been through the machine politics of New 

Arthur surprised critics by fighting politica

ruption. He supported the first civil service 

reform, and his administration was marked 

honesty and efficiency. Because he refused 

engage in partisan politics, party regulars d

nominate him in 1884.

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens originally 

declined to create Arthur’s official vice pres

bust, citing his own schedule and the low c

sion the Senate offered. Eventually he recon

ered, and delivered the finished work in 18

One of America’s best known sculptors, Sa

Gaudens also created the statue of Abraham 

Lincoln in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and the 

for the 1907 $20 gold piece, considered by 

collectors to be America’s most beautiful co

Theodore Roo

(1858–1919) 

James Earle Fra

1910 

Theodore Roos

served as gover

New York prio

term as vice pr

He succeeded t

presidency follo

the assassinatio

William McKinley in 1901. Roosevelt stron

supported railroad regulation, construction 

Panama Canal, and conservation of natura

resources, especially through national park

1906, Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Priz

work in ending the Russo-Japanese war.

Roosevelt’s interests in nature and the Ame

West made the choice of James Earle Frase

sculptor of his bust particularly appropriat

Fraser is perhaps best known for his moun
Vice Presidential

Bust Collection

History of the Collection

The United States Senate’s Vice Presidential Bust 

Collection honors the presidents of the Senate and 

forms the institution’s oldest continuing art collection. The Senate commissioned the first bust in 

1885 as a tribute to Vice President Henry Wilson 

and placed it in the Vice President’s Room, adjacent to the Senate Chamber. In 1886, the Senate 

passed a resolution establishing a collection of 

marble vice presidential portraits. After the first 

busts filled the 20 niches that surround the Senate 

Chamber gallery, new additions were placed 

throughout the Senate wing of the Capitol. 

Traditionally, each vice president chooses an 

artist, and the necessary sittings occur after the 

vice president leaves office. Since 1947, the Senate 

Committee on Rules and Administration has 

monitored this progress, and has approved and 

accepted the final work on behalf of the Senate. 

The collection chronicles the individuals who have 

served as vice president and pays tribute to their 

role in the history of the Senate. It also provides a 

unique survey of American sculpture from the 

19th century to the present.

“The Vice President of the United States sh

President of the Senate but shall have no Vo

unless they be equally divided.”

Article I, Section 3, The Constitu

Besides breaking a tie vote in the Senate, th

Constitution assigns few responsibilities to 

president. John Adams summed up his role 

he observed, “I am Vice President, in this I 

nothing, but may be everything.” Since then

functions of the office have been shaped by 

vice president’s relationship to the president

the events of the era. Vice presidents have s

unofficial envoys to Congress, presidentia

saries to official ceremonies, and have acce

the presidency upon the death of the presid

As president of the Senate, many early vice 

dents took an active role in Chamber proc

ings—presiding over debates and interpret

parliamentary questions. In response, the S

developed rules and practices to affirm its 

pendence from this representative of the ex

branch. Nevertheless, the vice president ha

tinued over the years to serve as a bridge b

the administration and the Senate, and stil

tains an office in the Capitol for that reaso

The vice president’s Capitol office
Vice Presidential

Bust Collection

History of the Collection

The United States Senate’s Vice Presidential Bust 

Collection honors the presidents of the Senate and 

forms the institution’s oldest continuing art collection. The Senate commissioned the first bust in 

1885 as a tribute to Vice President Henry Wilson 

and placed it in the Vice President’s Room, adjacent to the Senate Chamber. In 1886, the Senate 

passed a resolution establishing a collection of 

marble vice presidential portraits. After the first 

busts filled the 20 niches that surround the Senate 

Chamber gallery, new additions were placed 

throughout the Senate wing of the Capitol. 

Traditionally, each vice president chooses an 

artist, and the necessary sittings occur after the 

vice president leaves office. Since 1947, the Senate 

Committee on Rules and Administration has 

monitored this progress, and has approved and 

accepted the final work on behalf of the Senate. 

The collection chronicles the individuals who have 

served as vice president and pays tribute to their 

role in the history of the Senate. It also provides a 

unique survey of American sculpture from the 

19th century to the present.

