22 hours, 26 minutes
23 hours, 30 minutes
24 hours, 18 minutes - All-time record
Strom Thurmond's record-setting 24-hour, 18-minute filibuster in 1957 was not a heroic act of political endurance but a last-ditch effort to block civil rights legislation. Speaking continuously from August 28-29, 1957, Thurmond was attempting to prevent passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which aimed to protect Black Americans' voting rights.
As an avowed segregationist who ran for president on the Dixiecrat ticket in 1948 with the slogan "Segregation Forever," Thurmond used the Senate floor to defend white supremacy and oppose racial equality. He prepared for his filibuster by dehydrating in a steam room, using the Senate cloakroom for bathroom breaks, and having an aide stand by with buckets. Despite his efforts, the bill passed.
Today, Senator Booker's filibuster stands in stark contrast: while Thurmond spoke to deny civil rights, Booker speaks to expand them. This symbolic reversal highlights how far America has come—and how the same procedural tool once used to block progress is now being wielded to advance it.
Senator Cory Booker takes the floor to begin his historic speech, warning of a "grave and urgent" moment in American history.
After speaking for an incredible 25 hours and 4 minutes, Senator Booker, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the chamber, concludes his historic address, setting a new all-time Senate record.
Though technically not a filibuster—as it wasn't designed to obstruct passage of a specific bill—Senator Booker's marathon speech broke the previous record held by segregationist Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
The 55-year-old New Jersey Democrat vowed to speak "for as long as he was physically able" when he began at 7:00 PM on Monday. Throughout his address, he read letters from constituents and warned about what he described as a "grave and urgent" moment in American history.
This historic speech represents a powerful symbolic reversal: while Thurmond's marathon speech was used to oppose civil rights legislation, Booker's record-breaking performance stands as a testament to how far America has come in its ongoing struggle for equality and justice.