Melvin R. Laird

Awards and Accolades

The Cannon Desk

The mahogany, empire style, double desk has drawers on both sides.

It originally belonged to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1903-1911.

The desk was presented to Representative Melvin R. Laird in 1958 by Representative Lawrence Henry Smith, Dean of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation.

It was used by Mel Laird in the Congress until 1969, the Department of Defense from 1969 - 1973, the White House from 1973 - 1974 and the Reader's Digest Association from 1974 - 1997.