When once asked to cite his greatest legislative achievement, Everett Dirksen offered his reply: "Well, if I had to put it in the large, probably it would be my endeavors to stop legislation that was not in the public interest. Because I have followed the old precept of Gibbon, the great historian, who said, 'Progress is made not so much by what goes on the statute book but rather what is kept off, and what is not put on.'" [Dirksen on ABC's "Issues and Answers," July 3, 1966, transcript, Remarks and Release, Dirksen Papers].

Nevertheless, Dirksen contributed substantially to legislation by introducing or co-sponsoring bills and by offering amendments to legislation proposed by others. Not surprisingly, his office staff kept track of his legislative activity, which spanned the 73rd Congress (1933-34) through the first session of the 91st Congress (1969-70). In 1962, for example, a staff summary showed that in his House career, Dirksen had introduced 24 bills that had become law. By 1962, he was the Senate sponsor or co-sponsor of 73 bills that had become law [Legislative File. Dirksen Bills, f. 1486. Dirksen Papers].

This section of the Center's web site illustrates Everett Dirksen's legislative activity. It reproduces as graphical images over 130 pages of original documents maintained by the Dirksen office. Typically each document or image lists the Congress in which the bill was introduced, a short title, the bill number, and some indication of its disposition. Staff organized these tracking documents alphabetically by subject.