The 85th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1957, to January 3, 1959, during the fifth and sixth years of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1950 United States census.
Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
To date, this is the earliest Congress with a member still living, Merwin Coad.
Major events
January 5, 1957: President Eisenhower announced the Eisenhower Doctrine in a special message to Congress January 20, 1957: Inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower for a second term August 21, 1957: President Eisenhower announced a 2-year suspension of nuclear testing August 28, 1957: Senator Strom Thurmond set a record for the longest filibuster with his 24-hour, 18-minute speech against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 September 24, 1957: Little Rock Crisis: President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Arkansas to provide safe passage into Central High School for the Little Rock Nine. October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth October 21, 1957: The U.S. military sustained its first combat fatality in Vietnam November 7, 1957: Gaither Report called for more American missiles and fallout shelters November 25, 1957: President Eisenhower suffers from a stroke January 31, 1958: U.S. launched its first satellite, Explorer 1 July 15, 1958: U.S intervenes in the Lebanon Crisis, the first major application of the Eisenhower Doctorine. October 1, 1958: NASA started operations
Major legislation
August 14, 1957: Airways Modernization Act, , September 2, 1957: Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act, , September 9, 1957: Civil Rights Act of 1957, , July 29, 1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act, , 1958: Transportation Act of 1958, August 23, 1958: Federal Aviation Act of 1958, , August 28, 1958: EURATOM Cooperation Act of 1958, , August 28, 1958: Military Construction Appropriation Act (Advanced Research Projects Agency), , September 2, 1958: National Defense Education Act, , 1958: Department of Defense Reorganization Act, 1958: Pasatore-Walter Immigration Act
States admitted
January 3, 1959: Alaska was admitted as the 49th state.
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
President: Richard Nixon (R) President pro tempore: Carl Hayden (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
Majority Leader and Conference Chairman: Lyndon B. Johnson
Majority Whip: Mike Mansfield
Democratic Caucus Secretary: Thomas C. Hennings Jr.
Minority (Republican) leadership
Minority Leader: William Knowland
Minority Whip: Everett Dirksen
Republican Conference Chairman: Leverett Saltonstall
Republican Conference Secretary: Milton Young
National Senatorial Committee Chair: Everett Dirksen
Policy Committee Chairman: Styles Bridges
House of Representatives
Speaker: Sam Rayburn (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
Majority Leader: John W. McCormack
Majority Whip: Carl Albert
Democratic Caucus Chairman: Melvin Price
Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Michael J. Kirwan
Minority (Republican) leadership
Minority Leader: Joseph W. Martin Jr. Minority Whip: Leslie C. Arends Republican Conference Chairman: Charles B. Hoeven Policy Committee Chairman: Joseph W. Martin Jr. Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Richard M. Simpson
Caucuses
House Democratic Caucus
Senate Democratic Caucus
Members
Senate
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. Senators in each state are listed by class. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1958; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1960; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1962.
Alabama
3. J. Lister Hill (D) 2. John Sparkman (D)
Arizona
3. Carl Hayden (D) 1. Barry Goldwater (R)
Arkansas
2. John L. McClellan (D) 3. J. William Fulbright (D)
California
1. William Knowland (R), until January 2, 1959
3. Thomas Kuchel (R)
Colorado
2. Gordon Allott (R) 3. John A. Carroll (D)