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42-468: Cosmos Club members include three United States presidents , two vice presidents, U.S. Supreme Court justices, artists, writers, businessmen, government officials, journalists, scientists, and university presidents, 36 Nobel Prize winners, 61 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 55 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. In 1988, the Club opened to women. According to one history, Clarence Edward Dutton originally had

84-587: A billiards room, dining rooms, a fitness center, a library, parlors, overnight rooms, and a periodical room. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Members and visitors to the Cosmos Club must comply with its dress code. Men must wear dress slacks, collared long-sleeved shirts or turtlenecks, and jackets. In addition, men must wear ties in the formal dining room for dinner, lunch, and Sunday brunch. Memorial Day through Labor Day,

126-722: A member of the president's cabinet and, by law, a member of the National Security Council , and fifth in the U.S. presidential line of succession . Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution , the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance , will take the office if confirmed by

168-662: A member of the president's cabinet and, by law, a member of the National Security Council . Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution , the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance , is confirmed by the United States Senate .     Federalist (4)     Democratic-Republican (4)     Democratic (30)     Whig (5)     Republican (34)     Independent (1) Status The secretary of

210-613: A scholarship: Many organizations were founded at the Cosmos Club, including the National Geographic Society in 1888, The Wilderness Society in 1935, and the Washington Academy of Sciences. The American Institute of Physics also formed at the Cosmos Club on May 3, 1931. Since 1887, the Philosophical Society of Washington , also known as PSW Science , meets at the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, now called

252-484: A year later, the Club admitted its first black member, historian John Hope Franklin . For its first 110 years, the Cosmos Club did not permit women to join, and it did not allow female guests to enter by the front door, or to enter rooms reserved for members. In 1973, 1975, and 1980, the Club voted against admitting women. In 1987, the Washington, D.C., Human Rights Office ruled that there was probable cause to believe that

294-543: Is "a relation with scholarship, creative genius, or intellectual distinction". In 1904, president William Henry Holmes divided members into 11 groups for admission purposes: The club was only for white men until the 1960s. In 1962, the club's refusal to admit Black journalist and high-ranking State Department official Carl T. Rowan prompted members such as Bruce Catton and John Kenneth Galbraith to resign their memberships in protest. Edward R. Murrow and John F. Kennedy withdrew their applications for membership. Less than

336-640: Is also used by members for special events such as anniversary parties, birthday parties, cocktail parties, debutante parties, funeral receptions, and wedding receptions. The Cosmos Club has published the Cosmos Bulletin since around 1946. The club also publishes its Cosmos Club Occasional Paper Series, featuring articles written by its members. In 1990, the Cosmos Club began publication of Cosmos: A Journal of Emerging Issues as an annual publication of original essays by its members. However, publication ceased in 2004. The Cosmos Club presents several awards and

378-454: Is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policy, participating in the formulation of broad fiscal policies that have general significance for the economy, and managing the public debt. The Secretary oversees the activities of the Department in carrying out its major law enforcement responsibilities; in serving as the financial agent for

420-1004: The Washingtonian reported that annual dues are around $ 2,000. Members have access to reciprocating private clubs in other communities, including the Algonquin Club in Boston, the Arlington Club in Portland, Oregon , the Cornell Club of New York , The Cliff Dwellers in Chicago, the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh , the Down Town Association in New York City, Engineering Society of Baltimore ,

462-411: The 1st Congress convened, political factions began rallying around dominant Washington administration officials, such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson . Concerned about the capacity of political parties to destroy the fragile unity holding the nation together, Washington remained unaffiliated with any political faction or party throughout his eight-year presidency. He was, and remains,

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504-592: The Friday Morning Music Club , and the Literary Society of Washington . On November 16, 1903, when the Cosmos Club celebrated its 25th anniversary, the membership had grown from the original twelve to 567: 408 residents, 159 non-residents. As of 2017, the club had some 3,089 members in Full, Junior, Senior, and Emeritus categories. Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but a common theme among members

546-817: The Hamilton Club of Lancaster , the Harvard Club of Boston , the Harvard Club of New York City , The Lotos Club in New York City, the National Arts Club in New York City, the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the Norfolk Yacht & Country Club in Virginia, The Players of New York City, the Penn Club of New York , Princeton Club of New York , Racquet Club of Philadelphia , St. Botolph Club in Boston,

588-690: The Inter-American Development Bank , the Asian Development Bank , and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development . The secretary along with the treasurer of the United States must sign Federal Reserve notes before they can become legal tender . The secretary also manages the United States Emergency Economic Stabilization fund . The secretary of the treasury is a Level I position in

