Headlines from History: The Life and Legacy of Everett McKinley Dirksen

Cantigny Park continues its Headlines from History series with “The Life and Legacy of Everett McKinley Dirksen,” a presentation by Tiffany White, executive director of the Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin, Illinois, hometown of the late senator. Everett Dirksen (1896-1969) rose from a humble upbringing in Central Illinois to becoming one of the most influential members of Congress in the mid-20th century. His life is a testimony to the power and promise of the “American Dream.” Among his many achievements, Senator Dirksen played a key role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. TIME magazine featured him on its June 1964 under the banner, “The Civil Rights Bill: Product of Principle and Compromise.” A Republican, Dirksen was Senate Minority Leader from 1959 until his passing. The Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington is named after him.