Rep. John Dingell made history on Friday, when he surpassed the late Sen. Robert Byrd's record to become the longest-serving member of Congress.
The Michigan Democrat was first elected to the House of Representatives in December 1955, during the first Eisenhower administration. , he's served 57 years, five months and 26 days.
As we looked into what else was happening back in December 1955, we discovered that's also when New York's Tappan Zee Bridge . Now, crews are beginning work on the of a new bridge to replace it.
That's right. After nearly 60 years, Dingell's term in Congress is still going, while the life span of a major bridge is coming to an end.
So that made us wonder: What else has Dingell outlasted?
Guiding Light's TV Run
Before its cancellation in 2009, the soap opera had been running on the small screen for a little more than 57 years, making it the longest-running television drama in history. (We must note that if you count its radio days, the show ran for .)
The USS Enterprise
The most recent Navy aircraft carrier named Enterprise was commissioned in 1961. The storied ship played a role during the Cuban missile crisis, and also in the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. In the 1980s, it had a star turn in the movie Top Gun. The ship was , though a new Enterprise is expected.
The Moon Program
In 1961, President Kennedy of sending a man to the moon. By then, Dingell had been in Congress for more than half a decade. The president's goal was reached in 1969. Although President Bush announced interest in in 2004, those plans under the Obama administration. NASA currently has to send anyone to the moon.
Alaska And Hawaii
OK, so he hasn't exactly outlasted them. But Dingell is the only member of Congress who has been serving the Union longer than its two newest states have been around (admitted in 1959).
Dingell talked about his votes to admit Alaska and Hawaii as states on his appearance this week , where he also said the thing that's changed the most, in his time in Congress, has been the "loss of collegiality ."
Thousands Of Members Of Congress
To break the record, Dingell had to outserve more than 12,000 other members of Congress. , 12,099 people have served in Congress since March 4, 1789. Dingell has served with 2,420 other representatives and 488 senators during his time in office, say the and historical offices, respectively.
For more on Dingell's history-making achievement, listen to Robert Siegel's from Thursday's All Things Considered.
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