Senator Hiram Fong became one of Hawaii’s first two U.S. Senators in 1959, upon the state’s admission to the Union. The son of Chinese immigrants, Fong was also the first U.S. Senator of Asian ancestry. During his nearly 18 years in the Senate, Fong advocated civil rights and voting rights legislation and immigration reform that sought to prevent discrimination against Asians. Known for his devotion to Hawaii and his constituents, Fong’s state pride can be seen in a 1983 oral history interview with Capitol Police Inspector Leonard Ballard, who fondly remembered pointing out to Senator Fong a pineapple light fixture in the U.S. Capitol Building.

The U.S. Senate Commission on Art announces a new painting of U.S. Senator Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD).

When Leonard Ballard joined the Capitol Police in 1947, the police rolls carried the names of 157 men, ranging from college students to retired policemen, who were mostly patronage appointments. When he retired 37 years later, the Capitol Police had expanded to 1,200 men and women, and was a fully professional police force. In these interviews, Ballard recounts this transformation, explaining the importance of public relations when dealing with the politicians, staff, lobbyists, press, visiting dignitaries, and tourists who daily populate Capitol Hill.

Audio Clip: Senator Hiram Fong and the Pineapple Fixture