A Senate tradition with Idaho connections
Crapo
For more than 100 years, bean soup has been on the menu in the U.S. Senate. The soup is a Senate tradition with Idaho historical connections.
Senate historians write, “There are competing stories about the origin of the mandate that bean soup be served daily. According to one story, the Senate’s bean soup tradition began early in the 20th century at the request of Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho, who as chair of the committee overseeing the Senate Restaurant, passed a resolution in the committee requiring that bean soup be on the menu daily. Another story attributes the request to Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota, who expressed his fondness for the soup in 1903 and insisted that it be on the menu each day.”
I, of course, am happy to believe the first story crediting Idaho with this Senate tradition. I am deeply proud of Idaho, where sensibility walks hand in hand with resourcefulness. Therefore, it makes great sense that the hearty and tasty Senate bean soup would have Idaho roots. And the fact that it has remained on the menu for all these years as tastes and diets change reinforces the notion that the bean soup simply has to have some Idaho fortitude in its foundation.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
