The 85th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1957, to January 3, 1959, during the fifth and sixth years of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1950 United States census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority. To date, this is the earliest Congress with a member still living. Major events January 5, 1957: President Eisenhower announced the Eisenhower Doctrine in a special message to Congress January 20, 1957: Inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower for a second term August 21, 1957: President Eisenhower announced a 2-year suspension of nuclear testing August 28, 1957: Senator Strom Thurmond set a record for the longest filibuster with his 24-hour, 18-minute speech against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 September 24, 1957: Little Rock Crisis: President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Arkansas to provide safe passage into Central High School for the Little Rock Nine. October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth October 21, 1957: The U.S. military sustained its first combat fatality in Vietnam November 7, 1957: Gaither Report called for more American missiles and fallout shelters November 25, 1957: President Eisenhower suffers from a stroke January 31, 1958: U.S. launched its first satellite, Explorer 1 July 15, 1958: U.S intervenes in the Lebanon Crisis, the first major application of the Eisenhower Doctorine. October 1, 1958: NASA started operations Major legislation August 14, 1957: Airways Modernization Act, , September 2, 1957: Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act, , September 9, 1957: Civil Rights Act of 1957, , July 29, 1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act, , 1958: Transportation Act of 1958, August 23, 1958: Federal Aviation Act of 1958, , August 28, 1958: EURATOM Cooperation Act of 1958, , August 28, 1958: Military Construction Appropriation Act (Advanced Research Projects Agency), , September 2, 1958: National Defense Education Act, , 1958: Department of Defense Reorganization Act, 1958: Pasatore-Walter Immigration Act States admitted January 3, 1959: Alaska was admitted as the 49th state. Party summary Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Richard Nixon (R) President pro tempore: Carl Hayden (D) Majority (Democratic) leadership Majority Leader and Conference Chairman: Lyndon B. Johnson Majority Whip: Mike