Twenty-sixth Amendment Certification Ceremony
7/5/1971
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This is a video clip from the 26th Amendment certification ceremony on July 5, 1971 in the White House.
The 26th Amendment was ratified in 100 days, faster than any other amendment. In April 1970, Congress controversially lowered the voting age to 18 as part of legislation to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Many people, including President Richard Nixon, believed that it was the right of the states, not the federal government, to set the voting age. President Nixon, nevertheless, signed the act, which was to go into effect January 1, 1971.
The effort to lower the voting age to 18 had begun three decades earlier. "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote," a slogan first heard during World War II, was adopted by student activists during the Vietnam War.
In 1942, the slogan prompted Congressman Jennings Randolph of West Virginia to propose an amendment to the Constitution lowering the voting age to 18. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson both championed the cause. Activists during the Vietnam War increased pressure on Congress to change the voting age; and in 1971, when Senator Randolph reintroduced his original proposal, it passed overwhelmingly.
On December 21, 1970, the Supreme Court ruled that the government had indeed overstepped its legislative bounds in lowering the voting age. Fearing mass confusion over who could vote in the 1972 election, Congress quickly moved to pass the 26th Amendment. Ratification by the states was accomplished in a record four months.
The 26th Amendment to the Constitution was certified by General Services Administrator Robert Kunzig. In a ceremony at the White House, President Richard M. Nixon also signed as a witness. President Nixon’s signature was unnecessary to ratify the 26th Amendment because the Constitution does not give the President a role in passing amendments. But Nixon ceremoniously signed it anyway, and he took the unprecedented step of inviting three 18-year-olds to also sign the new amendment.
The 26th Amendment was ratified in 100 days, faster than any other amendment. In April 1970, Congress controversially lowered the voting age to 18 as part of legislation to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Many people, including President Richard Nixon, believed that it was the right of the states, not the federal government, to set the voting age. President Nixon, nevertheless, signed the act, which was to go into effect January 1, 1971.
The effort to lower the voting age to 18 had begun three decades earlier. "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote," a slogan first heard during World War II, was adopted by student activists during the Vietnam War.
In 1942, the slogan prompted Congressman Jennings Randolph of West Virginia to propose an amendment to the Constitution lowering the voting age to 18. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson both championed the cause. Activists during the Vietnam War increased pressure on Congress to change the voting age; and in 1971, when Senator Randolph reintroduced his original proposal, it passed overwhelmingly.
On December 21, 1970, the Supreme Court ruled that the government had indeed overstepped its legislative bounds in lowering the voting age. Fearing mass confusion over who could vote in the 1972 election, Congress quickly moved to pass the 26th Amendment. Ratification by the states was accomplished in a record four months.
The 26th Amendment to the Constitution was certified by General Services Administrator Robert Kunzig. In a ceremony at the White House, President Richard M. Nixon also signed as a witness. President Nixon’s signature was unnecessary to ratify the 26th Amendment because the Constitution does not give the President a role in passing amendments. But Nixon ceremoniously signed it anyway, and he took the unprecedented step of inviting three 18-year-olds to also sign the new amendment.
Transcript
Well, it's a great privilege to welcome this very exciting group to the White House on the day that we celebrate our national Independence Day. It seems to me that it is particularly appropriate that on this same day we are certifying the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.That Amendment, as you know, provides for the right to vote of all of our young people between 18 and 21 - 11 million new voters as a result of this amendment that you now will see certified by the GSA Administrator.
Now, the custom on certification of an amendment has varied through the history of this country. Always, of course, the certification is provided, but as far as witnesses are concerned, sometimes the President witnesses it – usually he has in recent years – but I understand a President has a prerogative to ask for additional witnesses if he likes.
And on this occasion, therefore, I am going to ask that three of the representatives of this group who are 18 years of age or older — and I understand you range from 15 to 20, so we picked three 18-year-olds. First, Julianne Jones from Memphis, Tennessee. Second, Joseph Loyd from Detroit, Michigan. And third – incidentally, I don't think this was an accident – we have one from California; and it's Paul Larimer from Concord, California.
And now, I will step over here.
[signing]
[shows signatures on document]
This primary source comes from the Collection RN-NPC: Records of the Naval Photographic Center (Nixon Administration).
Full Citation: Twenty-sixth Amendment Certification Ceremony; 7/5/1971; White House Motion Film Unit Files, 1969 - 1974; Collection RN-NPC: Records of the Naval Photographic Center (Nixon Administration); Richard Nixon Library, Yorba Linda, CA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/26-amendment-ceremony, October 3, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.