83rd United States Congress
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The 83rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1953, until January 3, 1955, during the last two weeks of the Truman administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency. It was composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 1950 U.S. census.
The Republicans gained the majority in both chambers, winning back full control of Congress for the first time since the 80th Congress in 1947, and with Dwight Eisenhower being sworn in as president on January 20, 1953, this gave the Republicans an overall federal government trifecta for the first time since the 71st Congress in 1929, and the last time until they briefly did so during the 107th Congress in 2001.
Major events
- January 20, 1953: Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as President of the United States in his first inauguration
- March 1, 1954: U.S. Capitol shooting incident
- December 2, 1954: Joseph McCarthy is censured by the U.S. Senate
Major legislation
- July 3, 1953: Small Business Act, Pub. L. , ch. 282, 67 Stat.
- August 7, 1953: Refugee Relief Act, Pub. L.
- August 7, 1953: Submerged Lands Act, ch. 345, 67 Stat.
- August 14, 1953: Public Law 280, Pub. L. , 18 U.S.C.
- May 13, 1954: Saint Lawrence Seaway Act, ch. 201, 68 Stat.
- August 12, 1954: Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, ch. 649, title II, §201, 68 Stat.
- August 13, 1954: Multiple Mineral Development Act, ch. 730, 68 Stat.
- August 16, 1954: Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Pub. L. , ch. 736, 68A Stat. Federal Unemployment Tax Act, §1(d), 68A Stat. National Firearms Act, §1(d), 68A Stat.
- August 24, 1954: Communist Control Act of 1954, ch. 886, 68 Stat.
- August 30, 1954: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 68 Stat.
- 1954: Agricultural Act of 1954
- 1954: Water Facilities Act of 1954
Party summary
Until the last week of the first session of Congress, Republicans had a 48-47-1 tied-plurality in the Senate which Republican Vice President Richard Nixon broke in the GOP’s favor. At the start of the second session, to account for whenever the Senate became tied 47-47-1 or when the Democrats held the plurality the Republican-turned-Independent, Wayne Morse, caucused with the GOP which gave them a tie-breaking majority, allowing continuity in GOP control of the Senate and the overall trifecta of government. Thus Republican leader William Knowland remained Senate Majority Leader, Democratic leader Lyndon B. Johnson remained Senate Minority Leader, and the GOP remained continuously in control of the Senate committees. Wayne Morse would begin caucusing with Democrats at the start of the next Congress in 1955 to give them Senate control.
Senate
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Congress | 47 | — | 48 | 95 | 1 |
| Begin | 47 | 1 | 48 | 96 | — |
| June 26, 1953 | 46 | 95 | 1 | ||
| July 10, 1953 | 47 | 96 | — | ||
| July 24, 1953 | 47 | 95 | 1 | ||
| July 31, 1953 | 47 | 46 | 94 | 2 | |
| August 14, 1953 | 47 | 47 | 95 | 1 | |
| November 10, 1953 | 48 | 96 | — | ||
| January 6, 1954 | 48 | 1 | 47 | 96 | — |
| April 12, 1954 | 48 | 1 | 46 | 95 | 1 |
| April 16, 1954 | 48 | 1 | 47 | 96 | — |
| May 12, 1954 | 47 | 95 | 1 | ||
| June 5, 1954 | 48 | 96 | — | ||
| June 19, 1954 | 47 | 95 | 1 | ||
| June 24, 1954 | 48 | 96 | — | ||
| July 1, 1954 | 47 | 95 | 1 | ||
| July 3, 1954 | 48 | 96 | — | ||
| September 1, 1954 | 46 | 95 | 1 | ||
| September 6, 1954 | 47 | 96 | — | ||
| September 28, 1954 | 46 | 95 | 1 | ||
| September 6, 1954 | 49 | 96 | — | ||
| November 2, 1954 | 47 | 48 | |||
| November 2, 1954 | 48 | 47 | |||
| December 15, 1954 | 47 | 48 | |||
| December 23, 1954 | 46 | 95 | 1 | ||
| December 24, 1954 | 47 | 96 | — | ||
| December 31, 1954 | 47 | 95 | 1 | ||
| January 1, 1955 | 48 | 96 | — | ||
| Final voting share | 49% | 1% | 50% | ||
| Beginning of the next Congress | 48 | 1 | 47 | 96 | — |
House of Representatives
Republican majority in the House becomes a plurality after the end of the last congressional session.
