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Article: Congress Wishes Itself a Happy Anniversary; As With First Session 200 Years Ago, Achieving a Quorum Proves Impossible
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 3, 1989
- Author:
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The members of the 101st Congress took a morning off from their
battles yesterday to celebrate the upcoming 200th anniversary of the
convening of the First Congress, hearing repeated reminders that they
are not the first to be called clowns and thieves while making
history.
And true to history, just as the First Congress failed to achieve
a quorum, fewer than one-fourth of today's members attended a joint
session to hear speeches and poetry, and to see the unveiling of
stamps and coins to commemorate Congress' bicentennial. Dozens of
staffers were herded into the House chamber to prevent it from
looking empty.
Senate Minority Leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.), one of several
speakers, said ...