Its also doubtful JFK could have got his own civil rights agenda passed in his second term.
The assassination helped LBJ get them through.
Yes, this is true. It certainly would have been a tougher road to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voters Rights Act of 1965 passed any time in the 1960’s if President Kennedy was not assassinated.
Just as the assassination of the Pro Civil Rights President Lincoln allowed the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments so the assassination of the Pro Civil Rights President Kennedy (he became so in his last few months) allowed the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
I remember, as a child, hearing that it was impossible for anything like the Civil Rights Act to ever pass. If one determined Southern Senator filibustered against it, there was nothing even a super majority of Senators could do. Well, it turned out, that was false. A super majority could overcome one or even several filibustering Senators, under the rules of the Senate, if they were determined enough. Up until 1964, the majority were only pretending to try but didn’t really want it to pass.