630-643: The Lafayette Square Historic District . In 1950, the Club purchased the Townsend House at 2121 Massachusetts Ave. , N.W. Washington, D.C. Designed by architects Carrère and Hastings , the Townsend House was built for railroad and coal heiress Mary Scott Townsend between 1898 and 1900 and features Louis XV elements on a Beaux Arts-style exterior. After renovations, the Club moved into the Townsend House in mid-1952. Townsend House includes

672-797: The Oriental Club in London, Oxford and Cambridge Club in London, the Savile Club in London, Stephen's Green Hibernian Club in Dublin, The Tanglin Club in Singapore. United States presidents The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States , indirectly elected to a four-year term via the Electoral College . The officeholder leads

714-1064: The Saint Louis Club , the University Club of San Francisco , the Williams Club in New York City, the Union Club of Boston , and the University Club of Denver . The Cosmos Club also has reciprocal agreements with clubs in other countries, including The Athenaeum in London, the Carlton Club in London, Caledonian Club in London, the Club Financiero Génova in Madrid, The East India Club in London, Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong, The National Club in Toronto, The New Club in Edinburgh,

756-834: The United States Government ; and in manufacturing coins and currency . The Chief Financial Officer of the government, the Secretary serves as Chairman Pro Tempore of the President's Economic Policy Council, Chairman of the Boards and Managing Trustee of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, and as U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund , the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ,

798-530: The executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces . Since the office was established in 1789, 45 men have served in 46 presidencies. The first president, George Washington , won a unanimous vote of the Electoral College. Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is therefore counted as the 22nd and 24th president of

840-587: The Cosmos Club met in rented rooms on the third floor in the Corcoran Building on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C. The club moved into a rented house at 23 Madison Place in Lafayette Square from 1883 to 1886. However, the membership quickly outgrew the space. On June 1, 1886, the Club purchased the Dolley Madison House for $ 40,000. This house is located at

882-674: The Executive Schedule , thus earning the salary prescribed for that level ( US$ 246,400, as of January 2024). The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury , and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States . The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters pertaining to economic and fiscal policy. The secretary is, by custom,

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924-720: The John Wesley Powell auditorium in honor of John Wesley Powell . The Explorer's Club , the Geological Society of Washington , the Council on Foreign Relations , and the Washington Academy of Sciences also regularly met at the Cosmos Club. Other organizations that used the Cosmos Club's facilities include The Columbia Historical Society , now the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., the Cosmotographers (a camera club),

966-468: The Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury , and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States . The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters pertaining to economic and fiscal policy. The secretary is, by custom,

1008-510: The United States, giving rise to the discrepancy between the number of presidencies and the number of individuals who have served as president. The presidency of William Henry Harrison , who died 31 days after taking office in 1841, was the shortest in American history. Franklin D. Roosevelt served the longest, over twelve years, before dying early in his fourth term in 1945. He is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms. Since

1050-412: The articles of incorporation three weeks later, and Powell was selected as the club's temporary president. The original incorporators included: According to the articles of incorporation, "The particular objects and business of this association are the advancement of its members in science, literature and art, their mutual improvement by social intercourse, the acquisition and maintenance of a library, and

1092-572: The assembly hall. In 1940, the U.S. government purchased the house with the rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex in 1952. The Cutts-–Madison House is included in the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing building to the Lafayette Square Historic District . In 1906, the Club purchased a house south of the Madison House at 25 Madison Place NW. In 1907, they purchased

1134-647: The club was able to rent their former property on a year-to-year basis. This arrangement was financially beneficial for the club as they no longer had to pay property taxes. Finally, the Club moved to a new location in the Townsend House in 1952. The Lafayette Square property is now used by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit . In 1917, the Club bought the Tayloe House , an 1828 Federal style house at 21 Madison Place NW. The Tayloe House

1176-536: The club's men-only policy violated the city's anti-discrimination law. The office was ready to order public hearings on the case, which could have resulted in the loss of all city licenses and permits if the all-male policy had continued. However, on June 19, 1988, the Cosmos Club's membership overwhelmingly voted to accept women members—only 14 of the 771 voting members were against admitting women. The first class of female members were admitted in October 1988. In 2015,

