111th Congress, 2nd Session
Alexander McDowell, long-serving Clerk of the House
March 15, 1897
On this date, Alexander McDowell of Pennsylvania was elected Clerk of the House for a second term. A Civil War veteran and banker, McDowell represented an At-Large Pennsylvania district in the House during the 53rd Congress (1893–1895). After two years as a Representative, McDowell chose not to seek a second term and instead was elected Clerk of the House for the 54th Congress (1895–1897). At the opening of the 55th Congress (1897–1899), McDowell, in his capacity as Clerk, called the House to order and read the roll. During the first day of the new Congress, Speaker Thomas Bracket Reed of Maine administered the oath of office to McDowell and the other House Officers—Benjamin Russell (Sergeant at Arms), William Glenn (Doorkeeper), Joseph McElroy (Postmaster), and Henry Couden (Chaplain). As one of the longest-serving Clerks in House history, McDowell worked for three Speakers during his eight terms: Reed, David Henderson of Iowa, and Joe Cannon of Illinois. When the Democrats took control of the House in the 62nd Congress (1911–1913), McDowell’s nearly two-decade career on Capitol Hill came to a close. “On the eve of my departure, I want to thank the members of the past eight congresses for their uniform kindness and courtesy,” McDowell remarked. “During the sixteen years that I have been in the service of the House 78 members have died in service and are now silently waiting beyond the river for the Supreme Committee on Committees properly to place them.”
Related Highlight Subjects
Cite this Highlight
Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/highlights.html?action=view&intID=19, (December 15, 2010).For Additional Information
Office of History and Preservation(202) 226-1300
history@mail.house.gov
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Clerk of the House Alexander McDowell of Pennsylvania is one of 13 Clerks to have also served as a Member.
Members of the House of Representatives, Sixtieth Congress
Teaching Tip
Ten Questions
Have students select a highlight date which focuses on a person connected to the House (Speaker, Member, House Officer, Page, etc.). Compile 10 questions to ask this person concerning his/her career in the House. In pairs, have one student play the part of the interviewer, while the other is the interviewee. Conduct research to devise answers that would likely be made by the person being interviewed.
