To what extent did the Kennedy's assassination help to pass the Civil Rights Act?

What is it about?

In Nov 1963 the prospects for the civil rights bill were no better than weak and many commentators suspected that President Kennedy would be forced to weaken the bill in order to secure passage through the Senate and unite his party ahead of his re-election bid. In the aftermath of the assassination, Kennedy's successor Lyndon Johnson called on Congress to pass the bill in full as a monument to Kennedy. This article examines the different ways in which the political opportunity to pass civil rights legislation changed with Kennedy's death.

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Why is it important?

Historians have tended to see passage of the civil rights act either as proof of President Johnson's genius as a parliamentary maneuverer and deal-maker or as a tribute to the Justice Department under Bobby Kennedy. This article weight both arguments and explains how they fit together.