• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
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

  • Home
  • Collections
    • Everett M. Dirksen
      • Dirksen Collection
      • Dirksen on the Record
        • “A Billion Here, a Billion There”
        • Dirksen: Master Legislator
        • An Early Advocate for Civil Rights
        • On Civil Rights
        • On Politics as a Career
        • On Vietnam
        • Interview transcripts
        • Everett Dirksen Really Said That?
      • Dirksen in Pictures
      • Dirksen Books & Manuscripts
      • Dirksen Special Features
      • Civil Rights Resources
    • Robert H. Michel
      • Michel Collection
      • Michel on the Record
      • Michel in Pictures
      • Michel Books & Manuscripts
      • Michel Special Features
    • Ray LaHood
      • LaHood Collection
      • LaHood on the Record
      • Lahood in Pictures
      • LaHood Books & Manuscripts
      • LaHood Special Features
    • Harold H. Velde
      • Velde Collection
      • Velde on the Record
      • Velde in Pictures
      • Velde Books & Manuscripts
    • Neil MacNeil
      • MacNeil Collection Series
      • MacNeil Books & Manuscripts
      • MacNeil Special Features
    • Other Collections
    • Coming Soon
    • Guidelines for Use
  • About
    the Center
    • Purpose
    • People
    • Partners
    • History
  • Grants &
    Awards
    • Congressional Research Grants
      • How to Apply
      • Sample Grant Abstracts
      • Selected Progress Reports
      • Grant Recipients since 1978
    • LaHood Scholarships
    • Michel – LaHood Internships
  • Projects &
    Publications
  • Support
    the Center

Civility Initiative: 2001

  • Ray LaHood
  • LaHood Collection
  • LaHood on the Record
  • LaHood in Pictures
  • LaHood Books & Manuscripts
  • LaHood Special Features

Ray LaHood and the Civility Initiative, 1997-2003

In March 1997, Ray LaHood joined with David Skaggs (D-CO) to host 197 colleagues in an effort to promote civility in the House of Representatives. The three-day conclave generated more than 200 recommendations to improve members’ conduct and rhetoric in committee hearings and on the House floor.

The comprehensive set of documents linked below originate in LaHood’s Congressional Series, Washington D.C., Office, Subject Files, and showcase the bipartisan planning work LaHood and his colleagues undertook while hosting four civility retreats from 1997 to 2003. They also include press releases, notes taken during the retreats, and additional details on the reform proposals that emerged from the events.

Civility Retreats Folders

1997
1999
2001
2003
Tim Butler Files

Civility Retreats Folders: 2001


2001 Folders

  • 2001 Attendance

    • March 6, 2001

    • Undated

    • Undated-2

    • Undated-3

    • March 21, 2001

    • Undated-4

  • 2001 Briefing Book

    • March 9-11, 2001

  • 2001 “Civility in the House”

