Civil War general faces demotion from U.S. Capitol statue display
Blair's statue
While he’s busy poring over potential statutes passed by state lawmakers, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has found time to make some changes to statues as well.
Nixon’s office has sent a request to the Architect of the Capitol in Washington to replace the state’s official representation in the national statue collection.
Out is Francis Preston Blair Jr., a former Civil War Union General and U.S. Senator from Missouri. In, if Nixon has his way, will be — who else? — Harry S Truman, the only Missouri-born American president.
The National Statuary Hall Collection features sculptures of 100 famous individuals — two from each state, typically approved by their respective legislatures.
The switch from Blair to Truman was actually supposed to be made several years ago under former Gov. Bob Holden, but, according to a statement from Nixon’s office last week, “the official request had never been properly transmitted.”
The statement said that, at the request of Missouri Democratic U.S. Reps. Russ Carnahan and Emmanuel Cleaver, the request was transmitted again.
The other statue representing Missouri in the Capitol is of another former Senator, Thomas Hart Benton.
For those worried about slighting Blair — who was also a St. Louis lawyer and candidate for vice president — fear not. Gen. Blair is well represented both here and in Washington.
There is a statue of the statesman at the Lindell/Kingshighway entrance to Forest Park. His family — which founded the D.C. suburb of Silver Spring, Md. — is also the namesake of the Blair House, the president’s official guest cottage.
The statue at the Lindell/Kingshighway entrance to Forest Park is NOT Blair! It is a statue of David Francis who was Chairman of the 1904 World’s Fair among other things. I’m a bit shocked the Post would get such a basic thing wrong.
I am not shocked they got it wrong, but i am left to wonder if Missouri has two statues, what is the other one?
As usual, Wagmann quick with the story but slow on research and accuracy!
“The other statue representing Missouri in the Capitol is of another former Senator, Thomas Hart Benton.”
In all seriousness, don’t we have more important issues with which to deal? Not to mention WE DON’T HAVE THE FREAKIN MONEY FOR NEW STATUES RIGHT NOW!!!
The other statue is Thomas Hart Benton, as it states in the article.
Sorry, folks, but Jake is right. According to the Regional Arts Commission, the statue of Francis Preston Blair, Jr. on Lindell Blvd. was erected in 1885 by the Blair Monument Association, which formed expressly for the purpose of immortalizing Blair in bronze. It was created by Wellington Gardner after a drawn-out process that saw many models rejected before Gardner stepped up. According to the RAC website the unveiling was quite the event: “The monument was unveiled with an imposing ceremony and parade in the midst of an electric storm. Eight train coaches and nearly every vehicle in the city were used to transport the 15,000 people who attended the event.” Jake 1, Haters 0.
Under Governor Holden, “the official request had never been properly transmitted.” Go figure.
Well done, Hwkeye.
I’m surprised Nixon doesn’t put a statue of himself there. He is so full of it. There are a lot of great Missourians. Why not Nelly? Or Adolphus Busch? I’m all for getting rid of Benton and putting Truman and Busch.