1979
Live gavel-to-gavel TV coverage coverage of the House floor begins March 19, 1979 -- and so does C-SPAN. The first speaker? Rep. Al Gore (D-TN).
4,306 VIEWS35 Years of House TV Moments
1980
PRESIDENT CARTER'S LAST SOTU: During his Jan. 23, 1980, State of the Union address, President Carter addresses the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan a month after it happens.
380 VIEWS1981
PRES. REAGAN'S ECONOMIC PLAN: On Feb. 15, 1981, President Reagan presents his economic plan, including a 10-percent across the-board cut every year for three years.
234 VIEWS1982
President Reagan recognizes Lenny Skutnik, the hero of the Air Florida 90 crash in the Potomac River, during the Jan. 26, 1982, State of the Union address.
161 VIEWS1983
An example of C-SPAN’s lack of control of House cameras is exhibited on March 9, 1983, as Speaker O’Neill, off camera, yells at a Republican member on the floor over a charge of “fast gavel.”
522 VIEWS1984
Rep. Robert Walker (R-PA) was speaking on the House floor on May 10, 1984 when Speaker O’Neill orders the cameras to pan the chamber showing that no one was present for his special order speech.
466 VIEWS1985
The House debates aid to the Contras in Nicaragua on June 12, 1985. Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) argues against aid.
222 VIEWS1986
On January 28, 1986, the House remembers the astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. One of the speakers was Rep. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who had flown on the Space Shuttle Columbia ten days earlier.
151 VIEWS1987
Rep. Dick Cheney (R-WY) speaks on the House floor December 10, 1987, on “closing out our responsibilities ” for the Iran-Contra investigation. The future Vice President was ranking Republican on the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions. Cheney says, “ I hope this is the last time it will be necessary to take the time of the House to discuss the subject of the Iran-Contra committee.”
248 VIEWS1988
During his January 25, 1988 State of the Union address, President Reagan says “Congress shouldn’t send another one of the these” -- and holds up a copy of the budget proposal.
265 VIEWS1989
Speaker of the House Representative James Wright, Jr. (D-TX) delivers his resignation speech on the floor of the House.
617 VIEWS1990
The House passes the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 12, 1990, by a vote of 377-28.
122 VIEWS1991
BANKING SCANDAL: Freshman Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) wears a paper bag over his head on October 1, 1991, to protest the ethical behavior involved in the House banking scandal.
267 VIEWS1993
The House debates the North American Free Trade Agreement on November 17, 1993. The bill passed by a vote of 234-200.
138 VIEWS1994
House Speaker Tom Foley (D-WA) and Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-IL) salute each other and say farewell to their colleagues on November 29, 1994. Speaker Foley temporarily hands Leader Michel the gavel and the chair.
133 VIEWS1995
REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER: On Jan. 4, 1995, after 40 years of Democratic control of the House, Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri hands the gavel to incoming Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), whose "Contract With America" campaign resulted in the Republican majority.
186 VIEWS1996
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: The federal government is shut down for 21 days from December 1995 through January 1996 as the House, led by Republicans, and the Clinton administration battle over the budget. Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL) addresses the House on January 4, 1996.
204 VIEWS1997
REP. TRAFICANT - "BEAM ME UP!": Rep. Jim Traficant (D-OH) speaks on the House floor on September 29, 1997, using his signature phrase, "Beam me up." In 2002, the House voted 420-1 to expel Mr. Traficant for violation of ethics rules after a felony conviction which sent him to prison for 7 years. He ran again for Congress from prison, winning 15 percent of the vote.
8,576 VIEWS1998
CLINTON IMPEACHMENT DEBATE: In December, the House passes four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. Early in the debate, on December 19, 1998, Rep. Bob Livingston (R-LA), withdraws his name as a candidate for House Speaker, and announces his resignation from Congress after it was revealed that he had had an extra-marital affair.
205 VIEWS1999
SPEAKER HASTERT: After a contentious year of scandals, resignations and a presidential impeachment, Dennis Hastert (R-IL) becomes House speaker on Jan. 6, 1999. Handing the gavel to him, Democratic leader Dick Gephardt suggests, "Let's bury the hatchet."
119 VIEWS2000
FIRST CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN: Father Daniel Coughlin is sworn in as the 59th Chaplain of the House of Representatives on March 23, 2000.
64 VIEWS2001
BUSH v. GORE: On January 6, 2001, following the 2000 Florida recount and a Supreme Court ruling, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore presides over the Electoral College vote count conducted in a joint session, which resulted in his Republican opponent, George W. Bush, officially winning the presidency.
227 VIEWS2002
REMEMBERING 9/11: Congress meets at Federal Hall in New York City on September 6, 2002, for a ceremonial session commemorating the one-year anniversary of the September 11, terrorist attacks. Pictured is then Rep-J.C. Watts (R-OK).
123 VIEWS2003
PRESCRIPTION DRUG'S LONG VOTE: At 5:53am ET on November 22, 2003, the House passes President Bush's signature Medicare Prescription Drug Act after holding the vote open for almost four hours as the leadership seeks more votes (it passed 220-215.)
107 VIEWS2004
WAR IN AFGHANISTAN: On June 15, 2004, three years after the start of the U.S. War in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai makes his only appearance before a joint meeting of Congress.
82 VIEWS2005
DEBATING TERRI SCHIAVO CASE: Florida Rep. Debbie-Wasserman Schultz (D) debates the "Palm Sunday Compromise," which passes just after midnight on March 21, 2005, in a rare Sunday session. The compromise allowed the life-support case of Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman in a persistent coma, to move into the jurisdiction of a federal court.
116 VIEWS2006
DEMOCRATS RETURN: Democrats regain control in the 2006 elections and on Dec. 8, 2006, outgoing Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert hugs Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
118 VIEWS2007
MADAM SPEAKER: California's Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female House Speaker on Jan. 4, 2007.
118 VIEWS2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS: The House rejects a $700 billion financial bailout package on September 29, 2008. Stocks plunge and leaders convene on a compromise package which was enacted on Oct. 3, 2008.
140 VIEWS2009
FISCAL STIMULUS PLAN: The House passes a $787 billion economic stimulus plan on January 28, 2009, with no Republican votes.
84 VIEWS2010
HEALTH CARE PASSES: In another rare Sunday session on March 21, 2010, the House passes the Senate version of health care legislation, 219 to 212. During debate, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) cites Martin Luther King, Jr., and his late father Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) a longtime champion of health care legislation.
97 VIEWS2011
GOP RETURNS TO MAJORITY: After four years as House Speaker, on January 5, 2011, Democrat Nancy Pelosi (CA) says, "I now pass this gavel, which is larger than most gavels here, but the gavel of choice of Speaker Boehner."
110 VIEWS2012
THE TRAYVON MARTIN: On March 28, 2012 Rep. Bobby Rush, (D-IL) wears a hoodie to memorialize Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in an altercation. Since House rules prohibit the wearing of hats, Rep. Rush was escorted from the House floor.
150 VIEWS2013
NEARING THE "FISCAL CLIFF": In an unusual New Year's Day session of the lame-duck 112th Congress, the House debates the "fiscal cliff" agreement passed by the Senate earlier that morning.The measure passes 257-167.
91 VIEWS2014
HONORING GABBY GIFFORDS: On Jan. 8, 2014, the House observes a moment of silence to mark the 3rd anniversary of the shootings of Rep. Gabbie Giffords (D-AZ), her aides and local citizens. Former Giffords aide Ron Barber, wounded in the shooting, replaced her in the seat.
157 VIEWS