
associatedWith Hall, Peirson M. (Peirson Mitchell), 1894-1979 person
associatedWith Harris, Fred R., 1930- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Hodgins, Richard, Sr. person
associatedWith Horn, Stephen, 1931- . person
correspondedWith Jean, Charles A., 1886-1971. person
associatedWith Johnson, Magnus, 1871-1936. person
associatedWith Koo, V. K. Wellington, 1888-1985. person
associatedWith Kotz, Nick. person
associatedWith Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. person
associatedWith Lemble, George Francis, 1924-1974. person
associatedWith Ludlow, Louis, 1873-1950 person
associatedWith Lyle, Guy Redvers, 1907-1994. person
associatedWith Martin, John Butlin, 1909- person
correspondedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Meek, Joseph T. (Joseph Thomas), 1904-1976. person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. person
associatedWith Minow, Newton N., 1926-. person
associatedWith Morton, Rogers C. B. (Rogers Clark Ballard), 1914-1979. person
associatedWith Mudd, Roger, 1928- person
associatedWith New Jersey Committee for Fair Representation. corporateBody
associatedWith O'Connor, Len. person
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988. person
associatedWith Page, Archer Anderson, 1887-1974. person
associatedWith Peterson, Elly, 1914- person
correspondedWith Pilch, Alex, 1913- person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Reid, Ogden R. (Ogden Rogers), 1925- person
associatedWith Republican Party (Wis.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. person
correspondedWith Rumsfeld, Donald, 1932- person
associatedWith Ryerson family. family
associatedWith Ryerson, Joseph Turner, 1813-1839 person
associatedWith Scott, Arthur E., 1917-1976. person
associatedWith Scott, Byron. person
associatedWith Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Shapiro, Samuel H. (Samuel Harvey), 1907-1987. person
associatedWith Smith, George H. E. (George Howard Edward), 1898-1962. person
associatedWith Smith, Ralph T. (Ralph Tyler), 1915-1972. person
associatedWith Stokes, Harold Phelps, 1887-1970. person
associatedWith Stone, Walker, 1904-1973. person
correspondedWith Taft, Robert, 1917-1993. person
associatedWith Taft, Robert A. (Robert Alphonso), 1889-1953. person
associatedWith Tieken, Robert, 1903-1973. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Minnesota. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. person
associatedWith Walker, L. C. (Louis Carlisle), 1875-1963. person
associatedWith Wiley, Alexander, 1884-1967. person
associatedWith Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
District of Columbia DC US
Pekin (Illinois) IL US
Subject
Advertising, political
Television advertising
Occupation
City Councilman
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1896-01-04

Death 1969-09-07

Male

Americans

English,

German

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