While most Senators were extending their Labor Day holiday, Vice President Alben Barkley clomped into the Senate chamber one day last week. Only one Senator, Vermont's Republican George D. Aiken, was present. But the Senate had agreed that, for the record, it would meet that day. The Veep carried out the formality incident to such occasions. In one quick breath he blurted out: "Undertheorder of Friday last the Senate willstandinrecess unt11 1 20' clocknoontomorrow."Then he banged his gavel. Elapsed time: five seconds. It was a new record.* The shortest previous session, conducted in like manner by...
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