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The Dirksen Congressional Center

The Dirksen Congressional Center

The Dirksen Congressional Center promotes research and scholarship to advance the public understanding of the U.S. Congress

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    • Everett M. Dirksen
      • Dirksen Collection
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        • “A Billion Here, a Billion There”
        • Dirksen: Master Legislator
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        • Everett Dirksen Really Said That?
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    • Robert H. Michel
      • Michel Collection
      • Michel on the Record
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      • Michel Books & Manuscripts
      • Michel Special Features
    • Ray LaHood
      • LaHood Collection
      • LaHood on the Record
      • Lahood in Pictures
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      • LaHood Special Features
    • Harold H. Velde
      • Velde Collection
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      • MacNeil Collection Series
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Memorabilia Series

  • Robert H. Michel
  • Michel Collection
  • Michel on the Record
  • Michel in Pictures
  • Michel Books & Manuscripts
  • Michel Special Features

TO BE PROCESSED

Date Prepared: December 19, 2002

Box 1
  • CARTOON

    Whadaya mean 1986

  • CARTOON

    Thanks for the memories 1985

  • CARTOON

    A Congressman 1978

  • CARTOON

    Long Winter?

  • CARTOON

    Congressional Lamplighter

  • CARTOON

    Riverfront Development

  • CARTOON

    We have walked the extra mile

  • CARTOON

    Michel on a elephant

  • CARTOON

    Vote yes for NAFTA

Box 2
  • DOCUMENT

    39th Infantry Regiment

  • AWARD

    Distinguished Service Award 1973

  • AWARD

    Certificate of Merit 1960

  • AWARD

    Peoria Association for Retarded Children 1966

  • AWARD

    The Investors’ Union of America, Inc. 1963

  • AWARD

    Honorary Doughboy 1957

  • AWARD

    National Federation of Independent Business 1974

  • CERTIFICATE

    United Hellenic Voters of America 1984

  • AWARD

    Illinois Credit Union League 1976

  • AWARD

    Fraternity award 1956

  • CERTIFICATE

    National Association of Letter Carriers 1958

  • AWARD

    Speaker of the Year Award 1957

  • AWARD

    The Thomas Paine Award

  • AWARD

    Silver Gold Citizenship Medal 1985

  • CERTIFICATE

    Certificate of Appreciation

  • CERTIFICATE

    The University Club Certificate of Membership 1981

  • RESOLUTION

    Council Chamber 1977

  • AWARD

    Board of Directors of the National Right to Work Committee

  • AWARD

    The Supreme Lodge 1959

  • CERTIFICATE

    Department of Labor 15th Anniversary Year 1962

  • CERTIFICATE

    Cruise Certification 1975

  • CERTIFICATE

    Cruise Certification for Mrs. Michel 1975

  • LETTER

    The White House 1982

  • AWARD

    Defender of Free Enterprise Award 1966

  • CITATION

    The Special Meritorious Commendation 1969

  • AWARD

    Guardian of the Outpost of Democracy 1961

  • CERTIFICATE

    Present at the launch of Apollo 11 1969

  • CERTIFICATE

    Cruised aboard the Yacht Sequoia as a guest of Pres. Nixon 1974

  • AWARD

    Distinguished Service in the fight against arthritis 1973

  • STAMP

    Bicentennial House of Representatives 1989

  • DOCUMENT

    Ninety-eighth Congress of the United States of America 1983

  • INAUGURATION

    Inauguration 1981

  • DOCUMENT

    Code of Ethics 1958

  • AWARD

    Statesman Award 1977

  • AWARD

    Champion of Religious Freedom 1984

  • AWARD

    Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus 1982

  • CERTIFICATE

    Flight Certificate 1991

  • DOCUMENT

    Popular views of Presidential Inaugurations

  • RESOLUTION

    Republican Conference 10/7/94

  • LETTER

    Lockhead Corporation 11/84

  • PAPER

    Recycled 1992

  • BOOKLET

    The Honorable Robert H. Michel and Mrs. Michel

  • AWARD

    The United States Capital Cornerstone Club 1973

  • AWARD

    The United States Capital Cornerstone Club 1973

Box 3
  • MAIL

    Mail From the White House

  • PICTURE

    Picture Throwing a ball at a baseball game

  • PICTURE

    Baseball Team

  • PICTURE

    Award Ceremony at a baseball game

  • FOLDER

    Picture of Peoria

  • STICKER

    Reagan and Michel

  • STICKER

    Michel for Congress

  • PICTURE

    Michel for Congress

  • PICTURE

    We’re for Michel

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • POSTER

    Important message for voters

  • POSTER

    In Progress

  • POSTER

    Fair Memories

  • ADDRESS

    Inauguration address of President of Ronald Reagan 1/20/81

  • LETTER

    Congress of the United States 4/1/81

  • DOCUMENT

    Voting Assistance 6/29/81

  • CERTIFICATE

    Flight Certificate 10/20/82

  • CERTIFICATE

    Air Force One as guest of Richard Nixon 11/71

  • CERTIFICATE

    Air Force One as guest of Gerald R. Ford 9/75

  • DOCUMENT

    First Man on the Moon 1969

  • FOLDER

    United States Department of the Interior 1994

  • CARTOON

    Why don’t you two march together

  • MAIL

    US House of Representatives

  • CERTIFICATE

    Certificate of Appreciation 4/2/90

  • AWARD

    State FFA Degree 6/15/95

  • RESOUTION

    The Republican National Committee Meeting 1/20/95

  • FOLDER

    USAAF 50th Anniversary Posterbook 1992

  • DOCUMENT

