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in 1933 as a clerk in the House's Post Office. Colmer had offered him the job after being elected to the House. By 1947, Miller was minority doorkeeper for the House and two years later he was elected to the post of
Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives. In this role, he oversaw
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to Albert Magnus Miller, a sea captain, and his wife Nettie Maddox. As a child he was nicknamed "Fishbait" for his small stature (he weighed 75 lb (34 kg) at the age of 15), and he was known by this name his entire life. Miller worked at the local pharmacy for several years, where he met
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to remove her hat before entering the chamber. In response, she told Miller to "go fuck yourself"; however, seeing him unfazed, she relented and took off her hat. Miller also functioned in the role by escorting visiting foreign dignitaries. In 1951, he drew attention for addressing the visiting
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In 1974, Miller faced competition for his job for the first time since 1949. He had been increasingly criticized for enjoying attention too much, which rankled some members of
Congress. On December 2, 1974, he was ousted and replaced by
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described Miller as "odd-jobs man for his 435 bosses", mentioning that he functioned as "baby-sitter, cigar-lighter, gum-giver and even water boy". He earned $ 40,000 a year, $ 2,500 less than a congressperson.
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When Miller drew office assignments for House members, he was known to sand his fingertips in order to identify the discs he was drawing and ensure that
Democratic members received desirable offices.
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more than 350 employees and a $ 3.5 million budget. He served as doorkeeper from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 to 1974, and again was minority doorkeeper from 1953 to 1955 during the
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Miller was known for having a "flamboyant personality and affinity for the public spotlight", for his announcement of "Mr. Speaker, the
President of the United States", during the
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297:"Pascagoula's 'Fishbait' Miller became a legend on Capitol Hill (Sampling History)"
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address, and for enforcing traditions of the House. For example, he once told
154:(July 20, 1909 – September 12, 1989) was an American who served as
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Miller, Fishbait (1909-1989), doorkeeper of the U.S. House of
Representatives
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described him as an "enthusiastic socializer and an irrepressible dynamo".
454:"Legendary Doorkeeper of the House William 'Fishbait' Miller Dies At 80"
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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The
Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan
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with the salutation "Howdy, ma'am", and greeting her husband,
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Miller married Mabel
Breeland in 1937. They had one child.
414:"William 'Fish Bait' Miller, 80, Doorkeeper of U.S. House"
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Finding aid for the
William "Fishbait" Miller collection
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Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives
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Employees of the United States House of Representatives
519:"'Fishbait' Miller, Former U.S. House Doorkeeper, Dies"
571:""Fishbait" Handles Royalty With His Customary Poise"
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Fishbait: The Memoirs of the Congressional Doorkeeper
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William Moseley Miller was born on July 20, 1909, in
646:"Competition May Unhinge 'Fishbait' From House Job"
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747:"Former House doorkeeper 'Fishbait' Miller dies"
577:. Associated Press. November 3, 1951. p. 28
843:Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College alumni
491:"William 'Fishbait' Miller born, July 20, 1909"
158:from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 to 1974.
16:Doorkeeper of the U.S. House of Representatives
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379:"House Doorkeeper William "Fishbait" Miller"
86:January 3, 1955 – December 31, 1974
546:Ed Koch and the Rebuilding of New York City
549:. Columbia University Press. p. 100.
55:January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
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344:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0700497
338:. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press.
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452:Pearson, Richard (September 15, 1989).
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808:"Opens The Door On Capitol Folly"
608:"House Doorkeeper Has Many Turns"
152:William Moseley "Fishbait" Miller
23:William Moseley "Fishbait" Miller
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652:. November 29, 1974. p. 29
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689:. December 3, 1974. p. 2
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683:"Fishbait Miller Ousted"
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128:Pascagoula, Mississippi
251:Frances Spatz Leighton
614:. December 30, 1950.
575:The Kansas City Times
687:Redlands Daily Facts
420:. September 15, 1989
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612:The New York Times
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209:Bella Abzug
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817:Categories
282:References
162:Early life
774:Fish Bait
772:"William
620:0362-4331
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245:He wrote
175:, then a
82:In office
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495:POLITICO
301:gulflive
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
