neral and private citizens to bring suit in discrimination cases,
outlining the procedures for such cases. Most significant were
the sweeping provisions of the law's Title VI that forbade (p. 588)
discrimination in any activity or program that received federal
financial assistance. This added the threat of economic sanctions
against any of those thousands of institutions, whether public or
private, which, while enjoying federal benefactions, discriminated
against citizens because of race. Accurately characterized as the
"most effective instrument yet found for the elimination of racial
discrimination,"[23-24] Title VI gave the federal government leave to
cut segregation and discrimination out of the body politic. In
Professor Woodward's words, "a national consensus was in the making
and a peaceful solution was in sight."[23-25]

[Footnote 23-24: Muse, _The American Negro
Revolution_, p. 183. For a detailed discussion of
the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, see
Muse's book, pp. 181-91.]

[Footnote 23-25: Woodward, _Strange Career of Jim
Crow_, p. 180.]

The 1964 presidential election was at hand to test this consensus.
Given the Republican candidate's vehement opposition to the Civil
Rights Act, Lyndon Johnson's overwhelming victory was among other
things widely interpreted as a national plebiscite for the new law.
The President, however, preferred a broader interpretation. Believing
that "great social change tends to come rapidly in periods of intense
activity before the impulse slows,"[23-26] he considered his victory a
mandate for further social reform. On the advice of the Justice
Department and the Civil Rights Commission, he called on Congress to
eliminate the "barriers to the right to vote."[23-27]

[Footnote 23-26: Johnson, "Remarks at the National
Urban League's Community Action Assembly," 10 Dec
64, as reproduced in _Public Papers of the
Presidents: Johnson, 1963-1964_, II:1653.]

[Footnote 23-27: Lyndon B. Johnson, "Annual Message to
Congress on the State of the Union," 4 Jan 65,
_Public Papers of the Presidents: Lyndon B.
Johnson, 1965_ (Washington: Government Printing
Office, 1966), I:6.]

In common wit