Everett Dirksen
 Everett Dirksen      (politician) | |
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| Born | Everett McKinley Dirksen 1896-01-04 Pekin, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 1969-09-07 (Age 73) Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota Law School |
| Religion | Christian Reformed |
| Spouse | Louella Carver Dirksen |
| Party | Republican |
Everett McKinley Dirksen 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.
Dirksen was a staunch supporter of US policy on Vietnam in the 1960s. He spoke out in favor of military intervention in South Vietnam even before President Johnson decided to do so in order to prevent a Communist takeover there. When Johnson continued the engagement that had already begun under Kennedy, which culminated in the Vietnam War, Dirksen was one of the strongest supporters of this decision, even though the president was not a member of his party.
As Senate Minority Leader from 1959 to 1969, he also 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. 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".
Career
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.
Dirksen was a Freemason and was a member of Pekin Lodge No. 29 in Pekin. In 1954, he was Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He was honored with the 33rd degree in 1954.
