S. 1021. School assistance act. Cotton amendment to return two percent of cigarette tax money to states. Rejected. Nay supports President's position.

On May 19, 1961, the Senate voted 29–63 (S 1021). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 11–54, Republicans 19–16. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 27 members voted against their own party.

During the 87th Congress (1961–1962), John F. Kennedy was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 29
No: 63
Did not vote: 5
Date: May 19, 1961

By party

Democrats11 yes · 54 no
Republicans19 yes · 16 no · 5 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

John Little Mcclellan D-AR voted yes
Thomas Henry Kuchel R-CA voted no
Prescott Sheldon Bush R-CT voted no
George Armistead Smathers D-FL voted yes
Spessard Lindsey Holland D-FL voted yes
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted yes
Richard Brevard Russell Jr. D-GA voted yes
Hiram Leong Fong R-HI voted no
Everett McKinley Dirksen R-IL voted no
John Sherman Cooper R-KY voted no
Thruston Ballard Morton R-KY voted no
Russell Billiu Long D-LA voted yes
Leverett Saltonstall R-MA voted no
James Glenn Beall R-MD voted no
Margaret Chase Smith R-ME voted no
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted yes
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted yes
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
Kenneth Barnard Keating R-NY voted no
Frank John Lausche D-OH voted yes
James Strom Thurmond D-SC voted yes
Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston D-SC voted yes
Wallace Foster Bennett R-UT voted no
George David Aiken R-VT voted no
Winston Lewis Prouty R-VT voted no
Alexander Wiley R-WI voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “S. 1021. School assistance act. Cotton…: Senate Vote, May 19, 1961,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/87-S-41/s-1021-school-assistance-act-cotton-amendment-to-return (accessed 2026-10-16).