1218-447: The collection and care of materials and appliances related to the above subjects." The ten incorporators met again on January 6, 1879. They approved bylaws, regulations, and rules, and also elected Powell as the official president. They approved sixty individuals as Founders; many of these were existing members of the Philosophical Society of Washington which the group feared, was considering creating its own social club. The cost to join

1260-422: The corner of H Street and Madison Place. Madison's brother-in-law, Richard Cutts , built the house in 1820; Dolley Madison lived there from 1837 until her death in 1849. Upon purchasing the building, the Club built an assembly hall addition and raised the height of the third story. They held a gala on January 5, 1887, to celebrate their new home. In 1893, the Club again expanded the building, adding two stories to

1302-436: The fine arts, were well known to be cultivated in a special department thereof; and (3) were recognized as distinguished in a learned profession or in public service." According to its website, election to membership in the Cosmos Club honors those deemed to have "done meritorious original work in science, literature, or the arts, or...recognized as distinguished in a learned profession or in public service". From 1879 to 1882,

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1344-537: The house next door at 23 Madison Place NW—the club's former rental property. Both houses were razed in 1909, allowing the club to build a new five-story clubhouse at 725 Madison Place that was completed in 1910. This was dubbed "the new building". They also purchased a small office building on H Street, next to the Dolley Madison House. However, in 1930, Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase

1386-415: The idea for a social club for men of science, and shared his idea with Major John Wesley Powell . On November 16, 1878, a group of men met at Powell 's home at 910 M Street, Washington, D.C ., and discussed their mutual interest in creating what began the Cosmos Club. There are no minutes or attendance records from the organizational meeting. However, oral history says twelve attended the meeting. Ten signed

1428-416: The majority of the full United States Senate . The secretary of state , the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of defense , and the attorney general are generally regarded as the four most important Cabinet officials, due to the size and importance of their respective departments. The current secretary of the treasury is Janet Yellen , who is the first woman to hold the office. The Secretary

1470-479: The only U.S. president never affiliated with a political party. The incumbent president is Joe Biden , who assumed office on January 20, 2021 . The president-elect is Donald Trump , who will assume office on January 20, 2025. Trump will be the second president after Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms, as the 45th and 47th president. General Expert studies Presidential biographies Online sources United States Secretary of

1512-583: The private property on Madison Place for the expansion of governmental offices. In 1939, the government offered the Club one million dollars for all of their holdings—the Madison House, the New Building, the office building, and the Tayloe House (described below). Although its members did not want to move, the Club voted to sell on March 27, 1940. However, with the outbreak of World War II , the government did not immediately pursue their played expansion. Instead,

1554-750: The ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1951, no person may be elected president more than twice, and no one who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected may be elected more than once. Four presidents died in office of natural causes (William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor , Warren G. Harding , and Franklin D. Roosevelt), four were assassinated ( Abraham Lincoln , James A. Garfield , William McKinley , and John F. Kennedy ), and one resigned ( Richard Nixon , facing impeachment and removal from office). John Tyler

1596-492: The summer dress code permits business casual attire. The Cosmos Club offers book conversations, chess and bridge tournaments, monthly concerts, dancing lessons, holiday events, lunch and dinner lectures, and seasonal dinner dances. Many of the activities are related to food, such as monthly lobster dinners, weekly champagne brunches, prime rib buffets, and wine tastings. In addition, the Cosmos Club serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for its members and their guests. Townsend House

1638-523: The treasury is fifth in the presidential line of succession , following the secretary of state and preceding the secretary of defense . On August 16, 2016, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13735, which changed the order of succession for filling the Treasury Secretary's role when necessary. At any time when the secretary and the deputy secretary of the treasury have both died, resigned, or cannot serve as secretary for other reasons,

1680-438: Was $ 25, slightly over $ 700 in today's money. The annual dues were set at $ 20 for residents and $ 10 for non-residents. The original bylaws of the Cosmos Club had the following policy: "Membership in the Club was restricted by high qualification requirements and candidates were admitted only if they (1) had performed meritorious original work in science, literature, or the fine arts; (2) though not occupied in science, literature, or

1722-477: Was the club's women's annex, and its stables were converted into a meeting hall. In 1952, the Club left Tayloe House when they moved into Townsend House. The U.S. government purchased the house with the rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex. The Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing structure to

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1764-455: Was the first vice president to assume the presidency during a presidential term, and set the precedent that a vice president who does so becomes the fully functioning president with their own administration. Throughout most of its history, American politics has been dominated by political parties . The Constitution is silent on the issue of political parties, and at the time it came into force in 1789, no organized parties existed. Soon after

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