United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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84th Congress (1955–1957)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

  • 435 Representatives
  • 2 Delegates
  • 1 Resident Commissioner

Party Divisions:*

  • 232 Democrats
  • 203 Republicans

*Party division totals are based on election day results.

  • Election Statistics, 1954 [PDF]
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_rayburn_seated_2005_016_043.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object The longest serving Speaker in House History, Sam Rayburn of Texas presided over 10 Congresses as Speaker.

Congress Overview

Democrats regained control of both houses of the 84th Congress (1955–1957), but support for Republican President Dwight Eisenhower remained strong. Amid another Cold War crisis, Congress provided the President with unlimited authority to keep communist China out of Taiwan. At home, Democrats focused on public-works projects including a national interstate highway system and an extensive dam project along the Upper Colorado River. Congress also increased Social Security benefits.

Member Information

  • Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 84th Congress [PDF]
  • Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map

Learn more about the People of the People's House

Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:
Sam Rayburn (D–Texas)
Majority Leader:
John W. McCormack (D–Massachusetts )
Minority Leader:
Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R–Massachusetts )
Democratic Whip:
Carl Albert (D–Oklahoma)
Republican Whip:
Leslie C. Arends (R–Illinois)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
John J. Rooney (D–New York)
Republican Conference Chairman:
Clifford R. Hope (R–Kansas)
Clerk of the House:
Ralph R. Roberts
Sergeant at Arms:
Zeake W. Johnson, Jr. 1
Chaplain of the House:
Bernard Braskamp – Presbyterian
Doorkeeper:
William M. Miller 2
Postmaster:
H. H. Morris
Parliamentarian:
Lewis Deschler

To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section

Legislative Activities

Résumés of Congressional Activity:
Résumés of Congressional Activity for the 84th Congress [PDF]

Session Dates

Saturday/Sunday Sessions

Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations

Related Collection Object

Polishing the Mace
Polishing the Mace
1955
House Sergeant at Arms Zeke W. Johnson, Jr., (right) supervises as House Messenger Leo Glascoe polishes the House mace. The mace, a decorative variation of the fasces, is placed by the Sergeant at Arms …

Related House Records

Federal Highway Act of 1956
Federal Highway Act of 1956
April 19, 1956
The Federal-Aid Road Act of 1944 mandated construction of an interstate highway system. More than a decade later, only a fraction of the roads had actually been constructed because of the expense. In 1956, …

Related Historical Highlights

The House Hosts its First Flag Day Ceremony
The House Hosts its First Flag Day Ceremony
June 14, 1955
On this date, the House hosted what was billed as its first all-out ceremony in the chamber to honor the flag of the United States.
The Joyous Closing of the First Session of the 84th Congress (1955–1957)
The Joyous Closing of the First Session of the 84th Congress (1955–1957)
August 02, 1955
While waiting for the Senate to adjourn sine die, Members of the House broke out into song in the House Chamber
The Southern Manifesto of 1956
The Southern Manifesto of 1956
March 12, 1956
On this date, Howard Smith of Virginia, chairman of the House Rules Committee, introduced the Southern Manifesto in a speech on the House Floor.

Footnotes

1Elected January 5, 1955

2Elected January 5, 1955

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov