89th United States Congress

89th United States Congress
Public domain · source
Congress	89th
Session year	1965
Session start	January 3, 1965
Session end	January 3, 1967
House seats	435
Senate seats	100
House majORITY	Democratic Party
Senate majORITY	Democratic Party

89th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1967, during the term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Democratic Party controlled both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate during this congress, with majorities led by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John William McCormack and President pro tempore of the United States Senate Carl Hayden. This congress saw significant legislation, including the Great Society programs, the Civil Rights Act of 1965, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which were championed by Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other prominent figures of the American Civil Rights Movement, such as Thurgood Marshall and Fannie Lou Hamer.

● Major Events

The 89th Congress was marked by significant events, including the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and increased United States involvement in the Vietnam War, with Robert McNamara and William Westmoreland playing key roles. The congress also saw the passage of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and supported by Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield. Additionally, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was passed, which abolished the National Origins Formula and was championed by Ted Kennedy and Emmanuel Celler. The Space Race continued during this period, with the Soviet Union launching the Voskhod 2 mission, while the United States launched the Gemini 4 mission, with Ed White becoming the first American to walk in space, and NASA playing a crucial role in the Apollo program.

● Party Summary

The Democratic Party maintained control of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate during the 89th Congress, with a significant majority in the House and a slim majority in the Senate. The Republican Party was the minority party in both chambers, with leaders such as Gerald Ford and Everett Dirksen playing key roles. The Liberal Party of New York and the Conservative Party of New York State also had representation in the congress, with Jacob Javits and Kenneth Keating being notable members. Other notable members included George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy, and Charles Goodell, who were all involved in the Democratic Party.

● Major Legislation

The 89th Congress passed significant legislation, including the Social Security Act of 1965, which established Medicare and Medicaid, and was supported by Wilbur Mills and John Byrnes. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was also passed, which provided federal funding for public education and was championed by Frank Thompson and Carl Perkins. The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 was passed, which established the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and was supported by Robert Weaver and Walter Mondale. Other notable legislation included the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, which established the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and was championed by Jacob Javits and Clifford Case.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 89th Congress included John William McCormack as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, with Carl Albert as the House Majority Leader and Hale Boggs as the House Majority Whip. In the United States Senate, Mike Mansfield served as the Senate Majority Leader, with Hubert Humphrey as the Senate Majority Whip. The Republican Party leadership included Gerald Ford as the House Minority Leader and Everett Dirksen as the Senate Minority Leader, with Leslie Arends and Thomas Kuchel playing key roles. Other notable leaders included Richard Russell Jr. and Averell Harriman, who were both involved in the Democratic Party.

● Membership

The 89th Congress had a total of 435 members in the United States House of Representatives and 100 members in the United States Senate. Notable members included Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Shirley Chisholm, and Patsy Mink, who were all involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Other notable members included Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, and George Romney, who were all involved in the Republican Party. The Democratic Party also had notable members, including Henry Jackson, Warren Magnuson, and John Pastore, who all played key roles in the congress.

● Elections

The 1964 United States presidential election saw the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey, with the Democratic Party maintaining control of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The Republican Party nominated Barry Goldwater and William Miller for president and vice president, respectively. The 1966 United States Senate elections and the 1966 United States House of Representatives elections saw the Democratic Party maintain control of both chambers, with notable candidates including Robert Kennedy, Jacob Javits, and Charles Goodell. Other notable elections included the California gubernatorial election, 1966, which saw the election of Ronald Reagan as Governor of California, and the New York gubernatorial election, 1966, which saw the election of Nelson Rockefeller as Governor of New York.