    • April 1999

    • March 2001

  • 2001 Co-Leaders

    • Undated

  • 2001 Correspondence, 1999-2000

    • October 1, 1999

    • October 4, 1999

    • October 14, 1999

    • October 19, 1999

    • October 14, 1999-2

    • Undated

    • November 15, 1999

    • November 22, 1999

    • December 7, 1999

    • December 15, 1999

    • December 28, 1999

    • March 6, 2000

    • March 28, 2000

    • March 29, 2000

    • April 5, 2000

    • April 5, 2000-2

    • April 5, 2000-3

    • April 5, 2000-4

    • April 6, 2000

    • April 12, 2000

    • April 12, 2000-2

    • April 12, 2000-3

    • April 18, 2000

    • May 2, 2000

    • May 3, 2000

    • May 4, 2000

    • May 4, 2000-2

    • May 3, 2000

    • May 17, 2000

    • June 20, 2000

    • July 21, 2000

    • September 26, 2000

    • September 26, 2000-2

    • September 28, 2000

    • October 2, 2000

    • October 5, 2000

    • October 10, 2000

    • November 2, 2000

    • November 6, 2000

    • November 14, 2000

    • November 14, 2000-2

    • November 17, 2000

    • November 20, 2000

    • December 22, 2000-2

    • December 22, 2000-3

    • December 22, 2000-4

  • 2001 Correspondence, 2001

    • 2001

    • January 9, 2001

    • January 11, 2001

    • January 11, 2001-2

    • January 12, 2001

    • January 18, 2001

    • January 23, 2001

    • Undated

    • January 25, 2001

    • February 6, 2001

    • February 9, 2001

    • February 12, 2001

    • February 13, 2001

    • February 14, 2001

    • February 27, 2001

    • February 28, 2001

    • March 1, 2001

    • March 2, 2001

    • March 2, 2001-2

    • March 6, 2001

    • March 6, 2001-2

    • March 6, 2001-3

    • March 13, 2001

    • March 13, 2001-2

    • March 14, 2001

    • March 19, 2001

    • March 20, 2001

    • March 21, 2001

    • March 27, 2001

    • March 28, 2001

    • May 17, 2001

    • July 27, 2001

  • 2001 Evaluations

    • April 6, 2001

    • April 6, 2001-2

    • December 12, 2002

    • November 11, 2002

  • 2001 Logistics

    • Undated

    • Undated-2

    • Undated-3

    • Undated-4

    • Undated-5

    • Undated-6

    • Undated-7

    • March 5, 2001

    • Undated-8

  • 2001 McCullough, David

    • March 9, 2001

  • 2001 Miscellaneous

    • F73 – Undated

    • F73 – Undated-2

    • October 16, 2000

    • F74 – Undated

    • F74 – Undated-2

  • 2001 Planning Committee

    • August 15, 1999

    • July 30, 1999

    • September 28, 1999

    • October 14, 1999

    • F74 – Undated-3

    • F74 – Undated-4

    • F74 – Undated-5

    • March 28, 2000

    • March 30, 2000

    • Undated-6

    • March 29, 2000

    • April 5, 2000

    • May 2, 2000

    • July 21, 2000

    • September 28, 2000

    • September 20, 2000

    • October 2, 2000

    • Undated-7

    • November 1, 2000

    • January 18, 2001

    • January 19, 2001

    • January 29, 2001

    • January 30, 2001

    • January 31, 2001

    • February 2, 2001

    • February 6, 2001

    • February 13, 2001

    • February 14, 2001

    • February 27, 2001

    • February 28, 2001

    • Undated-8

    • Undated-9

    • February 28, 2001-2

    • Undated-10

    • March 14, 2001

    • April 4, 2001

  • 2001 Press

    • Undated

    • March 19, 1999

    • April 6, 2000

    • April 28, 2000

    • April 30, 2000

    • June 15, 2000

    • March 12, 2001

    • Undated-2

    • Undated-3

    • March 13, 2001

    • March 13, 2001-2

  • 2001 Schedule

    • Undated

    • Undated-2

    • Undated-3

    • Undated-4

    • Undated-5

    • Undated-6

    • Undated-7

    • Undated-8

  • 2001 Staff Guide

    • March 5, 1997

    • March 6, 2001

  • 2001 Talking Points

    • Undated

    • Undated-2

  • 2001 Thank Yous

    • Undated

  • 2001 Work Sessions

    • March 8, 2001

    • Undated

    • Undated-2

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

2815 Broadway
Pekin, Illinois 61554

309.347.7113

About

Purpose

People

Partners

History

Collections

Everett M. Dirksen

Robert H. Michel

Ray LaHood

Harold Velde

Neil MacNeil

Other Collections

Coming Soon

Guidelines for Use

Grants & Awards

Congressional Research Grants

How to Apply

Sample Grant Abstracts

Selected Progress Reports

Recipients since 1978

LaHood Scholarships

Michael — LaHood Internship Program

PCHS Close Up

Projects & Publications

Support The Center

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2026 The Dirksen Congressional Center | 2815 Broadway · Pekin, Illinois 61554 | 309.347.7113