Leader Murray’s 1946 Bill aimed at $50 million to finance programs of low-income health insurance for Americans, for maternal and child care and for medical research and education subsidies. He started his April 2ndl audience by citing an editorial that warned against applying the term “communistic” to full employment, veterans’ housing, and health insurance programs.

Taft’s promise, opposition by the AMA and Republican gains in Congress paused the health care legislation for another 18 years. Only in 1964, after Democrats had obtained a significant majority, Congress was able to approve “Medicare”.

Health Care Clash. (United States Senate). https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Health_Care_Clash.htm

Senator Murray nomination to Labor Hall of Honour. (Bill Farley). https://billfarley.net/2015/09/. 2015

It doesn't mean that there haven't been frustrated attempts to modernize the Senate throughout the years. As time has passed, different parties have emerged and fell, always having that two-sided-coin of congress where federalists and democratic republicans would battle and, even later, it would continue with the Whigs and the Democrats, and finally with the Republicans against the Democrats; sharing the leadership of the Senate.

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution.htm

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators.htm

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/committee-system.htm

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/idea-of-the-senate.htm

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/parties-leadership.htm

John Fitzgerald Kennedy a.k.a. JFK was born May, 29th 1917 in Massachusetts. Just before eventually becoming the president number 35 of the United States. In early 1961, he served in the House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy reached national importance as a junior senator from Massachusetts as he served on the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor and Management Field, which maintained public hearings to investigate corruption in American labor unions.

 JFK never lost an election. His first opportunity came in 1946, when he ran for Congress. Although still weak from his war injuries, he campaigned aggressively, bypassing the Democratic organization in the Massachusetts 11th congressional district and depending instead upon his family, college friends, and his friend navy officers. In the Democratic primary he received almost double the votes of his opponent; at age 29. He died Nov, 27 1963.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-f-kennedy/

https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_KennedyJohnF.htm

The Senate especially was created to be the counterpoise to the House of Representatives and to moderate the executive power of the President.

In Congress, there are two senators from each state, with 100 senators serving in Congress.

A senator must be at the minimum 30 years old, a US citizen for no less than nine years and obviously, a resident of the state he/she represents.

At the moment, the Senate has three important and specific tasks. Senators conduct impeachment proceedings of federal officials, advise on treaties and play an important role in the confirmation/denial of specific nominations.

U.S. Senate by The Policy Circle https://www.thepolicycircle.org/brief/makes-america-exceptional-u-s-senate-explained/

Censure and expulsion: Article 1, section 5 of the US Constitution, denotes that the senate may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members and with a 2/3 consensus, expel a member.

Declarations of War: The Constitution grants the Congress the sole power to declare War by means of agreeing resolutions authorizing the use of military force.

Impeachment: US Constitution provides that the senate by Article 1, section 2, has the sole power of Impeachment but no civil officers of the US are subject to it, without the concurrence of  2/3 of the members present.

Investigations: The authority of congress to investigate is an implied constitutional power.

https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures.htm

Senate Rules: The Constitution is an ensemble of rules which determine how the debates will be structured and how members will vote for the Senate committees' structure.

Treaties: A formal written agreement made by the executive branch which must be approved by the Senate. Some treaties have been rejected while others have dissipated in the courtroom itself.

Voting: Every move made by the Senate (such as motions, resolutions or treaties) must be voted for.

Checks and balances is a system which limits the powers of each branch in order to avoid the accumulation of power in one single department. The power is divided in the legislative, executive and judicial branches, which have their own tasks and duties (as can be seen in the picture).

Powers and Procedures (United States Senate). https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures.htm

Checks and Balances (Investopedia). https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/checks-and-balances.asp

The first team agreed to continue the traditional break system: Coming to Washington in January and ending business by summer, to then return home. Against them, younger Senators had a proposition for a 6-week summer recess so they could spend time with family.

These endless battles came to an actual end in 1969 when the young blood triumphed over the Mummies of the Senators, and a recess was set from August 13 to September 4 as a first trial, later officialized on August 1971. All thanks to the efforts of the Young Senators´ Face, McGee, and his wish of freedom.

U.S. Senate: Give Us a (Summer) Break!

These baths became a place to relax, socialize and prepare for a major speech. That’s why the Evening Star said: “write the speech, commit it to memory, take a bath, and then deliver it!”

Once, a House member made a mistake. He made an offer to a lady visitor and asked her: “Won’t you go down and take a bath?” Indignant, the woman ran away.

By the 1890’s, most senator homes had modernized the plumbing and the Senate bath fell into disuse. Finally, four bathtubs were removed and two that still remained were buried behind the walls and mechanical equipment. That means the two tubs were forgotten- until 1936, when workers excavated the place and found the tubs.

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Mystery_of_the_Senate_Bath_Tubs.htm