Donnald K. Anderson

From House Page to Clerk of the House, Donn Anderson’s 35-year career included a series of administrative and managerial positions which brought him in close contact with Members of Congress, momentous debates, and important changes to the daily customs of the House.

Featured Video

Running the Democratic Cloakroom

Detailed explanation of the work of the Democratic Cloakroom staff during the 1970s and 1980s.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded October 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Abstract & Transcript

Elected Clerk under Speakers Jim Wright of Texas and Thomas Foley of Washington, Donnald Anderson began his 35 years of House service as a Page. Even before he was Clerk, Anderson’s duties—running errands, operating elevators in the Capitol, enrolling bills, and serving Members in the Democratic Cloakroom—kept him close to the House Floor. In this series of interviews, Anderson shared illuminating anecdotes about personalities like Sam Rayburn of Texas, Hale Boggs of Louisana, and Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill of Massachusetts and described in detail the old Capitol Hill neighborhood, particularly the Page boarding houses. His recollections of the advent of electronic voting, the shift away from patronage employment, and the integration of women Members illustrate how technological, procedural, and social developments have transformed the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Biography

Donnald K. Anderson was born on October 17, 1942, in Sacramento, California, to Russell V. and Sally Anderson. Educated in the Sacramento public schools, Anderson first came to Capitol Hill on January 5, 1960, having been appointed a House Page during the 86th Congress (1959–1961) by Representative John E. Moss of California. After attending Sacramento State University and George Washington University, Anderson spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve. During the next several decades, Anderson held a variety of administrative and managerial positions in the House: He was an elevator operator, an assistant enrolling clerk, a clerk in the House Finance Office, and assistant manager of the Democratic Cloakroom. In 1972 Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma appointed Anderson Majority Floor Manager, a position he held until January 6, 1987, when he became Clerk of the House at the opening of the 100th Congress (1987–1989).

As Clerk, Anderson managed an office that controlled legislative, administrative, and financial operations for the House. His staff of more than 600 was responsible for House Floor operations, finance and procurement, information technology, and televised House proceedings, among other areas. One of Anderson’s main achievements in his eight years as Clerk was the creation of two House offices: Employee Assistance and Fair Employment Practices.

Anderson retired from the House in January 1995. A resident of Capitol Hill, he is a member emeritus of the House Page Board and an active board member of several charitable and educational organizations. He was invested by Pope John Paul II in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Catholic group for laypeople and clergy and the only order of knighthood of the Holy See. Donnald Anderson died on July 30, 2020 in Sacramento, California.

Video

Congresswoman Helen Meyner of New Jersey

Recollections of Congresswoman Helen Meyner of New Jersey and gender barriers in the Democratic Cloakroom.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded October 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Electronic Voting

Discussion of the consequences of electronic voting in the House.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded October 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Running the Democratic Cloakroom

Detailed explanation of the work of the Democratic Cloakroom staff during the 1970s and 1980s.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded October 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Audio

Memories of Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas

Memories of Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Personal memories of Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded January 25, 2006 Deed of Gift

Technology in the House

Technology in the House
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Account of the changing technology in House during the 1970s.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded February 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

The Democratic Cloakroom

The Democratic Cloakroom
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Recollections of the Democratic Cloakroom.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded January 25, 2006 Deed of Gift

Whip Call

Whip Call
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Description of Whip calls during the 1950s and 1960s.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded February 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Role in History

Role in History
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Reflections on the significant role of the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate Era.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded May 31, 2006 Deed of Gift

Upheaval of the Seniority System

Upheaval of the Seniority System
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Discussion of the Watergate Babies and committee assignments.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded April 12, 2006 Deed of Gift

Elevator Operator

Elevator Operator
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Donnald K. Anderson describes his duties as an elevator operator in the early 1960s.
Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded February 23, 2006 Deed of Gift

Images & Artifacts

Clerk of the House
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Clerk of the House Donnald Anderson standing in his office.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
Clerk of the House Donnald Anderson
<em>Clerk of the House Donnald Anderson</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_grey_suit_signing.xml
Clerk of the House Donnald Anderson signs paperwork in his office.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
Donnald Anderson as a Capitol Elevator Operator
<em>Donnald Anderson as a Capitol Elevator Operator</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_elevator_operator.xml
From 1961 to 1963, Donnald Anderson worked in the House Doorkeeper's Office as an elevator operator in the Capitol.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
Donnald Anderson on an Opening Day of Congress
<em>Donnald Anderson on an Opening Day of Congress</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_rostrum_gavel.xml
Donnald Anderson presides over the House in his official role as Clerk on an opening day of Congress.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
Donnald Anderson and Representative Lindy Boggs
<em>Donnald Anderson and Representative Lindy Boggs</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_with_lindy.xml
Donnald Anderson stands alongside Representative Lindy Boggs of Louisiana.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
Donnald Anderson at the Bicentennial of the Great Compromise, 1987
<em>Donnald Anderson at the Bicentennial of the Great Compromise, 1987</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_bicentennial.xml
Clerk of the House, Donnald Anderson attended the Bicentennial of the Great Compromise in Philadelphia in 1987.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
House Page Acceptance Letter, 1960
<em>House Page Acceptance Letter, 1960</em>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_anderson_page_acceptance_letter.xml
In 1960, high school senior Donnald Anderson received this letter notifying him of his appointment to serve as a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Image courtesy of Donnald K. Anderson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives