Washington, DC —(Map)
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke for over 25 hours on the US Senate floor yesterday. His marathon speech was an effort to call attention to concerns he has over the actions of President Donald Trump. Mr. Booker’s speech has set a new record.
Mr. Booker, who’s a Democrat, began his speech on Monday night around 7:00 p.m. He said he meant to interrupt “the normal business” of the US Senate as long as he was able to. “I rise tonight,” he said, “Because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis.”
Long speeches in the US Senate aren’t unknown. Under certain conditions, senators are allowed to speak as long as they wish. At times, speeches are used to prevent the Senate from voting on a law. This is called a “filibuster”. But Mr. Booker’s speech wasn’t a filibuster, since he wasn’t trying to prevent a law from being passed.
Senator Cory Booker still speaking after having broken the record for the longest speech given to the US Senate.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke for over 25 hours on the US Senate floor yesterday. His record-setting speech was an effort to call attention to concerns he has over the actions of President Donald Trump. Above, Mr. Booker near the end of his speech.
(Source: Senator Cory Booker, screenshot, YouTube.)
Instead, Mr. Booker was using the speech as a way of drawing attention to the concerns he has about many of the actions Mr. Trump has taken recently. “These are not normal times in America,” Mr. Booker said. “And they should not be treated as such [as normal] in the United States Senate.”
Once Mr. Booker began his speech, he had to follow certain rules to keep going. For one thing, he had to remain standing the whole time. Soon after Mr. Booker started, he asked for his chair to be taken away, so he wouldn’t be tempted to sit. He also couldn’t leave the room, or go to the bathroom.
So What Did He Talk About?
Mr. Booker talked about the cuts in government that Mr. Trump and Elon Musk have been making. He also discussed the large tax cuts that Mr. Trump has planned for businesses and rich people. Mr. Booker said that Congress had not been doing a good job of balancing the power of the president.
Senator Cory Booker reading while giving the longest speech ever given to the US Senate.
Mr. Booker read letters people had sent to him. He also read from the Constitution. Mr. Booker went out of his way to quote both Republican and Democratic politicians. “It’s not left or right,” he said. “It’s right or wrong.” Above, Mr. Booker reading during his speech yesterday.
(Source: Senator Cory Booker, screenshot, YouTube.)
Mr. Booker read letters sent to him by people from around the country. He also read from the Constitution and from news articles. Mr. Booker went out of his way to quote both Republican and Democratic politicians. “It’s not left or right,” he said. “It’s right or wrong.”
Other Democratic senators were able to support Mr. Booker by asking him questions, which allowed him to take short breaks from speaking. As the hours added up, Mr. Booker seemed tired at times. But he always seemed to bounce back, full of energy.
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As the hours added up, Mr. Booker seemed tired at times. But he always seemed to bounce back, full of energy. Finally, at 8:05 p.m., after 25 hours and four minutes, Mr. Booker ended his speech. Above, Mr. Booker speaks to reporters after his speech yesterday.
Matching – and then passing – other long Senate speeches wasn’t easy. In 2013, Republican Senator Ted Cruz spoke against Ex-President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act for 21 hours and 19 minutes. But Senator Strom Thurmond held the record. In 1957, Mr. Thurmond spoke for over 24 hours and 18 minutes in an effort to stop the Civil Rights Act – a law that required that all people be treated equally.
Mr. Booker broke Mr. Thurmond’s record shortly after 7 last night. But he kept going. Finally, at 8:05 p.m., after 25 hours and four minutes, Mr. Booker ended his speech.
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