    State of Illinois Executive Department 11/3/92

  • RESOUTION

    American College of Emergency Physicians 6/24/78

  • POSTER

    James M. Unland

  • LETTER

    Letter from Maxine Dean 11/11/96

  • STICKER

    Re-elect Congressman Michel

  • DOCUMENT

    US Department of the Interior National Park Service 5/72

Box 4
  • POSTER

    Your ’68 Republican Progress Team 11/3/68

  • POSTER

    Mr. and Mrs. Michel

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • POSTER

    Abraham Lincoln 1984

  • BAG

    More for your money Michel for Congress 1962

  • BAG

    More for your money Michel for Congress 1962

  • POSTER

    Pictures of the President

  • POSTER

    Return Michel to Congress

  • POSTER

    Vote straight Republican

  • POSTER

    For Sound Government

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • BAG

    More for your money Michel for Congress 1962

  • POSTER

    The Leader

  • POSTER

    Baseball players

  • POSTER

    Stamp 3/1/72

  • POSTER

    Bob Michel 18th District, Illinois

  • POSTER

    Bob Michel 18th District, Illinois

  • POSTER

    Battle of the Bulge 1984

  • POSTER

    Rep. Michel Joint Congressional Committee

  • POSTER

    Rep. Michel Joint Congressional Committee

  • POSTER

    18th Congressional debate Stephens vs. Michel 10/24/88

  • DOCUMENT

    Public document from the Office of the Minority Leader

  • PICTURES

    Pictures that were drawn of Michel

Box 5
  • POSTER

    Blue and Red

  • CARD

    Get well quick, Bob!

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • POSTER

    Congressman Bob Michel

  • POSTER

    Michel for Congress

  • POSTER

    Return Michel to Congress

  • POSTER

    Picture of Michel

  • POSTER

    GOP

  • PICTURE

    Picture of George Bush

  • POSTER

    Bob Michel for Congress

Michel Collection

Alphabetical Series

Audiovisual Series

Campaigns and Politics Series

District Office Series

General Series

Interfile Series

Leadership Series

Legislative Series

Voting Records

Memorabilia Series

Patronage Series

Personal Series

Press Series

Project Series

Schedules Series

Scrapbook Series

Speeches and Trip Series

Staff Series

During the 1960s, Everett Dirksen emerged as the leading voice of those who objected to the Supreme Court’s reapportionment rulings. I arrived at the Dirksen Center with high hopes of learning more about Dirksen’s views on the subject, but never imagined that I would find such a wealth of amazing materials. My understanding of the topic has been immeasurably enhanced by the chance to have worked in the Dirksen Papers. I am deeply grateful to the Dirksen Center for the financial support that allowed me to do such critical research.

J. Douglas Smith

On Democracy’s Doorstep: The Inside Story of How the Supreme Court Brought “One Person, One Vote” to the United States

This excellent book explains why Bob Michel was the most effective minority leader in the history of the House of Representatives. Its richly detailed and perceptive essays show that he was a legislator in full” a servant for his district, a watchdog of the public treasury, and a masterful tactician who won historic votes without partisan majorities. Anyone who wants to understand congressional leadership should read Robert H. Michel: Leading the Republican House Minority.

John J. Pitney Jr.

Roy P. Crocker Professor of Politics, Claremont McKenna College

[About The Center-sponsored Robert H. Michel: Leading the Republican House Minority (University Press of Kansas, Spring 2019) Frank H. Mackaman and Sean Q Kelly, eds.] : A richly documented and authoritative look at Michel’s congressional career. Editors Mackaman and Kelly have done an excellent job both in selected contributors and developing a compelling narrative to frame these expertly written chapters. This should be the first book consulted by readers who are curious about Bob Michel’s legislative legacy.

Jeffrey Crouch

The Presidential Pardon Power

It is also important to note that [the Congressional Research Grants] Program is a vital source of support for types of research not generally funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation.  While Dirksen award amounts are relatively small, they very powerfully combine with other small funding streams (for example, the typically small grants given to faculty by their academic institutions) to render otherwise impossible projects possible.

Laura S. Jensen

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, (Congressional Research Grant recipient, 2005)

Frank Mackaman at the Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin, Illinois, is a peerless one-man band, a veteran archival librarian and the reigning expert in all things Ev. His monograph on Dirksen’s role in the bill was never far from my side, and I am everlastingly grateful for his help …

Todd S. Purdum

An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964:

The Dirksen Congressional Center has been a wonderful and indispensable addition to the community of scholars interested in congressional history. The Center has offered financial support that scholars need to conduct research into the legislative branch, while it has been instrumental to the organization of conferences, workshops, web-based initiatives, and teaching programs that greatly further our knowledge of congressional history.

Julian Zelizer

The American Congress: The Building of Democracy

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