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The opening day of Congress has long been a festive time in the House. This set of sketches shows a few of the highlights of the day. New Members are sworn in at lower left; at top right, a blindfolded Page draws numbers in the lottery to choose desks in the Chamber while flowers are delivered to Members as they find their new seats. Elsewhere on the page, Members entertain babies, stumble over voting procedures, and finally get down to legislative business by receiving a message from the President.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “Glimpses of the Opening Days of Congress,” https://history.house.gov/Collection/Listing/2011/2011-089-003/ (May 28, 2022)
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