Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/884685
59 THE CAPITOL DOME T he U.S. Capitol Historical Society celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Senate Appropriations Committee with an evening reception on 28 June 2017 in the Kennedy Caucus Room. To begin the program, Charlie Houy, former staff director under Senator Dan- iel Inouye, read a heartfelt letter written by Irene Hirano Inouye to the committee. Chairman Thad Cochran ref lected on the rewarding work he has spearheaded, and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy spoke about the bipar- tisan friendships that he cherishes. To conclude the program, Senate Historian Betty Koed highlighted milestones in the committee's history. Most notably, she told the story of Leona Wells, the first woman to hold a top committee position in the Senate when she served as chief clerk of the Appropriations Committee in 1911. The evening served as a joyous reunion for the committee, which welcomed back former Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and several former staff directors. The program aired on C-SPAN in July. Go to www.c-span.org and search for "U.S. Capitol Histori- cal Society" to find the recording of this event. Dave Hoppe, then Chief of Staff to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), was the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's (USCHS) honored guest at the Congressional Staff event on 18 November 2016. He joined over 50 mem- bers of the USCHS Leadership Council and Constitu- tion Signers for lunch in Altria's beautiful atrium over- looking the Capitol. Hoppe shared intimate, humorous, and unique anecdotes about his many years working in the Capitol. His stories illuminated the special and his- toric qualities of the building and his great appreciation of what happened before him in those offices and cor- ridors. The event concluded with Hoppe's candid and thoughtful responses during a Q&A session. Representative Tom Cole was the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's honored guest on 20 March 2016 at the Annual Trustee Lunch. Cole engaged a group of $25,000 Leadership Council level members with a lively discussion moderated by U.S. Capitol Historical Society Board Chairman Don Carlson. During the program, Cole fielded attendees' ques- tions with honest and thoughtful answers to their policy questions and concerns, which gave insights into his job as a deputy whip for the majority. He spoke about his Native American heritage as a member of the Chickasaw Nation and discussed how he helped his mother become the first Native American woman elected to the Oklahoma State Senate. Cole shared that he enjoys being in Statuary Hall or the Rotunda at night, when the halls are empty. It is there where he thinks about all of the influential players in history who have stood in the Capitol before him. He concluded the discussion by saying, "if [as a Member of Congress] you are no longer in awe of the Capitol, it is time to retire." The Society thanks Cole for his time and his staff for their organizational support. Dave Hoppe talks about his fondest memories of working in the Capitol during the Congressional Staff Lunch. Capitol Committee members listen attentively to Dave Hoppe's remarks. K ATHY KUPK A PHOTOGR APHY K ATHY KUPK A PHOTOGR APHY