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||
| End of previous Congress | 228 | 1 | 198 | 427 | 8 |
| Begin | 211 | 1 | 221 | 433 | 2 |
| End | 212 | 213 | 426 | 9 | |
| Beginning of next Congress | 231 | 0 | 203 | 434 | 1 |
Leadership
Senate
- President: Alben W. Barkley (D), until January 20, 1953 Richard Nixon (R), from January 20, 1953
- President pro tempore: Styles Bridges (R)
Majority (Republican) leadership
- Majority Leader: Robert A. Taft, until July 31, 1953 (died) William Knowland, from August 3, 1953
- Majority Whip: Leverett Saltonstall
- Republican Conference Chairman: Eugene Millikin
- Republican Conference Secretary: Milton Young
- National Senatorial Committee Chair: Everett Dirksen
- Policy Committee Chairman: Homer S. Ferguson
Minority (Democratic) leadership
- Minority Leader and Conference Chairman: Lyndon B. Johnson
- Minority Whip: Earle Clements
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Thomas C. Hennings Jr.
House of Representatives
Majority (Republican) leadership
- Majority Leader: Charles A. Halleck
- Majority Whip: Leslie C. Arends
- Republican Conference Chairman: Clifford R. Hope
- Policy Committee Chairman: Joseph W. Martin Jr.
- Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Richard M. Simpson
Minority (Democratic) leadership
- Minority Leader: Sam Rayburn
- Minority Whip: John W. McCormack
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Wilbur Mills
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Edna F. Kelly
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Michael J. Kirwan
Caucuses
Members
Senate
Senators are popularly elected statewide every six years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Within each state, senators are listed in order of seniority. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election, In this Congress, Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1954; Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1956; and Class 1 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1958.
House of Representatives
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress.
Senate
| State (class) | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (2) | Willis Smith (D) | Died June 26, 1953. Successor appointed July 10, 1953. | Alton Lennon (D) | July 10, 1953 |
| New Hampshire (3) | Charles W. Tobey (R) | Died July 24, 1953. Successor appointed August 14, 1953. | Robert W. Upton (R) | August 14, 1953 |
| Ohio (3) | Robert A. Taft (R) | Died July 31, 1953. Successor appointed November 10, 1953. | Thomas A. Burke (D) | November 10, 1953 |
| Nebraska (2) | Dwight Griswold (R) | Died April 12, 1954. Successor appointed April 16, 1954. | Eva Bowring (R) | April 16, 1954 |
| North Carolina (3) | Clyde R. Hoey (D) | Died May 12, 1954. Successor appointed May 12, 1954 and then elected November 2, 1954. | Sam Ervin (D) | June 5, 1954 |
| Wyoming (2) | Lester C. Hunt (D) | Died June 19, 1954. Successor appointed June 24, 1954. | Edward D. Crippa (R) | June 24, 1954 |
| Nebraska (1) | Hugh A. Butler (R) | Died July 1, 1954. Successor appointed July 3, 1954. | Samuel W. Reynolds (R) | July 3, 1954 |
| South Carolina (2) | Burnet R. Maybank (D) | Died September 1, 1954. Successor appointed September 6, 1954. | Charles E. Daniel (D) | September 6, 1954 |
| Nevada (3) | Pat McCarran (D) | Died September 28, 1954. Successor appointed October 1, 1954. | Ernest S. Brown (R) | October 1, 1954 |
| Nebraska (1) | Samuel W. Reynolds (R) | Did not run in the special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | Roman Hruska (R) | November 8, 1954 |
| Nebraska (2) | Eva Bowring (R) | Did not run in the special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | Hazel Abel (R) | November 8, 1954 |
| New Hampshire (3) | Robert W. Upton (R) | Lost special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | Norris Cotton (R) | November 8, 1954 |
| North Carolina (2) | Alton Lennon (D) | Lost special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | W. Kerr Scott (D) | November 29, 1954 |
| Wyoming (2) | Edward D. Crippa (R) | Did not run in the special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | Joseph C. O'Mahoney (D) | November 29, 1954 |
| Nevada (3) | Ernest S. Brown (R) | Lost special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | Alan Bible (D) | December 2, 1954 |
| Ohio (3) | Thomas A. Burke (D) | Lost special election to fill seat. Successor elected November 2, 1954. | George H. Bender (R) | December 16, 1954 |
| South Carolina (2) | Charles E. Daniel (D) | Resigned December 23, 1954. Successor appointed December 24, 1954. | Strom Thurmond (D) | December 24, 1954 |
