Opinion of Estes Kefauver

[MATTROSE94]

Massive FF and one of my favorite Senators of the Post-War era. Estes Kefauver was one of the few Southern Senators who was generally a supporter of civil rights. Kefauver supported the 1957 and 1960 Civil Rights Act, supported repealing the poll tax as early as 1942, and condemned the "Southern Manifesto," a 1956 Congressional document signed by a majority of Southern politicians of both political parties in opposition to racial integration of public places. Had he lived another two years or so, Kefauver would have possibly voted in favor of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act. Additionally, Kefauver was a strong opponent of McCarthyism, and a passionate advocate for consumer protection laws, antitrust legislation, labor unions, and other progressive legislation.