50 greatest political moments: Famous floor moments Two of the
great stages for political history throughout the life of the
nation have been the floors of the House and Senate. Historians
from both chambers offered some choice examples of unforgettable
moments on Capitol Hill. 1964 — Passing the Civil Rights Act:
Arriving on the Senate floor in February, the legislation stoked
the longest continuous debate in the chamber’s history. It was
not until June 10 that the Senate was able to get the necessary
votes (at that time, two-thirds of the Senate) to invoke
cloture. The vote was thought to be so close that Democratic
Sen. Clair Engle of California, who could not speak, after
having recently suffered from brain cancer, voted “aye” by
pointing to his eye. March 23-24, 1965 — Medicare is born:
Chairman Wilbur Mills (D-Ark.) led the House Ways and Means
Committee in passing a Medicare bill that would go on to win
approval from the full House on April 8. Mills had previously
opposed the bill, and his reversal was