July 2, 1964…President Johnson Signs Civil Rights Act Legislation

On July 2, 2014 - TV History

July 2, 1964…President Johnson Signs Civil Rights Act Legislation

Fifty years ago today, this beautiful photo was taken in The East Room of The White House as President Johnson addressed the nation, just before signing The Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.

For those of us who are old enough to remember these times, it’s interesting to recall the many famous faces in the front rows. If you take a look at the video clip (below) of this, it appears that there are three pool cameras from CBS covering the event. That center camera is shooting through a very early through the lens teleprompter. I think the blue part is actually the paper roll script with a double mirror reflector box on top of it. Enjoy and share!

Source

7 Comments

  1. Franklin Templeton Brown III July 2, 2014

    Amen brother !

  2. Martin Gould July 2, 2014

    Ironic how few black faces are seen in this picture.

  3. John Holt July 2, 2014

    I see two RCA BK1A dynamic microphones. I’m told that 25 were made with dual elements in case one failed for the White House. They were slightly larger and it’s hard to tell if these are them. I doubt it as they are using two. By the time LBJ left office they had switched to a pair of Shure 57s mounted one above the other and that model is still in use today. I understand that the White House has over 100 of the 57s.

  4. Gary Walters July 2, 2014

    LBJ kept the fountain pen industry going through the 60’s. Multiple pens were used at each ceremony.

  5. Scott Richardson July 2, 2014

    Barry Goldwater front row 2nd from right? M.L.K.second row 3rd on the right?

  6. Brett Gripe July 2, 2014

    I think I see Elvis, john Lennon, Farrah fawcett, captain kangaroo, Gilligan, and Humphrey bogart…??

  7. Chris Clementson July 2, 2014

    I see Lady Bird Johnson, Bobby Kennedy, Everett Dirksen(?), Hubert Humphrey … ???