The president was throwing his heft and force into the cause before a special joint session of Congress. He had an audience of 70 million television viewers, who had seen for themselves clubs, bullwhips and tear gas unleashed against people trying to register black Americans to vote. He spoke to a nation sickened by the sight of state police and a sheriff’s posse assaulting civil rights marchers in Selma the week before. "I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy," is how Johnson began the speech. Richard Goodwin, the writer of what came to be known as the “We Shall Overcome” speech, composed it in a one day-dash to a deadline. The address itself has quite the backstory too. Johnson made a stirring call upon Congress to ensure the voting rights of black Americans. On March 15, 1965, as the nation reeled from the "Bloody Sunday" beatings of civil rights marchers in Selma, Ala., President Lyndon B. Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of what historians widely regard as one of the greatest presidential speeches in American history. (AP) This article is more than 9 years old. President Johnson addresses a joint session of Congress on March 15, 1965, to outline his proposals for voting rights for all citizens.
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