<P> The goal of the 1957 Civil Rights Act was to ensure that all Americans could exercise their right to vote . By 1957, only about 20% of blacks were registered to vote . Despite being the majority in numerous counties and congressional districts in the South, most blacks had been effectively disfranchised by discriminatory voter registration rules and laws in those states since the late 19th and early 20th centuries that were heavily instituted and propagated by Southern Democrats . Civil rights organizations had collected evidence of discriminatory practices, such as the administration of literacy and comprehension tests and poll taxes . While the states had the right to establish rules for voter registration and elections, the federal government found an oversight role in ensuring that citizens could exercise the constitutional right to vote for federal officers: electors for president and vice president and members of the US Congress . </P> <P> The Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, realized that the bill and its journey through Congress could tear apart his party, as its southern members opposed civil rights, and its northern members were more favorable . Southern senators occupied chairs of numerous important committees because of their long seniority . Johnson sent the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Senator James Eastland of Mississippi, who drastically altered the bill . Senator Richard Russell, Jr., of Georgia had denounced the bill as an example of the federal government seeking to impose its laws on states . Johnson sought recognition from civil rights advocates for passing the bill as well as recognition from the mostly - Southern Democrats against civil rights for weakening the bill so much as to make it toothless . </P> <P> The bill passed 285 - 126 in the House of Representatives with a majority of both parties' support (Republicans 167--19, Democrats 118--107) It then passed 72 - 18 in the Senate, again with a majority of both parties (Republicans 43--0, Democrats 29--18). Eisenhower signed the bill on September 9, 1957 . </P> <P> Democratic Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, an ardent segregationist, sustained the longest one - person filibuster in history in an attempt to keep the bill from becoming law . His one - man filibuster lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes; he began with readings of every US state's election laws in alphabetical order . He later read from the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and George Washington's Farewell Address . </P>

Who signed the civil rights act of 1957