This chair is part of the furniture commissioned in 1965 for hearing rooms in the new Rayburn House Office Building. Imposing seats for the chairmen reflected a changing approach to hearings in the television age. Committee daises in the older office buildings had been U-shaped, promoting discussion amongst members. In the Rayburn building, the daises were straight, with seats all facing the audience. This setup shifted the focus outward, and was more appropriate for filming or news coverage.
