Letters of Congratulation

Senator George Aiken's letter to Mike Mansfield, June 23, 1964. Mss 065, Series XVIII, Box 32/3 (Click on the document to read a transcript of the entire text.)

Vermont Senator George Aiken cited Mike Mansfield's leadership and the respect of his colleagues as a key component of the bill's passage. Mansfield ate breakfast with his Republican colleague every morning before heading to work in the Senate.

"...the fact remains that those of us who were in on the Conferences of the Civil Rights legislation know full well that without your leadership and the esteem in which you are held, particularly by Republican Senators, this bill would not have been passed..."

Senator Milton Young's letter to Mike Mansfield, June 26, 1964. Mss 065, Series XVIII, Box 32/3 (Click on the document to read a transcript of the entire text.)

Other respondents issued similar congratulations and acknowledgements of Mansfield's role in the passage of the bill. North Dakota Senator Milton Young wrote:

"I doubt if any other majority leader in the history of the Senate had a more difficult task. The nice thing about it is you retained all your friends, too."