DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THIS PAPER IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE PASSAGE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1964 (PUBLIC LAW 88-425). OPENING WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO PREPARE LEGISLATION, THE PAPER TRACES CRITICALLY THE BARGAINING AND MANEUVERING OF A NUMBER OF FEDERAL AGENCIES, OTHER GROUPS, AND VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS IN WRITING THE DRAFT OF THE BILL. DURING ITS 6-WEEK EXISTENCE, THE TASK FORCE DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK WHICH CONSISTED MAINLY OF "OLD IDEAS" AND "NEW SLOGANS." THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP) AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION OF A FEW NEW PROJECTS WERE THE MOST DIFFICULT SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES TO RESOLVE, IN PARTICULAR THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE STATEMENT THAT THE CAP ACTIVITIES WOULD ENCOURAGE "MAXIMUM FEASIBLE PARTICIPATION OF THE POOR." THE PAPER ALSO REVIEWS THE QUESTION OF FUNDING THE PROGRAMS OUTLINED IN THE BILL. THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IN ITS PASSAGE, AND THE VICISSITUDES OF THE BILL IN CONGRESS. THE PAPER STATES THAT THE SUSTAINED PRESSURE OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL, ALTHOUGH CONGRESS CUT THE AUTHORIZATION BY $15 MILLION. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN PHRA, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, P.5-15, 1967, AND IS AVAILABLE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, P.O. BOX 1957, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106, FOR $6.00 LOOSELEAF, $7.50 BOUND. (NH)