May 8, 1964 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Everett Dirksen (left), the Republican leader, were confident today of reaching agreement on the public accommodations section of the civil rights bill.
After a meeting this morning, the Attorney General told reporters: “We’re making good progress.”
Dirksen said: “We have to an understanding on a few basics of Title II.”
Title II is the section of the bill prohibiting discrimination, or segregation, in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, sports arenas, and gasoline stations. With the possible exception of Title VII, dealing with job discrimination, it is the most controversial section in the omnibus bill.
Today, Dirksen revealed his proposals to modify Title II, and most of the bill’s sponsors were pleasantly surprised with what he proposed.
Dirksen’s principal change would be to deny the Attorney General the power proposed under the bill to initiate court suits to compel desegregation of places of public accommodation.
However, Dirksen took a conciliatory position on this by agreeing to consider giving the Attorney General broader authority to cope with massive resistance toa ban on racial discrimination in public facilities.
After today’s meeting, the Attorney General said the task now is to work out language to accomplish Dirksen’s objectives “without affecting what everyone wants to accomplish with Title II.”
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