LBJ's Voting Rights Speech
Signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964credit: O.J. Rapp
March 15, 1965, [Download video file...]
On March 15, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed a joint session of Congress to urge the passage of new voting rights legislation by telling them...
“Our mission is at once the oldest and the most basic of this country: to right wrong, to do justice, to serve man.”
President Johnson, surprised the nation near the close of his speech when he invoked the famous civil rights anthem and declared "we shall overcome." He was greeted by stunned silence, followed by thunderous applause and tears.