Episode 36: The Wizard of Ooze, Senator Everett Dirksen, the forgotten champion of Civil Rights (Special Edition)

He was known as the Wizard of Ooze, a disheveled, elderly man with a distinctive voice and a great sense of humor and a thoughtful, cautious style.  He was the leader of the Republican Minority in the United States Senate. He often had only 36 members in his caucus. But that was often enough votes to break a filibuster and deliver enough votes to pass major legislation that would not happen with the majority party divided. 

Senator Everett Dirksen was a powerful figure in the country in the 1950's and 1960's. He was a man that John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson both depended on,  especially in the area of civil rights. Everett Dirksen worked with Lyndon Johnson to make sure it happened three times and when the 1965 Civil Rights act was passed, Senator Everett Dirksen, the Republican Leader, got the first pen. 

In this special edition of "Bridging the Political Gap" we honor this extraordinary man who often is forgotten in the story telling of the effort to pass civil rights.  Here we get to know him,  enjoy his Grammy winning version of the Pledge of Allegiance, and his tour through the U.S. Capital with ABC News anchorman Howard K. Smith and  even his guest appearance on "What's My Line?",  

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