Audio

  • Making History

    Historical perspective of being the first African-American House Page.
    Interview recorded August 6, 2008 – View transcript | Deed of Gift

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    I wanted to become a Page. The fact that it was history-making didn’t really affect me. Because you don’t feel or sense history while it’s being made. You’re just going through the motions of living your life. I mean, and the perspective of what I did and when I did it really is only something I’ve thought about from a deep historical context in the last few years.

  • Press Attention

    Memories of the press attention received for the honor of being named the first African-American Page for the U.S. House.
    Interview recorded August 6, 2008 – View transcript | Deed of Gift

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    I just remember that there were more cameras, TV, and still cameras than I’d ever seen before. The lights were flashing. I was kind of—I mean, I guess I was—totally in awe, at 15, just trying to keep up with it all and be ready to sound intelligent when they asked me a question. But, you know, obviously Mr. Ford took the lead, and Mr. Findley had a role. And they asked me—I’m sure, as I recall, reading some things, too—how I felt, and, you know, what it meant to me. So, and it was very important. I mean, I was raised in a house, again, with my aunt and uncle and my great-aunt and then her mother—so my great-grandmother. And there were always stories about family members doing things, you know. And it’s up to the listener to determine how significant those things are. But they always meant something to the storyteller—to my grandmother or my aunt. So I was raised to think big, to think that I could do whatever I decided to do. And so I guess I wanted to live up to the expectations. I didn’t want to stumble.

  • The First African-American House Page

    Reflection of the significance of being the first African-American House Page.
    Interview recorded August 6, 2008 – View transcript | Deed of Gift

    Full Text: The First African-American House Page

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    I didn’t break—I don’t think I broke any barriers for anybody. You know, I wasn’t like one of the Little Rock six or nine or however many there were. You know, Medgar Evers at the University of Mississippi or anything like that. I didn’t do anything like that. But what I did do was carry myself with dignity and respect, and I hope I made it easier for the next guy or woman coming along, so that there wouldn’t be any hesitation. Because I have to think that, the way folks thought back then, was that the reason that no one had been appointed is that with whatever stereotypes they had of black people, they said, “Well, maybe a black person can’t handle it, or whatever.” Well, I hope I helped knock down some of those myths. So in that way, you know, I did my part.

  • The Republican Cloakroom

    Recollections of the Republican Cloakroom during the 1960s.
    Interview recorded August 6, 2008 – View transcript | Deed of Gift

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    Well, I remember it was L-shaped, and in the back half of the ‘L’ it was a lot of big, comfortable chairs and couches. And the Congressmen would come back and take advantage of that, particularly on a long day, a long session. And we would have something—we had some overnighters during some of the—I was there during the civil rights—Voting Rights Act debate. There were some housing debates, I remember. And you could always tell when you got the calendar of the agenda for the coming week and what was coming up, and you’d see the number of hours set for debate. And you’d say, “Oh, this is going to be a long one.” {laughter} You know, and so by midnight, two or three in the morning, and they’re still going, and we’re like this, you know, just hanging our heads. You know, and that’s when Ms. [Frances] Bolton would come in. “Hello boys! How you guys doing? Oh, you’re looking so—like you’re pooped out. You need to, you need to get some energy.” And she’d tell us to breathe deeply and close our eyes, think about relaxing from head to toe, just a little bit at a time, and then reverse the process, and then you’ll feel better. And she was right. But it would only last a half an hour, and then you’d feel tired again.

Video

  • Congresswoman Frances Bolton of Ohio

    Recollections of Pages interacting with Congresswoman Frances Bolton of Ohio.
    Interview recorded June 2, 2010 – Deed of Gift

  • Memories of Historic Legislation

    Civil Rights legislation and reflections on breaking racial barriers in the House of Representatives.
    Interview recorded June 2, 2010 – Deed of Gift

  • Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan

    Personal Memories of Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan.
    Interview recorded June 2, 2010 – Deed of Gift

  • Treatment as a Page and Speaker John McCormack of Massachusetts

    Account of meeting Speaker John McCormack of Massachusetts on the Speaker’s Rostrum.
    Interview recorded June 2, 2010 – Deed of Gift

  • Typical Day as a Page and Description of the Republican Cloakroom

    Memories of a busy Page schedule and of the Republican Cloakroom.
    Interview recorded June 2, 2010 – Deed of Gift

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