United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Honoring Mr. Sam

Dedicate Statue of "Mr. Sam"/tiles/non-collection/R/RHOB_statue.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object The full-length statue of Sam Rayburn had the unusual honor of being unveiled by the First Lady.
Spare modernity reigned inside the Rayburn building, but the aesthetic did not preclude artistic tributes to the building’s famous namesake.

Sam Rayburn/tiles/non-collection/R/RHOB_Sam_Portrait.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object In 1964, The Texas State Society began raising funds for the portrait destined for Sam Rayburn's namesake building.
A full-length bronze statue by Rayburn’s friend, sculptor Felix de Weldon, anchors the building’s grand foyer. Striding forward, gavel in hand, the bronze likeness was dedicated by First Lady Ladybird Johnson just as the building was completed—January 3, 1965, which would have been Rayburn’s 83rd birthday. It was dedicated “in hopes that—like Sam Rayburn—[congressmen] will labor under the great white dome of the Capitol with same faith in the people and the same nobility of purpose.”

Tom Lea’s portrait of Sam Rayburn—based on one of Rayburn’s favorite photographs— sternly addresses all who pass through the building’s main entrance. The portrait commission was highly unusual for the El Paso artist, who gained fame as a muralist and World War II artist correspondent. His only other commissioned subject was Mexican President Benito Juarez. Lea stated he agreed to paint these subjects because he “revered both as wise men and good men.” His admiration shows in the execution. To make a fitting memorial, Lea decided on scale about twice life sized, showing Rayburn looming over viewer, over a table, gavel in hand.

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