 Southwest corner of the Senate Reception Room in 2004 | |
| Building | United States Capitol |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Country | United States |
| Purpose | Meetings |
TheUnited States Senate Reception Room is located in theUnited States Capitol and is one of the Capitol's most richly decorated public rooms that features the work of Italian artistConstantino Brumidi.[1] The room, numbered S-213, has historically been used for meetings and ceremonies. These decorations feature nine permanent portraits of the greatestsenators as determined by a Senate committee. These portraits are placed in massive and ornate golden frames.[2]
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| United States Senate |
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In 1957, a Senate Committee headed by then SenatorJohn F. Kennedy was tasked to decide on the five greatest U.S. Senators of all time so their portraits could decorate the Senate Reception Room.[3] Three of the selections were the "Great Triumvirate":
The other two selections were:
The aforementioned were nicknamed the "famous five",[3] and at times have been referred to by media as being in the Senate's "hall of fame".[4]
In 2004,Arthur H. Vandenberg (Michigan) andRobert F. Wagner (New York) were added.[3] In 2006, a mural commemorating theConnecticut Compromise (also known as the Great Compromise of 1787) was added withRoger Sherman andOliver Ellsworth ofConnecticut, resulting in the group's informal name becoming the "famous nine".[3]
But these five men ... will grace the Senate's own hall of fame.
