In early May of 2007, my wife and I traveled to Washington DC and arranged for a private Capital tour through our Illinois Representative, Ray LaHood from Peoria. It was quite impressive to see the dome up-close and step outside to a view of the city that most people don’t ever get to experience. At 289 feet it is the fourth tallest structure in DC, built in 1863. It’s distinctive great dome was ordered for completion during the start of the Civil War by President Lincoln, seeing it as beacon of hope for the preservation of the Union. It’s the nearest thing we Americans have to a national temple. In 1863 the 19-foot “Bronze Goddess of Freedom Triumphant” topper was finally hoisted into place, but “The Capital” was then used primarily as a make-shift barracks and then a hospital. 

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the Federal government of the United States. The legislature consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 Senators (two for each state). Dick Durbin and Barack Obama were our Illinois Senators when I was making these trips to Washington representing the television industry through the Illinois Broadcaster’s Association (IBA). Other notable Senators throughout history include Stephen A. Douglas, Everett Dirksen, Adlai Stevenson III, and Paul Simon. Two women, Carol Moseley Braun and Tammy Duckworth (currently) have joined this exclusive club in the last 25 years.

Ken Burns takes us through the history of Congress in his documentary, The Congress. It’s fascinating information on our great country put together by the master of making it interesting. So, what’s cooking in Congress in modern times? Trump stew. What’s on the grill tonight? Beer can chicken, propped up with my own special touch, a Diet Coke can. It does not matter what liquid you use, the only difference is the 3/4 of a can you don’t. I prefer to drink Diet Coke, while many like the taste of beer while they’re cooking. It’s a cool, damp evening here in Portland, but the rain has stayed away and it looks like a record May in terms of low moisture. It looks like it won’t take “an act of Congress” to stay dry this summer.