Talked to Death

Some highlights — and lowlights — of the filibuster.

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— Swati Pandey

Most Romantic

To hold up the 2003 judicial nomination of Washington attorney Miguel A. Estrada, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) recounted how he won the heart of his wife: “I tell you, it was something to be able to present your girl, your sweetheart, a piece of bubble gum. And I never let her know that I did not buy … that gum or candy.” Last Man Standing Filibustering against the Civil Rights Act in 1957, then-Democratic Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina speechified for a record 24 hours and 18 minutes. Most Mouth-Watering After 15 hours of opposing a provision that might have rewarded his political enemies in Louisiana, Sen. Huey Long (D-La.) shared his recipe for fried oysters and “pot likkers.” Most Dramatic Ending The decisive 66th cloture vote to end a 1964 filibuster against civil rights legislation was cast by California’s Democratic Sen. Clair Engle, who, unable to speak because of a brain tumor, raised his arm and pointed to his eye — an affirmative vote. Most Musical In October 1992, Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-N.Y.), trying to save jobs at a typewriter factory, sang “South of the Border” and “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” Most Ironic In November 2003, Republicans staged a “talk-a-thon” — 30 hours of nonstop debate — to protest Democratic filibustering of judicial nominees, all the while insisting they were not actually filibustering. Retro To protest the GOP talkathon, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), rather than declare his intent to filibuster an issue and sit in his seat while other Senate business continued, stood and talked for nine hours, at one point describing a large rock in front of his Nevada home, the sale of rocks in Las Vegas and why we should “rock on.”