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U.S. House of Representatives

"As Large as Life": Lafayette's Portrait

by Art on February 13, 2013

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette/tiles/non-collection/2/2-18-lafayette-portrait_2005_018_000.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
What becomes a military legend most? For the Marquis de Lafayette, dashing hero of the American Revolution, the portrait now in the House Chamber was just the thing. Arriving from France in 1824, it was a huge hit across the nation. Becoming the most famous image of Lafayette during his wide-ranging tour of the United States that same year, the portrait appeared on posters, memorabilia, and even on currency.

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Categories: Art & Artifacts, House Chamber

Putting One Over on Teddy

by History on January 31, 2013

Now Why Didn't I Think of That!/tiles/non-collection/1/1-31-berryman-wilson-nara.xml Image courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration
When Woodrow Wilson became President a century ago, he smashed an old tradition. Wilson had long suspected that the President could act as a prime minister for Congress, formulating party program and directing party strategy. The secret to this kind of leadership was the use of oratorical power to convince others of what was in the public interest. Wilson intended to replace written presidential messages with a direct address to a joint session, expecting this would seize the imagination of the country, give him the momentum to enact his policies, and set a new tone for the administration.

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Categories: Presidents, State of the Union
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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov