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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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Ray LaHood
on the Record

  • Ray LaHood
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Reflections on a Career in Congress

An Evening of Personal Reflections From Congressman Ray LaHood and Congressman Bob Michel

An Evening of Personal Reflections From Congressman Ray LaHood and Congressman Bob Michel

Ray LaHood on YouTube

A collection of videos highlighting the work of Ray LaHood

Illinois Republican Day at the State Fair | Congressman Ray LaHood’s appearance at Illinois’s Republican Day at the state fair. This video includes Interviews with State Party Chairman Andy McKenna, Congressman Ray LaHood, and Minority Leader Tom Cross.

Obama-LaHood Press Conference, Nov. 2004 | Ray LaHood’s news conference following Barack Obama’s visit to Peoria to meet with LaHood | PCCEO Peoria, November 2004 | This press conference was held about a week after Barack Obama had been elected U.S. Senator from Illinois. He wanted to reach out across party lines to Congressman Ray LaHood, 18th District, to work in bi-partisanship to help Illinois citizens.
Endorses John McCain for President | Retiring Representative Ray LaHood (IL-18) endorses Sen. John McCain for President at Republican Day.
Retirement Announcement, July 27, 2007 part 1 | Congressman Ray LaHood’s retirement from the House of Representatives. (Part 1 of 3) | From the State Capitol in Springfield: Congressman Ray LaHood announces his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his current term. Congressman LaHood was first elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 which led to the Republicans taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
Retirement Announcement, July 27, 2007 part 2 | Congressman Ray LaHood’s retirement from the House of Representatives. (Part 2 of 3) | From the State Capitol in Springfield: Congressman Ray LaHood announces his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his current term. Congressman LaHood was first elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 which led to the Republicans taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
Retirement Announcement, July 27, 2007 part 3 | Congressman Ray LaHood’s retirement from the House of Representatives. (Part 3 of 3) | From the State Capitol in Springfield: Congressman Ray LaHood announces his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his current term. Congressman LaHood was first elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 which led to the Republicans taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
Witness to History, ca. June 2008 | Congressman Ray LaHood talks about his 14 years in the House of Representatives.
Obama Announces Another Republican for His Cabinet, Dec. 18, 2008
Sen. Dick Durbin Honoring Retiring Secretary of Transportation LaHood, June 18, 2013 | Honoring Retiring Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.
Bipartisan Politics, July 2013 | Ray LaHood, former U.S. Transportation Secretary, joins David Axelrod’s politics institute. Sitting down with genConnect at the 2013 Aspen Ideas Festival, LaHood talks about his feelings on leaving ‘the best job I ever had,’ why bipartisan politics and compromise is the way for Congress and the country to move forward, and the vision he shares with President Obama on the future of America.
Seeking Bipartisanship | Cambria Press Publication – Seeking Bipartisanship by Ray LaHood with Frank H. Mackaman

An Evening with Ray LaHood and Judy Woodruff (full version)

WTVP welcomes Judy Woodruff, co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour, for a special program taping as she interviews the Honorable Ray LaHood about his forthcoming memoir, Seeking Bipartisanship: My Life in Politics.

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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