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Today In Labor History March 27, 1866: President of the United States of America Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. However, Congress overrode his veto and passed the bill, the first time this had occurred over any major legislation. The bill was the first in the U.S. to define citizenship, and to affirm equal rights under the law for all citizens, including African Americans. Johnson’s rationale for the veto was that the law “discriminated” against whites in favor of blacks.