Congress Archives - Page 3 of 3

What the DC Flag Means: Three Stars, Two Bars, and One Coat of Arms

June 5, 2026April 19, 2012 by ghostsofdc

D.C. Commissioner, Melvin Hazen, who chose the design, is pictured with the new flag October 17th, 1938 (Library of Congress)

Washington, DC didn’t have an official flag until the middle of the 20th century. The white background with two red stripes and three red stars was based on George Washington’s family crest.

Watch and Read Ronald Reagan’s First State of the Union Address

May 6, 2026March 18, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Watch and read Ronald Reagan’s first State of the Union address to Congress, given on January 26th, 1982. The best part is about 50 seconds into the clip. Original speech found on Wikipedia.

Winston Churchill’s Speech in Washington in 1941

May 6, 2026March 14, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Continuing the Anglo-American theme of today, here is a second video of a British Prime Minister in Washington.

Winston Churchill took a steamship through German submarine-infested waters around Christmas in 1941, just after the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into World War II.

Here is the most powerful quote from the speech.

Sure I am that this day – now we are the masters of our fate; that the task which has been set us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause and an unconquerable will-power, salvation will not be denied us. In the words of the Psalmist, ‘He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.’ Not all the tidings will be evil.

His closing is excellent …

Still, I avow my hope and faith, sure and inviolate, that in the days to come the British and American peoples will for their own safety and for the good of all walk together side by side in majesty, in justice and in peace.

Here’s the full text of the speech if you’d like to follow along or read it.

When Congress Almost Moved the Capital Out of Washington

May 18, 2026March 1, 2012 by ghostsofdc

The White House ruins after the conflagration of August 24, 1814. Watercolor by George Munger (WIkipedia)

In October 1814, the U.S. House came within nine votes of moving the capital out of Washington. The bill failed 83 to 74. The Washington we live in exists because nine House members didn’t want to put the government on wheels.

Ron Paul Crushes Double During Congressional Baseball Game

December 20, 2021February 23, 2012 by ghostsofdc

This is awesome and appears to be the latest minor D.C. Internet meme. Well, I love baseball and I love D.C., so I want to share this with those of you who haven’t seen it yet (if you haven’t seen this, you don’t surf the Interwebs enough).

Ron Paul is the only player in the history of the Congressional baseball game to hit a home run over the fence. He also killed it in this game, going 2 for 3. Below you can watch him stroke a double. Not bad for a 47-year-old doctor from Texas.

According to Wikipedia, the game ended after nine innings in a tie at 17 runs. Sounds like some seriously crappy pitching. So far, this has been the only tie. The Republicans hold a 41-35 game advantage over the Democrats. Another interesting bit of trivia is that the game dates back to 1909, although it hasn’t been continuously played since then.

It was banned in 1914 by Speaker Champ Clark when he felt it interfered with the legislative business of Congress. In 1962, the game came back after being played intermittently and has been played annually ever since.

Nice old school Astros uniform. Reminds me of Nolan Ryan, Glenn Davis and Mike Scott.

Do you want to watch the whole game? I warn you, it is well over three hours. C-SPAN has it for you.

Why Did They Rename B Street to Constitution Avenue?

April 27, 2026February 21, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Constitution Avenue was not always called Constitution Avenue. There’s a Wisconsin connection to the story that most DC residents don’t know.

Joseph G. Cannon: The Most Powerful Speaker of the House, 1903-1911

May 6, 2026February 8, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois served as Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911 and consolidated more power than anyone before or since. Here is the story of Uncle Joe Cannon and his connection to Washington.

Unpacking the Four Essential Human Freedoms: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union Speech

April 27, 2026January 24, 2012 by ghostsofdc

This is one of the greatest State of the Union speeches of all time … the one given, twelve presidents ago, by Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6th, 1941. If you want the full text of the speech, go here.

This speech is known as the “Four Freedoms Speech.” It was his first State of the Union after winning an unprecedented third term and it is considered one of his most memorable and influential speeches.

Europe is embroiled in World War II and the President makes the case that America is under the greatest threat it has ever been under, and it is incumbent upon the nation to supply needed arms to our allies in Europe. The Lend-Lease Act was signed into law just two months later.

The closing statements of the speech are the most memorable, as he outlines the “four essential human freedoms,” which are critical for a secure and prosperous world.

The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants — everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor — anywhere in the world.

The first two freedoms are codified the Constitution, while the latter two go beyond the scope of America’s founding document but became the basis of the modern liberal vision both domestically and internationally.

President Franklin Roosevelt’s Fourth Inauguration (1945)
‘Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage’: A Well-Known Topic Well Worth a Revisit (Review) (popmatters.com)
FDR’s Second Bill of Rights: An Unrealized Dream (wallstreetpit.com)
Relative Clause in the Constitution: FREEDOM OF SPEECH (goodolewoody.wordpress.com)
If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington (thealmightyfword.wordpress.com)

Related articles