The Congress
The Congress charts the evolution of the United States Congress across two hundred years, weaving together the story of its iconic Capitol building and the men and women who animated its chambers. Beginning with the British burning the Capitol in 1814 and its rebirth during the Civil War, the film highlights transformative figures—from Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun to Jeanette Rankin and Everett Dirksen—using historic letters, interviews, and imagery. It delves into pivotal moments like women’s suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement, McCarthyism, and Vietnam-era debates, illuminating how Congress functions as “the people’s branch,” chaotic yet grounded in compromise .