The influential figure in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. Following widespread protests, demonstrations, and the violent suppression of peaceful marches, particularly in Selma, Alabama, Johnson championed the act to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. His administration aimed to restore voting rights to African Americans, especially in the Southern states. The act outlawed discriminatory voting practices and enforced the voting rights guaranteed by the 15th Amendment. Johnson's support was pivotal in galvanizing bipartisan consensus, leading to enactment and significant progress in the civil rights movement.