“The Vice President of the United States s

President of the Senate but shall have no 

unless they be equally divided.”

Article I, Section 3, The Const

Besides breaking a tie vote in the Senate, t

Constitution assigns few responsibilities to 

president. John Adams summed up his ro

he observed, “I am Vice President, in this 

nothing, but may be everything.” Since th

functions of the office have been shaped b

vice president’s relationship to the preside

the events of the era. Vice presidents have 

unofficial envoys to Congress, presiden

saries to official ceremonies, and have ac

the presidency upon the death of the pres

As president of the Senate, many early vi

dents took an active role in Chamber pro

ings—presiding over debates and interpr

parliamentary questions. In response, the 

developed rules and practices to affirm it

pendence from this representative of the 

branch. Nevertheless, the vice president h

tinued over the years to serve as a bridge 

the administration and the Senate, and st

tains an office in the Capitol for that rea

The vice president’s Capitol office

been through the machine politics of New York, 

Arthur surprised critics by fighting political corruption. He supported the first civil service 

reform, and his administration was marked by 

honesty and efficiency. Because he refused to 

engage in partisan politics, party regulars did not 

nominate him in 1884.

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens originally 

declined to create Arthur’s official vice presidential 

bust, citing his own schedule and the low commission the Senate offered. Eventually he reconsidered, and delivered the finished work in 1892. 

One of America’s best known sculptors, SaintGaudens also created the statue of Abraham 

Lincoln in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and the design 

for the 1907 $20 gold piece, considered by many 

collectors to be America’s most beautiful coin.

Theodore Roosevelt 

(1858–1919) 

James Earle Fraser, 

1910 

Theodore Roosevelt 

served as governor of 

New York prior to his 

term as vice president. 

He succeeded to the 

presidency following 

the assassination of 

William McKinley in 1901. Roosevelt strongly 

supported railroad regulation, construction of the 

Panama Canal, and conservation of natural 

resources, especially through national parks. In 

1906, Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for his 

work in ending the Russo-Japanese war.

Roosevelt’s interests in nature and the American 

West made the choice of James Earle Fraser as 

sculptor of his bust particularly appropriate. 

Fraser is perhaps best known for his mounted

design for the American buffalo nickel. M

25 years after sculpting the Roosevelt bu

created the marble bust of Vice President 

Nance Garner for the Senate collection.

Charles G. D

(1865–1951) 

Jo Davidson, 

Prior to Wor

Charles Daw

lawyer, bank

politician in 

Ohio. During 

he became a 

general and a

headed the A

reparations commission. He was awarde

Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for the “Daw

to stabilize Germany’s finances after Wo

Following his term as vice president und

Coolidge from 1925 to 1929, Dawes ser

ambassador to Great Britain for Herbert 

American artist Jo Davidson carved the 

bust of Charles Dawes. A renowned scu

Davidson created likenesses of Gertrude 

Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, and ot

prominent American figures of the 20th 

The Senate collection also contains the a

bust of Vice President Henry Wallace. D

statues of Senator Robert M. La Follette

Wisconsin and humorist Will Rogers are 

the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Co
been through the machine politics of New 

Arthur surprised critics by fighting politica

ruption. He supported the first civil service 

reform, and his administration was marke

honesty and efficiency. Because he refused 

engage in partisan politics, party regulars d

nominate him in 1884.

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens originall

declined to create Arthur’s official vice pre

bust, citing his own schedule and the low 

sion the Senate offered. Eventually he reco

ered, and delivered the finished work in 18

One of America’s best known sculptors, Sa

Gaudens also created the statue of Abraha

Lincoln in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and the 

for the 1907 $20 gold piece, considered by 

collectors to be America’s most beautiful c

Theodore Ro

(1858–1919) 

James Earle Fr

1910 

Theodore Roo

served as gove

New York prio

term as vice pr

He succeeded 

presidency foll

the assassinatio

William McKinley in 1901. Roosevelt stro

supported railroad regulation, construction 

Panama Canal, and conservation of natura

resources, especially through national park

1906, Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Priz

work in ending the Russo-Japanese war.

Roosevelt’s interests in nature and the Am

West made the choice of James Earle Frase

sculptor of his bust particularly appropria

Fraser is perhaps best known for his moun