In a hallway of the U.S. Capitol is a marble bust of James Schoolcraft Sherman. Don’t ask me where. I can’t remember.
The Capitol is big and filled with sculpture. To see a bust of someone from our area — amongst all that is there — was a wonderful surprise.
I stumbled across Sherman’s sculpture many years ago while wandering around the Capitol building. Unescorted.
That is correct. There was a time when the public could wander around the building. No ticket was needed to gain entry to the Capitol. No screening.
The Capitol Police didn’t walk around with automatic weapons at the ready. There weren’t many barricades. Visitors weren’t required to be escorted on tours.
Just climb the steps and walk in the door.
The winner of this year’s Congressional election in our area might want to seek out the Sherman bust when he goes to Washington as our representative.
Sherman, after all, is the highest elected official from this area. Ever. He was, as they say, a heartbeat away from being president.
Sherman was elected the 27th vice president and served under President William Howard Taft from 1909 until Sherman’s death in 1912 at age 57. He had kidney problems.
Interestingly, Sherman’s Congre...