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THE CAPITOL DOME A NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 51, NUMBER 4 WINTER 2014 U.S. Capitol HistoriCal soCiety members, Congressional leaders, and distinguished guests gathered in Statuary Hall in November to honor Representative John Lewis for his lifetime of activism to extend civil rights to all Americans. The Society presented the prestigious Freedom Award to the Honorable John Lewis on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS HONORED WITH FREEDOM AWARD INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Spring Symposium Planned Student Essay Contest Capitol Commi ee Updates Marketplace PAGE 5 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7-8 Above: When presenting the Freedom Award to Lewis, USCHS President Ron Sarasin noted, "As a civil rights leader and a Member of Congress, John has shaped our concept of freedom and expanded the definition of democracy. He has transformed our nation and left an enduring legacy for the future." Below: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy cited the hardships Lewis endured in his cam- paign for civil rights. "His enemies had tear gas, nightsticks, dogs, and whips. John confronted the handcuffs and imprisonment, death threats and fallen brothers. He showed physical courage. But he also demonstrated the highest moral courage. John did not match violence with violence." Above: Lynda Johnson Robb, former First Lady of Virginia and daughter of President Lyndon Johnson, recognized Lewis's key role in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. She noted that whenever her father needed him, John was there. Robb added that the circumstances leading to her father's "We Shall Overcome" speech would not have occurred "if John Lewis hadn't had the courage to cross the Pettus Bridge." Appropriately, Robb stood before the statue of Rosa Parks as she addressed the audience.