Senate Gallery Gossip
3/6/1924
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It is common for the Senate and House to be in session with few Members on the floor. This cartoon shows two visitors to the Senate gallery noting that only one senator is on the floor because the others are conducting investigations. Much of the work of Congress occurs away from the House and Senate floor and includes meeting with constituents, working in committees, conducting investigations, and raising money for reelection. Cartoonist Clifford Berryman highlights current Senate activity with a senator addresses an empty chamber. Two visitors sit in the gallery and one comments "Yep, the others are all out investigatin'." He refers to the many scandals, particularly those related to oil leases, such as the Teapot Dome scandal, which involved high officials in both the legislative and executive branches and friends of former President Warren G. Harding. Evidence collected through a federal grand jury found President Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall, guilty of secretly leasing Navy oil reserves in Wyoming and California.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789 - 2015.
National Archives Identifier: 6011841
Full Citation: Senate Gallery Gossip; 3/6/1924; (K-081); Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896 - 1949; Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789 - 2015, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/senate-gallery-gossip, April 30, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.