Senator Ted Cruz’s 21-hour filibuster, where at one point he read Dr. Sues’ ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ is just one of many. Filibusters are one of the U.S.’s oldest political form of theater. Throughout U.S. history politicians have held hostage the floor in an attempt to stop laws from passing. Here is a list of a few of the longest and most famous filibusters. 

1.On June 25, 2013 Texas Sate Senator Wendy Davis maintained an 11-hour filibuster in order to delay a bill that would block women from getting abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and would have also shut down many women’s health clinic throughout the state. Her filibuster was stopped three minutes short of midnight when Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst said that she had gone off topic. Despite Davis’s attempt, Texas Governor Rick Perry was still able to add the bill into three separate bills. 

2.U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond from South Carolina currently has the honor of holding the longest filibuster. Thurmond spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. 

3.Earlier this year Sen. Rand Paul held a 13-hour filibuster in order to block a vote on CIA Director John Brennan and protest U.S. use of drone strikes. Brennan eventually was nominated as CIA director. 

4.In 1953 Sen. Wayne Morse from Oregon spoke for a total of 22 hours and 26 minutes in order to delay a debate on the Tidelands Oil Bill. In Congress Morse was known as “the Tiger of the Senate” because of knack for controversy.

5.In 1986 Sen. Alfonse D’Amato from New York spoke for 23 hours and 30 minutes to delay a military bill. D’Amato was famous for reading the D.C. phone book during his long filibusters. 

 

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