The Capitol Report
Senator Durbin produces and hosts a monthly public affairs program that introduces Illinois residents to the Washington, DC area's historical sites, political personalites, and interesting aspects of our nation's capitol.
The most recent episode as well as several previous episodes are provided below for viewing. Click here to find a listing of the cable stations in your area that will regularly broadcast this program as it is produced.
September 2006 - October 2006
This month's cable show features Senator Durbin interviewing retiring U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and Marc Pachter, Director of the National Portrait Gallery.
In the first segment Senator Durbin speaks with U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, who is Maryland's longest serving senator. Senator Sarbanes is finishing his fifth term in the Senate, and has announced his retirement at the end of this year. Senator Durbin will talk to Senator Sarbanes about his childhood growing up on Maryland's eastern shore, his interest in politics and his most memorable moments serving in the U.S House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
The second segment features an interview with Marc Pachter, Director of the National Portrait Gallery. Pachter will take Senator Durbin on a tour of the newly re-opened Portrait Gallery. The Gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, is home to more than 1,200 portraits and holds the nation's only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. The Gallery's collection includes hundreds of other historical portraits, and over 800 original Time Magazine covers and much much more.
Click here to view (RealMedia) >>
June 2006 -July 2006
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made history when she became the first First Lady to ever run for and win a Unites States Senate seat. Originally from Chicago Illinois, she attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts and then Yale Law School. Now she works tirelessly for her constituents from the state of New York. Durbin will speak with Senator Clinton about growing up in Chicago, her time spent in college and law school, her taste in music, and her love of movies and literature.
Later in the show, Senator Durbin interviews Senator Richard Lugar on the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. Senator Lugar is has been pushing for funding to alleviate the Emerald Ash Borer. This invasive species is currently killing Ash trees throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan and has recently been found in Illinois. Senator Durbin will talk to Senator Lugar about the history of the bug and what we can do to prevent it from spreading throughout the Midwest.
Click here to view (RealMedia) >>
March 2006 - April 2006
This month’s cable show features Senator Durbin interviewing Father Daniel P. Coughlin, Chaplain of the House of Representatives and Paul Tergat, a world-class marathon runner and humanitarian.
Father Daniel Coughlin is the first Roman Catholic priest to be named the Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives. Coughlin is from Chicago, Illinois and has served as a pastor for 5 different parishes in the Chicago area. He is one of the most recognized faces on Capitol Hill. Senator Durbin will speak with Father Coughlin about his journey to Washington, DC, his role as Chaplain, and his special ties with the Chicago Cubs.
The second segment features an interview with Paul Tergat, an Olympic Medalist and World Record holder from Kenya, who is at the top of his game. But his journey to success is a compelling and a courageous story. Now this 36-year old marathon runner is turning his attention to help others who come from similar backgrounds. Tergat now serves as the ambassador against hunger for the World Food Program which feeds 113 million people a year in 82 countries. Senator Durbin will talk with Tergat about his childhood in Kenya, his marathon running and his motivation to make this world a better place.
Click here to view (RealMedia) >>
December 2005 - February 2006
This month's cable show features Senator Durbin interviewing Marty Evans President of the American Red Cross and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.
Thomas Friedman is a columnist for the New York Times. His regular Wednesday and Friday columns give readers critical insight into foreign affairs. Friedman is best know for advocating for peace between the State of Israel and the Palestinians and has just written a new book titled "The World is Flat."
Later in the show, Senator Durbin interviews Marty Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is the largest humanitarian aid organizations in the nation. Last year alone, the Red Cross assisted the victims of more than 70,000 natural and man-made disasters and collected almost 6.5 million units of blood. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Red Cross has assisted countless victims.
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August 2005
This month’s cable show features Senator Durbin interviewing renowned historian Garry Wills and United States Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). In the first segment Senator Durbin speaks with Garry Wills, a Northwestern University professor, distinguished historian and author of numerous books, including the Pulitzer Prize–winning, Lincoln at Gettysburg. Mr. Wills is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books, and has won many illustrious awards including the prestigious National Medal of Arts in 1998. Senator Durbin talks to Wills about his childhood and his desire to become an author, and about Will’s assessments of America’s greatest presidents including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Later in the show, Senator Durbin interviews U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002 to fill the seat of retiring Senator Strom Thurmond. He is a former military lawyer and is the only senator currently serving in the Air Force Reserve. Senator Durbin talks to Graham about his upbringing in rural South Carolina, his role in the military, and his service as a United States Senator
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July 2005
This month’s cable show features Senator Durbin interviewing the first two Hispanic Senators to serve in the Senate in more than a quarter of a century. In the first segment Senator Durbin interviews U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL). Senator Martinez is the first Cuban-American to be elected to the United States Senate and Senator Durbin talks to Senator Martinez about his childhood growing up in Cuba, his voyage to the United States, his family and his career in public service.
Later in the show, Senator Durbin interviews U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO). Senator Salazar’s family founded the city of Santa Fe, over 500 years ago and later settled in San Luis Valley of Colorado. Senator Durbin will talk to him about his family history, his work on his ranch, his career in public service and about his important role in the current United States Senate.
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May 2005
The first segment of this month's show features I Do
Solemnly Swear..., an exhibit at the Library of Congress on the history
of presidential inaugurations in the United States. Earlier this year,
we witnessed the swearing in of President George W. Bush to a second
term as the 43rd President of the United States. For weeks, Washington
D.C. prepared for the ceremony, parade, and festivities that have come
to characterize presidential inaugurations, which happen only once every
four years. Senator Durbin interviews Dr. Marvin Kranz, an American
History Specialist with the Library of Congress, who explains how many
of the inaugural traditions we practice today began as early as the
first inauguration of George Washington. Highlights include documents
and artifacts from the first and second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln,
as well as video footage of the inaugurations of John F. Kennedy and
Ronald Reagan.
Later in the show, Senator Durbin takes viewers on a tour of
his new office in the United States Capitol. In November 2004, Senator
Durbin was elected Assistant Minority Leader by his Democratic
colleagues in the Senate; only the fifth time an Illinoisan has been
chosen to serve in Senate leadership. With this position comes a new
office in the United States Capitol. In this segment, Senator Durbin
interviews Senate Historian Dick Baker and Senate Curator Diane Skvarla,
who share information about the previous occupants, art, and
architecture of this historic space.
Click here to view>>
March 2004
The first segment of this month’s show features an interview with U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-FL), who will be retiring from the Senate this year at the end of his third term. Durbin and Graham discuss Sen. Graham’s public service career, including the nearly 400 “Workdays” the Senator has done in Florida -- working full days in various jobs with his constituents. The two also discuss Sen. Graham’s experiences seeking this year’s Democratic presidential nomination, his friendship with singer Jimmy Buffett and his Florida roots.
Sen. Durbin visits the Smithsonian Museum of American History in the second half of the program, touring their new transportation exhibition America On the Move, which features an actual Chicago Elevated Train car. Durbin is joined by exhibit curator and University of Chicago graduate Bonnie Lillienfeld, who created a section focusing on Chicago and Park Forest, IL in the 1950s. Other highlights of the Senator’s tour are a propane city bus similar to those used by the Chicago Transit Authority in the ‘50s, a Southern Railway steam locomotive, slabs of Route 66, and a streetcar operated in Washington DC at the end of the 19th century.
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February 2004
Senator Durbin marks Black History Month with a visit to the Frederick Douglass Home National Historic Site in Southeast Washington, DC. Durbin tours the home with Julie Golanska of the National Park Service, exploring Douglass' early life, his friendship with Abraham Lincoln and his time at the Cedar Hill home in Washington, DC.
The second half of the February show pays tribute to former Illinois Senator Paul Simon, who passed away in December 2003. This segment includes clips from Simon's public life, portions of a March 1999 interview with Senator Durbin for this show, and speakers at the late Senator's funeral in Carbondale.
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Past Cable Shows
February 2000
Senator Durbin is joined by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) at a hearing with seniors and medical professionals to discuss the possibility of adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare coverage. The hearing took place last month at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Pharmacy. Durbin heard from seniors who told of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars each month on prescription drugs. The segment shows why it is so important Congress act on adding prescription drugs to Medicare coverage.
Durbin also interviews Zafra Lerman, a professor at Chicago’s Columbia College, who was awarded one of the most prestigious awards a scientist can receive, the 1999 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Lerman tells Durbin how she makes learning science interesting for her students, many of whom never plan to go into a career where a science education is necessary.
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February 1998
1. Lincoln tour in Springfield
2. Harold Washington
3. Susan Collins
Click here to view>>
