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#tbt Trivia: Test Your Congressional Brain

RC-60th-Anniversary-logo-HighRes-01.jpg
RC-60th-Anniversary-logo-HighRes-01.jpg

The only thing better than celebrating a birthday is celebrating it all year long. Roll Call is turning 60, and we’re doing a whole bunch of stuff to mark six decades of covering Congress.  

That’s why we’re doing congressional trivia for #ThrowbackThursday via the @rollcall Twitter feed. Follow along  there!  

Miss last week’s? Here you go .  

Now get started on the next round, crafted from Roll Call’s archives.  

Question : What strike on Capitol Hill brought in some unusual guests in January 1978?  

One of the offending protestors (a goat) leaps over a fence at the Capitol.
One of the offending protestors (a goat) leaps over a fence at the Capitol.

Answer : A farmer’s strike. Organized by the American Agriculture Movement, an estimated group of 3,000 farmers drove tractors to the Capitol demanding higher prices for their crops. According to photographers, the farmers loosed livestock on the Hill to make their point. The picture above shows a goat jumping around the Capitol Campus. We can only assume it was having fun.  

Question : What freshman lawmaker was described as “somewhat cocky and questioning” in 1976?  

Paul made waves on Capitol Hill in 1976.

Answer : Rep. Ron Paul.  

The article “The Rookies: Newest Members Try Activist Role in House,” talks about Paul’s first impressions of the Hill. Here’s an excerpt:

“Rep. Paul, somewhat cocky and questioning, is the most forceful advocate of the purely philosophical position on government. ‘As far as a total perspective goes, I’m an advocate of limited government,” he says. ‘Less government, with less clout.’ He points to Rep. Phil Crane (R-Ind.) as one of the most able leaders in the Congress – yet a man ‘who is never given the credit he is due.’ ‘Actually, I’m optimistic basically,” he continues. ‘We have to work very hard. All I’ve found in Congress is divisiveness, and a basic downhill course for America. It’s a course I want to turn around.” Rep. Paul clearly doesn’t ‘expect (Members)… to convert to my way of thinking. But if less of them were floating in the sea without a rudder, it would be easier to see which direction we (Americans) were moving.’ He believes the changing attitude of the Membership of Congress is something that cuts across party lines and philosophical lines. ‘The mandate up until now has been for free spending,’ he says. ‘But a lot of the younger guys are against this. Soon things will change. I hope.’
Question : Which famous actress was present for the announcement of the formation of the American Copyright Council in 1985?  

Lorretta Swit at the announcement of the formation of American Copyright Council in 1985.
Swit at the announcement of the formation of American Copyright Council in 1985.

Answer : Loretta Swit. Best know for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the 1970’s show “M*A*S*H,” she was nominated for 10 Emmy awards and six Grammys.  

Do you have a suggestion for future questions? Other fun stuff found in your stack of newspapers? Let us know by emailing christinabellantoni – at – rollcall.com.  

Related: #tbt Trivia: How Well Do You Know Congress? Roll Call Trivia Night The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.

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