86th United States Congress

86th United States Congress
Number	86th
Caption	The United States Capitol (1962)
Start	January 3, 1959
End	January 3, 1961
Vice-president	Richard Nixon (R)
Pro-tempore	Carl Hayden (D)
Speaker	Sam Rayburn (D)
Senate-majority	Democratic
House-majority	Democratic
Sessionnumber1	1st
Sessionstart1	January 7, 1959
Sessionend1	September 15, 1959
Sessionnumber2	2nd
Sessionstart2	January 6, 1960
Sessionend2	September 1, 1960

86th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the Federal government of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1959, to January 3, 1961, during the final two years of the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Congress was dominated by the Democratic Party, which held substantial majorities in both chambers, setting the stage for significant legislative activity amidst the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War.

Major legislation

The 86th Congress passed several landmark acts, most notably the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, also known as the Landrum–Griffin Act, which aimed to curb corruption in labor unions. It also enacted the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1959, which continued funding for the Interstate Highway System. Significant social legislation included the Housing Act of 1959, which expanded federal housing programs, and the Mutual Security Act of 1959, which authorized foreign aid. Other important laws were the Narcotic Manufacturing Act of 1960 and amendments to the Social Security Act.

Party summary

In the Senate, the Democratic Party held 64 seats to the Republican Party's 34. The House of Representatives saw a similar Democratic advantage, with 283 Democrats and 153 Republicans. This composition reflected the political realignment of the Solid South, which remained largely Democratic, though the party's coalition included northern liberals and urban constituencies. The admission of Alaska and Hawaii as states during this Congress added four new senators, initially increasing the total Senate membership to 102.

Leadership

Senate leadership included Vice President Richard Nixon as the presiding officer. The President pro tempore was Carl Hayden of Arizona. The Senate Majority Leader was Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, with the Minority Leader being Everett Dirksen of Illinois. In the House, Sam Rayburn of Texas served as Speaker. The House Majority Leader was John William McCormack of Massachusetts, and the House Minority Leader was Charles A. Halleck of Indiana.

Members

The Senate roster included prominent figures such as John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, and Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Notable members of the House included future President Gerald Ford of Michigan, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. of New York, and Emanuel Celler of New York. The Congress welcomed the first senators from the new states: Bob Bartlett and Ernest Gruening from Alaska, and Hiram Fong and Oren E. Long from Hawaii.

Key events

Key events included the formal admissions of Alaska and Hawaii as the 49th and 50th states in January and August of 1959, respectively. The Cold War backdrop featured prominently, with Congress approving funds for NASA and national defense following the launch of Sputnik 1. The U-2 incident in 1960 and the escalating Berlin Crisis dominated foreign policy discussions. Domestically, the Congress grappled with the emerging Civil Rights Movement, including filibusters against civil rights legislation and investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Major committees

Powerful standing committees shaped the legislative agenda. In the Senate, key panels included the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Carl Hayden, the Committee on Armed Services led by Richard B. Russell Jr., and the Committee on Foreign Relations under J. William Fulbright. The House was dominated by the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Howard W. Smith and Wilbur D. Mills, respectively. The Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management, led by John L. McClellan, was also highly influential.

Category:86th United States Congress