22 September—It was Homer, the ancient Greek adventure writer, who (as far as we know) first published the dictum “clothes make the man” (“τα ρούχα κάνουν τον άντρα”) almost 3,000 years ago in his best-selling “Odyssey.” Of course, he wrote it in what’s now called Epic Greek verse (dactylic hexameter) but in the good old days of classical scholarship was called Homeric Greek. And there, thankfully, we’ll leave Greek.

That sartorial dictum has worked its way through the millennia and perhaps the best contemporary expression is on a Mark Twain quote mug, a distillation of a paragraph in his short story “The Czar’s Soliloquy”: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”

And that takes us to the big news from the U.S. Capitol. A few days ago, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (a New York Democrat who had represented the Rotten Apple’s garment district in the House), who basically makes the rules about such matters as long as he keeps his job, relaxed the traditional, rather formal Senate dress code—shirts, ties, jackets, pants, shoes, and what’s considered business attire.

Schumer is thought to have gone casual to accommodate John Fetterman, the physically and mentally troubled freshman Democrat senator from Pennsylvania. The Dems need every vote, Big John likes to dress like a juvenile delinquent, and you never know what will trigger another depression, thus preventing him from voting as needed and ordered by the party whip.

Shame on Schumer.

But West Virginia Democrat (and Republican at heart) Joe Manchin will have none of that disgraceful sartorial deterioration. And, as is often the case, Joe has the Senate Republicans with him: 46 (of the 49) GOP senators have called on Schumer to reinstitute the dress code and again require members to wear business (i.e., civilized, grown-up) attire on the floor.

Here’s the letter:

September 19, 2023

The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20150

For more than 230 years, the United States Senate has served the American people with honor and dignity. As members of this esteemed body, we understand the seriousness our positions require.

The Senate is a place of honor and tradition, and the Senate floor is where we conduct the business of the American people. It is where we debate the policies which impact every American family and, when necessary, it is where we must make the gravest decision imaginable—whether to send our fellow Americans into battle to defend the freedoms we all hold dear. The world watches us on that floor and we must protect the sanctity of that place at all costs.

Allowing casual clothing on the Senate floor disrespects the institution we serve and the American families we represent. We the undersigned members of the United States Senate write to express our supreme disappointment and resolute disapproval of your recent decision to abandon the Senate’s longstanding dress code for members, and urge you to immediately reverse this misguided action.

Sincerely,
[46 mostly illegible signatures follow]

While one can take exception with the U.S. Senate’s honor and dignity, it is indeed a place of tradition. The three GOP senators who didn’t sign the letter are Katy Britt, from Alabama, a friend of Fetterman’s; and Josh Hawley from Missouri, and Mike Braun from Indiana, who claim they had more important things to worry about.

Yeah, right . . .