2 chapters across the catalog
The discussion covers the impact of President Eisenhower sending federal troops to Little Rock in 1957, which significantly boosted his standing among Black Americans. This created fear among Democrats that Richard Nixon would inherit this goodwill in the 1960 election. However, the Kennedys' strategic phone call to get MLK Jr. out of jail in Georgia successfully swayed MLK Sr. and the Southern Black vote toward the Democratic ticket.
Using clips from The New York Times, the segment traces the history of black enfranchisement from the Emancipation Proclamation through the Reconstruction era. It covers the 14th Amendment and the eventual 19th Amendment, while noting that voting remained contentious throughout the 20th century. Moe explains that older generations view voting as a hard-won obligation due to this proximity to the struggle.
