The US Congress has been the home to brilliance and buffoonery, integrity and corruption, demagoguery and statesmanship. Ranging from the early 19th century when members came to Congress armed with swords, pistols and knives, to modern times, this volume contains numerous anecdotes that recall some of the key debates in the USA, such as the break-down of racial and sexual barriers. It features profiles of such leading figures as Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, Huey Long, Lyndon Johnson, Joe McCarthy and Ted Kennedy.