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Introduction to the Historical Minutes

Senate Historian Richard A. Baker opens each weekly luncheon meeting of the Senate Democratic Conference with a brief historical anecdote or "minute." These short essays are wide-ranging in topic and highlight recurring themes in the Senate's institutional development.  

 

Historical Minutes

The Whirligig of Time

Formative Years of the Senate
(1787-1800)

The Golden Era of the Senate
(1801-1850)

War and Reconstruction
(1851-1877)

Origins of the Modern Senate
(1878-1920)

Era of Investigations
(1921-1940)

War and Reorganization
(1941-1963)

The Modern Senate
(1964 to the Present)

 
  

Historical information provided by the Senate Historical Office.


Information about any senator, representative, vice president, or member of the Continental Congress.  


Oral history Interviews with senators, officers, staff, and others provide insight into the history and evolution of the Senate.  


Explore Senate history through historical tables and statistics.