ðˌoʊ ðə klˈeɪm sˈɜːkjʊlˌeɪts ðæt kˈɑːŋɡɹəsmən ænd fjˈuːtʃɚ pɹˈɛzɪdənt dʒˈeɪmz ˈeɪ. ɡˈɑːɹfiːld pɚpˈoːɹɾᵻdli sədʒˈɛstᵻd ɪt wʌz tˈuː ˈɜːli fɚɹən ˈæfɹɪkən ɐmˈɛɹɪkən təbi ɐdmˈɪɾᵻd tə kˈɑːŋɡɹəs, hiː dɪdnˌɑːt mˌeɪk sˈʌtʃ ɐ stˈeɪtmənt tə ðə hˈaʊs wɛn mˈɛnɑːɹd ɡˈeɪv hɪz pɹˌɛzəntˈeɪʃən ænd ðə ɹˈoʊl kˈɔːl ʃˈoʊz ðæt hiː vˈoʊɾᵻd tə sˈiːt mˈɛnɑːɹd.
Though the claim circulates that Congressman and future president James A. Garfield purportedly suggested it was too early for an African American to be admitted to Congress, he did not make such a statement to the House when Menard gave his presentation and the roll call shows that he voted to seat Menard.