United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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How a Building Changed the House: Cannon House Office Building

Speaker Cannon

"Joseph Cannon on his 88th Birthday," 1924/tiles/non-collection/h/hob_cannon_house_office_building_speaker_cannon_joseph_cannon_2007_262_001.xml Joseph Gurney Cannon, Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives, Photography Collection
About this object
Speaker  Joseph Gurney Cannon’s career in Congress spanned almost five decades. The Illinois Representative ruled the House with an iron fist from 1903 to 1911 and earned the nickname “Czar Cannon.” The Speaker’s contrary personality was as legendary as his vise-like grip on power. Cannon called himself “the Hayseed Member from Illinois” and famously said to an opponent, “The country don’t need any legislation.”

Cannon was personally popular in the House and championed expanded space for Representatives. He shepherded construction of the building that ultimately bore his name and insisted that it contain offices for every Member of the House.

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