Ready to Rumble: Greatest Fistfights of the U.S. Congress

Whenever one watches C-SPAN it is difficult to listen to Congressmen engaged in a heated debate with an adversary call his opponent "my friend across the isle" through gritted teeth. In an era where politics are nasty and combative, at least we can be thankful that U.S. politicians only attack one another with words. This has not always been the case. Below is a list of memorable fistfights that occurred between Congressmen, or between a Congressman and a citizen based on his actions in Congress. All of a sudden nasty attack ads don't seem so bad after all.

1798: Roger Griswold (CT-Federalist) v. Matthew Lyon (VT- Republican)

On January 30, 1798 in a debate over international relations, Congressman Matthew Lyon implied that Connecticut Federalists, including Roger Griswold, were corrupt. Upon hearing this Griswold called Lyon a coward on the Senate floor. Lyon responded, in turn, by spitting in Griswold's face. A motion to expel Lyon from the Senate on this basis failed.

Thus, on February 15, Griswold decided to take matters into his own hands. On that date he charged across the Senate floor and began striking Senator Lyon about the head with a heavy wooden cane. Lyon arose and retreated to a fire pit were he grabbed hot tongs to defend himself, but Griswold was able to disarm him. The two locked up and exchanged blows briefly until they were broken up.

1832: William Stanberry (R-OH) v. Governor Sam Houston

On March 31, 1832 Ohio's William Stanberry took to the floor of the House of Representatives and accused Governor Sam Houston of corruption in his dealings with the Indians. On April 13^th during a trip to Washington, Houston confronted Stanberry on Pennsylvania Avenue and began beating the Congressman with a cane. Stanberry drew a pistol and attempted to shoot Houston, but the gun misfired.

1850: Thomas Hart Benton (D-MO) v. Henry Foote (D-MS)