The record for the longest individual speech in the Senate b...

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posted Apr 1 @ 05:01 PM by Jason Kottke · gift link

The record for the longest individual speech in the Senate belongs to segregationist Strom Thurmond. He spoke for 24 hours & 18 minutes in a racist and futile attempt to prevent the Civil Rights Act of 1957 from passing.

Strom Thurmond filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 · en.wikipedia.org

On August 28, 1957, Strom Thurmond, a Democratic United States senator from South Carolina, began a filibuster intended to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The filibuster—an extended speech designed to stall legislation—began at 8:54 p.m. and lasted until 9:12 p.m. the following

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Jason KottkeMOD 2025-04-02T03:10:21Z

Well, not anymore. Cory Booker breaks record for longest Senate speech with Trump condemnation.

Booker's speech eventually ran to 25 hours and five minutes. Having begun at 7pm on Monday night, was not a filibuster but instead an effort to warn of what he called the "grave and urgent" danger that Donald Trump's presidential administration poses to democracy and the American people.

"I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able," Booker said near the start of his speech. "I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis."

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