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The history, art, and architecture of the U.S. Capitol from its opening in 1800 to the present were presented in a special 107-minute version of The Capitol. The documentary featured the impact of Presidents Washington and Jefferson on the Capitol’s creation, the grand public spaces, and areas off limits or rarely seen by the public, such as the top of the Capitol dome. The narrated segments, including tours of the building and interviews with members of Congress, historians, and curators, were recorded in high-quality video.
The eleven chapters include: Introduction; Early Years, The Rotunda: Part 1; The Capitol and Slavery; The 1820s and Andrew Jackson; The Rotunda: Part II; The Dome; Dome Tour; The House Chamber; The Senate Chamber; Statuary in the Capitol.

The 1963-1969 calls between President Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen as they negotiate over key legislation, including the Civil Rights, Voting Rights bills and tax and gold measures and bargain on key appointments. You’ll also heard our interview with former U.S. Senate Historian Richard Baker.

Richard Baker talked about the historical narrative he co-wrote with Neil MacNeil, The American Senate: An Insider’s History. The book details the emergence of the U.S. Senate as what Mr. Baker termed “the most powerful upper house of any legislative body in the world.” He talked about the impact of the 17h Amendment, by which senators were elected by popular vote rather than state legislature. He shared stories of leadership struggles and floor debates, and described the styles and strengths of former Senate leaders such as Senator Mike Mansfield (D-MT), Robert Byrd (D-WV), and Joseph Robinson (D-AR). He talked about the personalities of Senators Everett Dirksen, and John Pastore (D-RI) who was called the “bantam rooster” of the Senate for his aggressive personality and diminutive size. He discussed oratory on the Senate floor and whether it plays any real role in changing the minds and votes of senators. He also talked about the current state of the Senate.

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Senate Historian Richard Baker, and the Wall Journal's Capitol Hill reporter Janet Hook talked about the history of Senate procedures. Topics included its constitutional role, possible reform, and Senate procedures such as filibusters and secret holds.

Mine safety officials testified on proposals to invest in mine safety programs, focusing on efforts to prevent mine disasters. They focused on the April 5, 2010 explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia. Among the issues they addressed were business practices of mining companies, constant legal challenges to regulatory decisions, and past infractions of safety standards.

Don Blankenship and Cecil Roberts testified about the April 5, 2010 explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine, as well as the company’s safety record. Several questions also focused on the company’s practice of appealing safety violations in court. Mr. Roberts called Massey’s lost-time accident rate “borderline fraudulent” and said that miners at the Upper Big Branch mine knew of unsafe conditions but were afraid to report them.

Richard Baker provided historical perspective on the role of the Senate in the U.S. political system. He was the first Senate historian and retired after 35 years in 2009. Topics included Senate history, procedures, and personalities.

On November 18, 2009, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) became the longest serving Member of Congress having served in the House since 1953 and the Senate since 1958. He spoke briefly in the Senate about this milestone.

Norman Ornstein presented the award to Richard Baker, who became the first Senate historian in 1975. An advocate for the openness of government, he drafted the Senate’s first rules for access to its records at that National Archives. Mr. Baker spoke about the history of preserving government records.
Frank Mankiewicz presented the award to Ambassador George McGovern. During 22 years in the U.S. Congress he was instrumental in creating programs to alleviate hunger, including Food for Peace, the school lunch program, and food stamps. After his 1972 presidential campaign as the Democratic nominee, he continued his leadership in the battle against world hunger. Former Senator McGovern spoke about his current work on the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and his recent book Abraham Lincoln (Times Books; December 23, 2008).

Richard Baker told stories from the history of the Senate and showed some rare photographs of senators. Mr. Baker retired in August 2009 after 34 years as the first historian of the United States Senate. Mr. Baker began his tenure in 1975 when the office of Senate Historian was established. By Senate Resolution, he was named historian emeritus effective September 1, 2009. He also served as the curator for the exhibition gallery of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center which opened late the previous year.