On July 18, 1947, Public Law 203 (61 Stat. 396), a joint resolution of Congress, established the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission. It was an ad hoc presidential advisory commission that made plans and prepared programs to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the federal government in the District of Columbia, coordinated plans made by state commissioners, and communicated with foreign government which commemorated the anniversary. The Commission terminated by December 31, 1952.
The Commission consisted of fifteen members, including the President of the U.S., Harry S. Truman, who was ex officio chairperson; three Senators appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate; three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; three residents of the District of Columbia appointed by the President of the U.S. from recommendations provided by the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia; and three citizens of the District of Columbia appointed by the President of the U.S. Mr. Carter T. Barron was the Executive Vice Chairman, who was succeeded by Melvin D. Hildreth as Executive Vice Chairman up Barron''s death on November 22, 1950. Other memebers of the Commission were Arthur H. Vandenberg who was succeeded by Kenneth McKellar in 1948; Joseph W. Martin Jr. who was succeeded by Sam Rayburn in 1948; C. Douglass Buck who was succeeded by J. Howard McGraph in 1948; Arthur Capper who was succeeded by Margaret Chase Smith in 1948; Spessard L. Holland; Everett M. Dirksen who was succeeded by John L. McMillan in 1948; Walt Horan; Sol Bloom who was succeeded by Mary T. Norton in 1948 and Charles E. Bennett on Janaury 29, 1951; Joseph C. McGarragy; Robert Woods Bliss; Robert V. Fleming; John Russell Young; and Mrs. Philip L. Graham.
