“Victor Hugo wrote in his diary substantially this sentiment:”
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Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician. A Republican, he represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. As Senate Minority Leader from 1959 until his death in 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…
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business · American politician (1896–1969) · politician · entrepreneur · commissioner · lawyer · also Everett Dirksen, Everett M. Dirksen, Everett McKinley Dirksen, Dirksen
Born 4 January 1896 · Died 7 September 1969 · Q1382002
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2026· 1 entry
2023· 1 entry
BroadwayWorld: Darrell Hammond Will Portray Sen. Everett Dirksen in Industry Workshop of New Play
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1979· 1 entry
Dirksen's widow, Louella, died of cancer on July 16, 1979.
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1972· 2 entries
One of the Senate's buildings was renamed the Dirksen Senate Office Building in his honor
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His hometown of Pekin started holding an annual Marigold Festival in his memory
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1969· 6 entries
Died 1969-09-07.
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When she was 75 years 4 months old; then, more than 54 years after that, to Brenda Lee with her recording of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" from 1958 topping the Hot 100 on 9 (and 16) December 2023 when she was 78 y
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“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.”
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Played a highly visible and key role in the politics of the 1960s
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Career landmark: United States senator (1969–1969).
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“When I face an issue of great import that cleaves both constituents and colleagues, I always take the same approach. I engage in deep deliberation and quiet contemplation. I wait to the last available minute and then I always vote with the losers. Because, my friend, the winners never remember and the losers never forget.”
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1968· 1 entry
Dirksen was re-elected to his fourth and final term over Democrat William G
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1967· 2 entries
Dirksen became the oldest person to reach the Hot 100's top 40, at 71 years, 3 days old, when the single reached No
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Career landmark: United States senator (1967–1969).
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1966· 1 entry
Dirksen introduced a constitutional amendment to permit public school administrators providing for organized prayer by students; the introduction was in response to Engel v
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1965· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1965–1967).
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1964· 1 entry
Amid a 54-day filibuster by Southern senators of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Dirksen, Republican Thomas Kuchel and Democrats Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield introduced a compromise amendment
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1963· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1963–1965).
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1962· 1 entry
Dirksen was re-elected to a third term over Democrat Sidney R
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1961· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1961–1963).
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1959· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States senator (1959–1961).
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Was elected Senate Minority Leader, defeating John Sherman Cooper, a more liberal senator from Kentucky, 20–14
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1957· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1957–1959).
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1956· 1 entry
Dirksen was re-elected over Democrat Richard Stengel, 54
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1955· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1955–1957).
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1954· 1 entry
Was grand orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois
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1953· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1953–1955).
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1952· 1 entry
Dirksen supported the presidential candidacy of fellow Senator Robert A
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1951· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1951–1953).
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1950· 2 entries
Unseating Senate Majority Leader Scott W
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Dirksen unseated Senate Majority Leader Scott W
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1948· 1 entry
Declined to run for re-election because of his ailment
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1947· 1 entry
Dirksen was diagnosed with chorioretinitis in his right eye
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1933· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1933–1949).
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1932· 1 entry
Challenged Hull again, and won with 52
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1930· 1 entry
Dirksen unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Representative William E
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1926· 1 entry
When he was elected to the nonpartisan Pekin City Council
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1918· 1 entry
And attended artillery school and officer training at Saumur
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1917· 1 entry
His twenty-first birthday, Dirksen joined the United States Army
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1896· 2 entries
In Pekin, Illinois, a small city near Peoria
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Born 1896-01-04.
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