The unsung hero: Hubert Humphrey

On Thursday, I’m going to be half of a two-man show sponsored by the Iowa City League of Women Voters. I am the lesser half. A Columbia University professor, Sam Freedman, has written the best book yet about Hubert Humphrey, Minnesota senator and vice president of the U.S.

The League’s purpose is to introduce “The hero You Don’t Know: Hubert Humphrey and the Long Struggle for Civil Rights.” The title of Sam’s Book is taken from Humphrey’s speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention that sent Southern bigots — the Dixiecrats — out of the convention into a third party. Humphrey was 37 years old, and mayor of Minneapolis.

He was running for the Senate and most party leaders, including President Truman, thought civil rights was a losing issue at a contentious, angry convention. Humphrey persisted, declaring “The time has come to get out of the shadow of states’ rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights.”

The Dixiecrats walked out. Humphrey and Truman were elected. When Humphrey arrived to be sworn in, he expected to move into the Senate office building as every senator had. He was told that his office was being renovated and he would have to find an office on his own. They offered no help, and he ended up in downtown Washington in a lawyer friend’s office.

He hired a legislative assistant, a very bright student at George Washington University. Cyril King was the first and only Black staffer in the Senate. Humphrey took him to lunch one day in the Senators’ elegant dining room. The Black maître de’ said, “I’m sorry, senator, but we don’t serve Negroes.” Humphrey, with Cyril at his side, barged past, sat at a table, and ultimately were served.

After years of frustration, in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was guided successfully through the Senate by Humphrey. It was a legislative miracle. Almost no one thought he could get the votes and overcome legislative tactics that killed or emasculated every previous civil rights effort. Opponents had always been able to talk enough to prevent a vote. This time Humphrey organized the pro side into teams to debate each challenge and win. Liberals needed 51 Senators, day and night, to prevent adjournment. The opponents needed only one to call for the vote.

On the day of the final vote, I sat in the gallery and listened as the secretary of the Senate called the role. One senator came from his hospital bed, unable to walk or talk, close to death. The secretary called, “Mr. Engle of California.” Engle, with great effort, pointed a finger at his eye. “Mr. Engle votes aye.”

Early on, Humphrey asked Martin Luther King to come in so Humphrey could explain his tactics. King brought two young ministers. Andrew Young, later our Ambassador to the United Nations, and Water Fauntroy the District of Columbia’s representative in the House of Representatives Humphrey had two of us. John Stewart, our Civil Rights specialist, and me.

Humphrey was my hero. We are a better country because he cared.

Join us at from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Iowa City Public Library.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary.