Joseph McCarthy. Photo undated.

Joseph R. McCarthy : U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. Undated photo.

Former Senator Birch Bayh addresses a conference on University-industry.

Members of Congress and guests applaud Lloyd Bentsen during the President's Address. Senator Bentsen is sitting in the foreground, second from the right.

Senator Byrd receiving the 2004 Paul Wellstone Award from the United Steelworkers of America.

Portrait of Senator James Francis Byrnes.

Portrait of Birch Evans Bayh.

A sketch of Senator Frank Church.

Portrait of Thomas Francis Eagleton.

Congressman Dellums talks with NICHD director Dr. Duane Alexander and Kirschstein before a MLK program.

A photograph of Bob Dole at his March 28, 2000 address. He is shown here with his wife, Elizabeth.

A photograph of former senator Thomas Eagleton.

The press interviews Malcolm X and Martin Luther King amidst Senatorial debate about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Malcolm, calling the bill 'political chicanery,' wonders whether liberals are truly for Civil Rights legislation or not. Dr. King discusses possible direct action for making sure the bill is not filibustered. He expresses his intent to test the bill if and when it is passed. He also feels that the failure to pass the bill could lead to social disruption. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

Frank Church says that the FBI should not investigate its own irregularities in the Martin Luther King case but should be investigated by an outside agency.

Frank Church discusses the CIA and U.S. economic programs. Church tells the National Press Club his opinions of the CIA's spying on ordinary citizens the boycott on certain Arab nations against 1500 American companies who do business with Israel and why he thinks President Ford's economic programs would result in endless and enormous inflation.

Frank Church asks, along with Charles Percy and Henry Jackson, for consultation with Congress before attempting military rescue missions of the hostages in Iran.

Wiliam Colby and Representative Bella Abzug debate the propriety of the CIA file gathered on Ms. Abzug when she was a private citizen, and the role of the CIA in political assassinations around the world.

McCarthy criticizes Adlai Stevenson and his staff. Stevenson was the Democratic presidential candidate in 1952 and 1956.

George Hansen tells why he's asked for a Congressional hearing into US relations with Iran and defends his visit to the hostages in Teheran.

Paula Hawkins speaks strongly against Food Stamp Program cheaters and other welfare frauds.

John Heinz presents the Congressional Ethics Committee with a petition signed by 36 members of Congress asking the committee not to force Daniel Schorr to reveal the source of his CIA expose.

The United States declaration of war on Germany and Italy. The Clerk of the House of Representatives reads President Roosevelt's message and reporter Eric Sevareid gives a report on the vote.

Champ Clark, former Speaker of the House, speaks on achievements of the Democratic party, in a speech entitled Democratic Achievement.

Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic Convention of 1920, speaks in favor of American participation in the League of Nations, in a speech entitled Summons to Duty.

John Tower says New Yorkers continue to live high off the hog and do not deserve to be bailed out by Congress.

Tip O'Neill reads details of the censure resolution of Charles C. Diggs to Congress while Diggs stands before him.

Tip O'Neill reads the unanimous (414 to 1) resolution of censure against Michigan congressman, Charles C. Diggs, Jr.

Tip O'Neill testifies before a congressional committee on oil prices on behalf of his Massachusetts constituents.

In a Madison Square Garden meeting, Vito Marcantonio describes the outbreak of the Korean War as not in the best interest of the United States.

Speaking of the outbreak of the Korean War, Warren Grant Magnuson suggests meeting the enemy head on and points out that the conflict may be a bluff on the part of the enemy.

The Senate votes on the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. George Mitchell, Senate Majority Leader, outlines his objections to the confirmation. Vice President Dan Quayle calls for a vote of the Senate, and announces its outcome: Yeas 52, Nays 48.

At the hearings preceding the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill is quizzed by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). Also heard are Senators Joseph Biden (D-DEL) and Leahy (D-VT)

Democratic Senators James Exxon and Allen Dixon vote unenthusiastically for the confirmation of Judge Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court as does Senator Grassley of Iowa.

Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) speaks out against the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court.

Part of the Senate debate on the Clarence Thomas appointment to the United States Supreme Court, centering on the vailidity of the testimony of Professor Anita Hill, her treatment by the Senate, and the publicity given to her testimony.

Barbara Jordan urges that the extension of the Voting Rights Act should include Mexican-Americans and other minorities.

Barbara Jordan tells an audience of young Democrats that the traditional values held by Democrats need rethinking.

Barbara Jordan appears at the Women's Conference in November 1977.

Barbara Jordan gives the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Jeane Kirkpatrick addresses the United Nations press corps. Kirkpatrick calls for an end of redundant and expensive bureaucracy in the U.N. and discusses democracy and tyranny in Latin America.

Senator Kefauver discusses the Republican record during this speech designed to drum up support for Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign. His is a catalogue of Eisenhower's 'broken promises,' which includes comments on the cost of living, taxes, unions, corruption, the Dixon-Yates Contract, agriculture, small business, Eisenhower's 'Cadillac Cabinet,' and Richard Nixon.

Daniel Moynihan says the Soviet Union is behind the recent United Nations resolution equating Zionism with racism.

Daniel Moynihan tells the United Nations General Assembly he is confident progress is being made toward peace in the Middle East.

Thomas Foley responds to the State of the Union address by President Bush.

Debbie Stabenow addresses the Irish-American Lawyers' St. Patrick's Day breakfast. She talks about the need for Irish-Americans to support Northern Irish unification.

Douglas MacArthur addresses a joint session of Congress in his famed "old soldier" speech.

Address by General Douglas MacArthur before a joint session of Congress after his recall by President Truman. MacArthur reviews his military careeer the conduct of the Korean War and says farewell as he closes his army career.

Edmund Muskie discusses economic conditions in the United States, stating that if the President asks us to eat less and drive less, he should ask business to charge less.

Edmund Muskie speaks at the Democratic National Convention. He tells of 50 presidential vetoes of social legislation for the American working and impoverished citizen.

Edmund Muskie suggests restricting food exports, and building an international food reserve.

Kefauver feels NATO does not go far enough to battle communism and wants to form a more efficient union with the nations of Europe. George W. Malone would rather not see U.S. interests subordinated to another international body. Kefauver says that the proposed federation would be subject to the will of the people of the member nations. Malone feels he wants to create a super-government.

Senator Mitchell asks support for the bipartisan deficit reduction plan.

Henry Reuss reacts to President Carter's economic message, happy that Carter is getting tough on special interests.

Bert Lance reads a forty-nine page statement to vindicate himself before the Senate Committee on Banking. With the voice of Senator Abraham Ribicoff.

Excerpt of testimony before the U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee. Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan questions Howard Hughes.

Senator Hubert Humphrey says failure to continue tax relief during inflation will work a hardship on individuals and businesses.

Senator Hubert H. Humphrey talks about government funding of the arts.

Senator Hubert Humphrey's last speech. He speaks of his health, his wife, sports, other senators, and other assorted issues.

Javits speaks on the National Theater Bill proposed in Congress in 1949.

Jacob Javits addresses the Republican National Convention in Kansas City in 1976.

Upon re-election, Jacob Javits says the time has come for the Republican Party to reform itself.

Jacob Javits gives a statement after Israel announced that it would not vacate the occupied West Bank in defiance of United Nation Resolution #242.

James Wright says Democrats are offering an alternative to President Ford's program on inflation. Wright claims Ford's program would impact the economy by astronomical figures.

John W. McCormack gives thanks to those who voted for him as Speaker of the House and is sworn in as Speaker of the House.

CBS Radio interview. Sam Rayburn discusses his long service in the House of Representatives.

William E. Simon testifies before a Senate committee investigating the Secret Service. Simon states that the increasing number of threats to the President's life result in large part from the national publicity given to would-be assailants.

Newt Gingrich's first report as Speaker of the House, after the first one hundred days of Republican majority.

Richard Lugar supports Howard Baker's idea of a 50,000 man "first brigade" to oppose worldwide terrorism.

The press interviews Malcolm X and Martin Luther King amidst Senatorial debate about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Malcolm, calling the bill 'political chicanery,' wonders whether liberals are truly for Civil Rights legislation or not. Dr. King discusses possible direct action for making sure the bill is not filibustered. He expresses his intent to test the bill if and when it is passed. He also feels that the failure to pass the bill could lead to social disruption. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

Daniel Inouye criticizes the press for blowing the CIA's operations in lifting a sunken Russian submarine in the Pacific, which was a legitimate CIA enterprise. March 20, 1975.

Gerald P. Nye talks about the neutrality bill introduced by John T. Flynn.

Democratic senator from Iowa Thomas Harkins makes a victory speech after his defeat of the Republican incumbent Senator Jepson.

Harkin rejects Budget Director David Stockman's offer of temporary emergency aid for farmers.

Michael Harrington assesses the virtues and shortcomings of Henry Kissinger's conduct of office on the National Town Meeting of the Air.

House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt tells reporters what the Democrats plan to do in the 104th Congress.

Michael Harrington lectures on the paradoxes of bourgeois democracy. Harrington explains why America has fallen behind all the other western democracies in its welfare programs.

Description of the proceedings of a joint session of Congress in which Congress prepares to honor astronaut John Glenn.

Address by astronaut John Glenn before a joint session of Congress. Glenn speaks about his space flight on Friendship 7 including humorous anecdotes and patriotic sentiments.

Senator John Glenn delivers the keynote address in the form of a prayer, opening the Democratic National Convention in New York City.

Senator John Glenn tells why he opposes legislation which would prevent housing discrimination against homosexuals.

Sen. Bob Dole [R-KS] rises in the Senate on his last day to acknowledge accolades from his colleagues and the renaming of a portion of the building for him.

Thomas Eagleton pledges his support to the McGovern-Shriver ticket.

Thomas Eagleton states that "No man is above the law."

Senator Harding's position on limited American participation in a League of Nations.

Shirley Chrisholm introduces Bella Abzug at a conference in Washington D.C. Abzug begins by speaking of the role of women in government, and the underrepresentation of women and minorities in the current Congress. She goes on to speak of the lies and deception on behalf of the United States government concerning the war in Vietnam, and of ending the conflict. There is a question and answer segment following her speech, addressing more issues surrounding the war, including Abzug's desire to set a specific date for withrawing U.S. troops, and the problem of drug use among American soldiers in Southeast Asia.

WETA television and the American University present lectures by United States senators delivered as part of a course dealing with the place of the Senate in the American political system. After being introduced by Harold H. Hudson, Sam J. Ervin Jr. of North Carolina discusses the role of the southern senator. Ervin gives some insights into the process of governmental action and the experience of being a senator. After his lecture, Ervin answers questions posed to him concerning his speech, other issues surrounding southern senators, and government in general.

An unidentified member of the House Education Committee, along with Dr. Hayakawa, acting President of San Francisco State College, respond to questions concerning student unrest on college campuses. Dr. Hayakawa elaborates on previous statements, including the concern that academic freedom is being threatened.