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02/27/2025
So very grateful to be working with The Dirksen Congressional Center. I always learn a lot about American history, US Congress and political science. And not only that, they are just plain awesome and wholesome people to be around 🤗
Today we continue our monthly look inside the Dirksen Center's rows of artifacts.
It's tradition at the beginning of a new Congress for the minority leader – who has just lost the election – to present the gavel to the newly elected Speaker of the House.
Bob Michel performed that particular ritual at the start of seven new Congresses (and would also have had the duty when Speaker Jim Wright resigned mid-term).
The other side of the tradition held that the newly elected speaker would autograph a gavel to present to the minority leader. In many cases, particularly with Speakers Tip O'Neill and Tom Foley, though they and Michel were almost always on opposite sides of major issues, they retained good working relationships and had positive personal relationships.
The gavels held in Michel's artifacts testify to the respect he held for his colleagues – his opponents – as they worked together as party leaders.
A postscript: Leader Michel was finally able to preside over the House on one of the final days of the 1994 session. While members of the minority don't wield the gavel in the ordinary course, Speaker Foley arranged for Michel to call the House to order as a tribute to his years of honorable service.
(Photo by Raphael Rodolfi, Videogenique )
