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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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Tim Butler, Peoria Office

  • Ray LaHood
  • LaHood Collection
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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

Civility Retreats Folders: Tim Butler


Peoria Office, Tim Butler

  • January 16, 1999

  • February 13, 1998

  • January 26, 1999

  • September 26, 1996

  • December 22, 1998

  • November 20, 2000

  • May 7, 1999

  • March 20, 1999

  • March 20, 1999-2

  • September 26, 2001

  • March 19, 1999

  • December 21, 2000

  • December 17, 2000

  • February 25, 1999

  • January 28, 1999

  • January 15, 1998

  • February 8, 1999

  • February 18, 1999

  • March 24, 1999

  • March 10, 1999

  • 1998

  • February 22, 1999

  • February 25, 1999-2

  • February 22, 1999-2

  • March 9, 1998

  • January 31, 1999

  • Undated

  • March 12, 1997

  • July 27, 1996

  • April 4, 1997

  • March 10, 1997

  • April 10, 1997

  • March 13, 1997

  • December 4, 1996

  • November 27, 1997

  • March 8, 1997

  • April 11, 1997

  • March 3, 1997

  • March 4, 1998

  • March 9, 1998-2

  • February 24, 1998

  • March 6, 1998

  • December 26, 1997

  • March 28, 1997

  • April 1, 1997

  • June 24, 1997

  • June 26, 1997

  • April 17, 1997

  • May 11, 1997

  • Undated-2

  • April 18, 1997

  • April 10, 1997

  • April 10, 1997-2

  • April 16, 1997

  • Undated

  • January 15, 1997

  • March 7, 1997

  • March 14, 1997

  • March 21, 1997

  • April 1, 1997

  • April 1, 1997-2

  • March 24, 1997

  • March 7, 1997-2

  • March 8, 1997

  • March 8, 1998

  • March 8, 1998-2

  • March 9, 1998

  • December 5, 1996

  • November 29, 1996

  • March 7, 1997-3

  • Undated-2

  • March 14, 1997-2

  • March 14, 1997-3

  • March 14, 1997-4

  • March 4, 1997

  • March 6, 1997

  • March 6, 1997-2

  • February 7, 1997

  • December 27, 1996

  • February 24, 1997

  • February 21, 1997

  • February 9, 1997

  • December 1996

  • November 27, 1996

  • December 10, 1996

  • December 13, 1996

  • February 13, 1997

  • November 28, 1996

  • February 24, 1997-2

  • December 13, 1996-2

  • February 4, 1997

  • December 13, 1996-3

  • July 28, 1996

  • September 12, 1996

  • Undated-3

  • July 12, 1996

  • July 17, 1996

  • Undated-4

  • July 19, 1996

  • July 20, 1996

  • July 24, 1996

  • October 16, 1996

  • September 21, 1996

  • September 20, 1996

  • September 16, 1996

  • Undated-5

  • August 8, 1996

  • August 13, 1996

  • August 8, 1996-2

  • July 17, 1996-2

  • July 19, 1996-2

  • July 22, 1996

  • August 9, 1996

  • July 24, 1996-2

  • July 24, 1996-3

  • July 24, 1996-4

  • July 25, 1996

  • July 20, 1996-2

  • July 20, 1996-3

  • July 16, 1996

  • July 16, 1996-2

  • July 16, 1996-3

  • July 15, 1996

  • July 29, 1996

  • April 18, 1998

  • Undated-6

  • October 3, 1996

  • July 29, 1997

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

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