| Nebraska (2) | Hazel Abel (R) | Resigned December 31, 1954. Successor was appointed January 1, 1955. | Carl Curtis (R) | January 1, 1955 |
House of Representatives
| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia 2nd | Vacant | Rep. Edward E. Cox died during previous congress | J. L. Pilcher (D) | February 4, 1953 |
| Illinois 7th | Vacant | Rep. Adolph J. Sabath died during previous congress | James Bowler (D) | July 7, 1953 |
| Virginia 5th | Thomas B. Stanley (D) | Resigned February 3, 1953, to run for Governor of Virginia | William M. Tuck (D) | April 14, 1953 |
| South Carolina 4th | Joseph R. Bryson (D) | Died March 10, 1953 | Robert T. Ashmore (D) | June 2, 1953 |
| Kentucky 2nd | Garrett Withers (D) | Died April 30, 1953 | William Natcher (D) | August 1, 1953 |
| Wisconsin 9th | Merlin Hull (R) | Died May 17, 1953 | Lester Johnson (D) | October 13, 1953 |
| California 24th | Norris Poulson (R) | Resigned June 11, 1953, after being elected Mayor of Los Angeles | Glenard P. Lipscomb (R) | November 10, 1953 |
| New Jersey 6th | Clifford P. Case (R) | Resigned August 16, 1953 | Harrison A. Williams (D) | November 3, 1953 |
| Hawaii Territory at-large | Joseph Rider Farrington (R) | Died June 19, 1954 | Mary Elizabeth Pruett Farrington (R) | August 4, 1954 |
| New York 8th | Louis B. Heller (D) | Resigned July 21, 1954, after being appointed judge of the Court of Special Sessions of New York City | Vacant | Not filled this term |
| Georgia 4th | Albert Sidney Camp (D) | Died July 24, 1954 | John Flynt (D) | November 2, 1954 |
| Michigan 3rd | Paul W. Shafer (R) | Died August 17, 1954 | Vacant | Not filled this term |
| Ohio 15th | Robert T. Secrest (D) | Resigned September 26, 1954 | ||
| New Hampshire 2nd | Norris Cotton (R) | Resigned November 7, 1954, after being elected to the U.S. Senate | ||
| Nebraska 2nd | Roman Hruska (R) | Resigned November 8, 1954, after being elected to the U.S. Senate | ||
| Florida 6th | Dwight L. Rogers (D) | Died December 1, 1954 | ||
| Ohio 23rd | George H. Bender (R) | Resigned December 15, 1954, after being elected to the U.S. Senate | ||
| Nebraska 1st | Carl Curtis (R) | Resigned December 31, 1954, after being elected to the U.S. Senate | ||
| New York 21st | Jacob Javits (R) | Resigned December 31, 1954, after being elected New York attorney General |
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders for members of the House and Senate committees can be found through the Official Congressional Directory at the bottom of this article. The directory after the pages of terms of service lists committees of the Senate, House (Standing with Subcommittees, Select and Special) and Joint and, after that, House/Senate committee assignments. On the committees section of the House and Senate in the Official Congressional Directory, the committee's members on the first row on the left side shows the chairman of the committee and on the right side shows the ranking member of the committee.
Senate
- Agriculture and Forestry (Chairman: George D. Aiken; Ranking Member: Allen J. Ellender)
- Appropriations (Chairman: Styles Bridges; Ranking Member: Carl Hayden)
- Armed Services (Chairman: Leverett Saltonstall; Ranking Member: Richard B. Russell)
- Banking and Currency (Chairman: Homer E. Capehart; Ranking Member: Burnet R. Maybank)
- Censure Charges against Senator McCarthy (Select) (Chairman: [data missing]; Ranking Member: [data missing])
- Compensation of Members of Congress (Select) (Chairman: [data missing]; Ranking Member: [data missing])
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Francis Case; Ranking Member: Matthew M. Neely)
- Finance (Chairman: Eugene D. Millikin; Ranking Member: Walter F. George)
- Foreign Relations (Chairman: Alexander Wiley; Ranking Member: Walter F. George)
- Government Operations (Chairman: Joseph R. McCarthy; Ranking Member: James E. Murray)
- Interior and Insular Affairs (Chairman: Hugh Butler; Ranking Member: John L. McClellan)
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Chairman: Charles W. Tobey; Ranking Member: Edwin C. Johnson)
- Judiciary (Chairman: William Langer; Ranking Member: Pat McCarran)
- Labor and Public Welfare (Chairman: H. Alexander Smith; Ranking Member: James E. Murray)
- Mail Cover on Senators (Special) (Chairman: [data missing]; Ranking Member: [data missing])
- Post Office and Civil Service (Chairman: Frank Carlson; Ranking Member: Olin D. Johnston)
- Public Works (Chairman: Edward Martin; Ranking Member: Dennis Chavez)
- Rules and Administration (Chairman: William E. Jenner; Ranking Member: Carl Hayden)
- Small Business (Select) (Chairman: Edward J. Thye)
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Agriculture (Chairman: Clifford R. Hope; Ranking Member: Carl Vinson)
