{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2930", "ICYMI: News Coverage of Cruz Letter to Smithsonian Institution", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 \u00a0Numerous news outlets have taken note of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's (R- Texas) letter to the Smithsonian Institution yesterday. In it, he urged museum leaders to include an accurate legacy and biography of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.\n\u201cAs much as I am grateful for the museum and its efforts to preserve and promote the indispensable, yet oft-neglected, contributions of African Americans to the collective history of our nation, I believe the museum has made a mistake by omitting the enormous legacy and impact of Justice Thomas, as well as his compelling background,\u201d Cruz wrote.\nRead the letter in its entirety here.\nFollowing is a summary of news coverage:\nAP: GOP senator: Museum ignores Clarence Thomas\u2019 accomplishments  \u201cRepublican Sen. Ted Cruz says the Smithsonian has made a mistake by not including the \"extraordinary accomplishments\" of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture\u2026 In the letter, Cruz says the first and only other African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, is briefly praised in the museum. He suggests an exhibit on Marshall and Thomas and their different judicial approaches.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Blaze: Ted Cruz writes letter demanding that Clarence Thomas be added to African-American History Museum  \u201cTexas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz wrote a letter Monday urging the Smithsonian museum of African-American History and Culture add Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to its museum\u2026Thomas has not been included in the museum, which opened earlier this year, despite being one of the most influential black lawyers in American history, and one of only two black judges to ever grace the Supreme Court.\u201d\u00a0\nBreitbart: Ted Cruz: African American Museum Should Include Clarence Thomas Exhibit  \u201cCruz, along with six other GOP senators, introduced a resolution that said Thomas should have a \u201cprominent place\u201d in the museum, the Hill reported\u2026 \u2018In a quarter century, Justice Thomas has carved out one of the more profound and unique legacies in the court\u2019s history,\u2019 Cruz added\u2026Cruz said Thomas\u2019s character and achievements deserve a permanent place in our nation\u2019s historical record.\u201d\u00a0\nConservative Review: Must-read Letter: Ted Cruz Calls on Smithsonian to Correct Clarence Thomas Snub  \u201cUnited States Senator Ted Cruz is calling on the leaders of the Smithsonian Institution to include a fair portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas\u2019s legacy in the museum\u2019s \u201cMaking a Way Out of No Way\u201d exhibit\u2026In a letter addressed to the African-American museum director, Sen. Cruz described Thomas\u2019 life as \u201cuniquely compelling in the annals of United States history, African-American or otherwise\u201d\u00a0\nCNN: Cruz: Give Clarence Thomas a place in the African-American museum  \u201cSen. Ted Cruz says the new African-American museum honoring black history has made \"a mistake\" by not featuring Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas\u2026 Cruz, a former Supreme Court law clerk, said he became \"deeply disturbed\" to discover Thomas' omission from the museum\u2026\u2018I am simply requesting that a fair and accurate portrayal of his powerful story be included, for the great benefit of millions of future museum-goers,\" Cruz wrote.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Hill: Cruz: African-American museum needs Clarence Thomas exhibit  \u201cSen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says the Smithsonian's African-American history museum should feature Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in its exhibits\u2026 Cruz was one of six GOP senators who introduced a resolution earlier this month arguing Thomas should have a \u2018prominent place\u2019 in the museum. In his letter, Cruz proposes an exhibit comparing Thomas and Marshall.\u201d\nRed State: Cruz Seeks To Have Justice Thomas\u2019 Legacy More Prominently Displayed In Smithsonian  \u201cTexas Senator Ted Cruz is going to bat for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the second African-American to hold a position on the nation\u2019s High Court\u2026 Cruz petitioned the Smithsonian Institute, asking that they correct the mistake that resulted in Thomas\u2019 legacy being reduced to a short mention of the Anita Hill scandal during his confirmation hearing.\u201d\u00a0\nWashington Free Beacon: Ted Cruz Demands Recognition of Clarence Thomas in New Black History Museum  \u201cIn a letter to the museum\u2019s curators, Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) wrote he was \u2018deeply disturbed\u2019 by the omission, hailing Thomas as \u2018an African American who survived segregation, defeated discrimination, and ascended all the way to the Supreme Court\u2019\u2026 Cruz said Thomas\u2019 rise as \u2018an intellectual leader\u2019 on the high court given his difficult upbringing deserved full recognition.\u201d\nThe Washington Times: Ted Cruz \u2018deeply disturbed\u2019 by Clarence Thomas omission from African American history museum  \u201cSen. Ted Cruz has called on the Smithsonian Institution to recognize Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas\u2018 \u201cincredible contributions to the country,\u201d saying he was \u201cdeeply disturbed\u201d to learn that the black conservative does not have a prominent display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture\u2026Mr. Cruz wrote a letter to Smithsonian leaders on Monday, saying they \u201cmade a mistake by omitting the enormous legacy and impact\u201d of Justice Thomas from the recently opened museum in northwest Washington.\u201d\nThe Weekly Standard: Cruz Asks Smithsonian to Correct 'Mistake' of Obscuring Justice Thomas at Museum  \u201cTexas senator Ted Cruz petitioned the Smithsonian Institution Monday to correct what he called its \"mistake [of] omitting the enormous legacy and impact of Justice Thomas\" at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture\u2026The museum has received criticism for allegedly slighting the nation's second African American justice\u2026 The former Supreme Court clerk suggested that Thomas be featured more prominently alongside former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American on the High Court.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2930"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.614167984575033, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}