Yes, unfortunately from time to time the passion which arises in debate over differing views on policy issues transfers to hostile personal feelings between Members. It doesn't happen often, but when an exchange becomes physical, the incident gets a lot of attention precisely because such episodes are rare in this century. In the 19th century, dueling was a widespread solution for personal disputes, as were fists, knives, canes, and fire tongs. Leading citizens carried loaded pistols, and that included Members of Congress! We can all be relieved that in our time, occasional shoving and tie-pulling matches have replaced more lethal weapons.

When Members get into physical altercations with one another the consequences go beyond the harm done their personal relations. The atmosphere becomes charged, making the civil exchange of ideas more difficult and the ability to reach a legislative consensus more uphill than ever. The attending publicity harms the institution's image with the general public.

As for examples, the most recent episode occurred on April 9, 1997, when a dispute arose between Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX) over references to a newspaper article critical of Rep. Delay. This led to some name-calling and shoving between them in the main aisle of the House floor. A staff member intervened quickly to separate the two.

Another recent incident occurred in September, 1995. An acrimonious exchange among several House Ways and Means Committee members took place in the hallway outside of their meeting room in the Capitol. Captured by the media and broadcast on national television, the hallway dispute was a continuation of an argument begun in the committee meeting. The incident came to be known as "the brawl in the hall," and involved mostly name-calling by raised voices. However, one Member, former Rep. Sam Gibbon (D-FL) yanked the necktie of Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA). As is usually the case with such episodes, other Members intervened to keep the incident from escalating.

Also in 1995, during the debate over sending U.S. troops to Bosnia, two former boxers, Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-CA) and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) got into a shoving match at the rear of the House chamber which spilled into the hall. Nearby Capitol Hill police officers intervened.

On June 27, 1985, then Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-TX), who was presiding over the House, left the rostrum, grabbed former Rep. Bob Walker (R-PA) by the arm and threatened to punch him in the mouth; this led to an extended and heated debate that evening during the special order speech period.

Despite these episodes, there is a persuasive argument to be made that, when seen in historical context, recent decades have seen advances in matters of decorum and civility on the House floor. Instances of far more severe violence among Members of Congress were common in the 18th and 19th centuries. For example, in 1789, two Members brawled on the House floor using a cane and fire tong. In 1793, a House Member responded to a lingering dispute with a former Member by challenging him to a duel outside of the Capitol and killing him. In 1832, Rep. Sam Houston was formally reprimanded by the House for attacking Rep. William Stanbery with his cane. Stanbery's response was to shoot at Houston, but his pistol misfired. A duel between two freshmen Congressmen in 1838 ended in the death of one. In 1838, Rep. Abram Maury and Rep. William Campbell came to blows behind the Speaker's chair on the House floor. Campbell beat Maury bloody. In separate incidents in 1840, Rep. Jesse Bynum attacked Rep. Rice Garland with a cane, while Representatives Kenneth Rayner and William Montgomery broke canes over each other's heads. In the 1850's, a House Member (Rep. Preston Brooks) strode onto the Senate floor and beat a Senator (Sen. Charles Sumner) senseless with his cane. The Senator lived, but was not able to return to office for three years.