- Appropriations (Chairman: John Taber; Ranking Member: Brent Spence)
- Armed Services (Chairman: Dewey Jackson Short; Ranking Member: John L. McMillan)
- Banking and Currency (Chairman: Jesse P. Wolcott; Ranking Member: Brent Spence)
- Communist Aggression (Select) (Chairman: Charles J. Kersten)
- Benefits for Dependents of Armed Services Veterans (Select) (Chairman: [data missing])
- Defense Production
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Sid Simpson; Ranking Member: John L. McMillan)
- Education and Labor (Chairman: Samuel K. McConnell Jr.; Ranking Member: Graham A. Barden)
- Foreign Affairs (Chairman: Robert B. Chiperfield; Ranking Member: James P. Richards)
- House Administration (Chairman: Karl M. LeCompte; Ranking Member: Omar Burleson)
- Investigate the Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R. (Select) (Chairman: Charles J. Kersten; Ranking Member: [data missing])
- Interior and Insular Affairs (Chairman: Arthur L. Miller; Ranking Member: Clair Engle)
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Chairman: Charles A. Wolverton; Ranking Member: Robert Crosser)
- Government Operations (Chairman: Clare E. Hoffman; Ranking Member: William L. Dawson)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Chauncey W. Reed; Ranking Member: Emanuel Celler)
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries (Chairman: Alvin F. Weichel; Ranking Member: Edward J. Hart)
- Post Office and Civil Service (Chairman: Edward H. Rees; Ranking Member: Tom J. Murray)
- Public Works (Chairman: George Anthony Dondero; Ranking Member: Charles A. Buckley)
- Rules (Chairman: Leo E. Allen; Ranking Member: Howard W. Smith)
- Small Business (Select) (Chairman: William S. Hill)
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Survival Benefits (Select) (Chairman: N/A; Ranking Member: N/A)
- Un-American Activities (Chairman: Harold H. Velde; Ranking Member: Francis E. Walter)
- Veterans' Affairs (Chairman: Edith Nourse Rogers; Ranking Member: Olin E. Teague)
- Ways and Means (Chairman: Daniel A. Reed; Ranking Member: Jere Cooper)
- Whole
Joint committees
- Atomic Energy
- Conditions of Indian Tribes (Special)
- Disposition of Executive Papers
- Economic (Chairman: Rep. Jesse P. Wolcott; Vice Chairman: Sen. Ralph Flanders)
- Immigration and Nationality Policy (Chairman: Sen. Arthur V. Watkins; Vice Chairman: Rep. Louis E. Graham)
- Legislative Budget
- The Library
- Navajo-Hopi Indian Administration
- Printing (Chairman: Sen. William E. Jenner; Vice Chairman: Rep. Karl M. LeCompte)
- Railroad Retirement Legislation
- Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures (Chairman: Sen. Harry F. Byrd; Vice Chairman: Rep. Daniel A. Reed)
- Taxation (Chairman: Rep. Daniel A. Reed; Vice Chairman: Sen. Eugene D. Millikin)
Employees
Legislative branch agency directors
- Architect of the Capitol: David Lynn (January 3, 1953 – September 30, 1954); J. George Stewart (September 30, 1954 – January 3, 1955)
- Attending Physician of the United States Congress: George Calver
- Comptroller General of the United States: Lindsay C. Warren, until April 30, 1954 Joseph Campbell, from December 14, 1954
- Librarian of Congress: Luther H. Evans, until 1953 Lawrence Quincy Mumford, from 1954
- Public Printer of the United States: John J. Deviny, until 1953 Raymond Blattenberger, from 1953
Senate
- Chaplain: Frederick Brown Harris (Methodist)
- Parliamentarian: Charles Watkins
- Secretary: J. Mark Trice
- Librarian: Sterling Dean, until 1954 Gus J. Miller (acting), from 1954
- Secretary for the Majority: William T. Reed
- Secretary for the Minority: Felton McLellan Johnston
- Sergeant at Arms: Forest A. Harness
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Bernard Braskamp (Presbyterian)
- Clerk: Lyle O. Snader
- Doorkeeper: Tom Kennamer
- Parliamentarian: Lewis Deschler
- Postmaster: Beecher Hess
- Reading Clerks: George J. Maurer (D) and Alney E. Chaffee (R)
- Sergeant at Arms: William F. Russell, died July 7, 1953 Lyle O. Snader, July 8, 1953 – September 15, 1953 William R. Bonsell, starting September 15, 1953
See also
- 1952 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress) 1952 United States presidential election 1952 United States Senate elections 1952 United States House of Representatives elections
- 1954 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress) 1954 United States Senate elections 1954 United States House of Representatives elections
Notes
External links
- (PDF). Archived from (PDF) on September 20, 2018.
- . 1809.
- . 1809.
- . U. S. Govt. Print. Off.; for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U. S. Govt. Print. Off. 1951.