Longest Senate filibusters went on and on ... and on

Catalina Camia, USA TODAY | USATODAY

Parts of official Washington are transfixed by Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster of John Brennan's nomination as CIA director. The Kentucky Republican began his talkathon a little before noon Wednesday.

It's worth noting, however, that Paul has a long way to go before he breaks any records in the world's greatest deliberative body. The five longest filibusters, per Senate records:

Strom Thurmond — 24 hours, 18 minutes: At the time, the South Carolina senator was a Democrat, who was railing against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. To fill the time, Thurmond read the election laws of all 48 states that were then part of the union.

Alfonse D'Amato — 23 hours, 30 minutes: In 1986, the New York Republican once known as "Senator Pothole" took to the floor to protest an amendment to a defense bill that would have blocked funding for a jet fighter built in his state.

Wayne Morse — 22 hours, 26 minutes: The Oregon Democrat's talkathon in 1953 was against a bill to give states control over oil leases.

Robert LaFollette — 18 hours, 23 minutes: The Wisconsin Republican in 1908 halted efforts on a bill to allow the U.S. Treasury to lend money to banks during fiscal crises.

William Proxmire — 16 hours, 12 minutes: In 1981, the Democrat from Wisconsin gave a fiery speech against raising the nation's debt limit.