A street in D.C.
A small item was published on Page 1 of The Daily Oklahoman, June 4, 1936, stating that the U.S. House of Representatives had passed the bill presented by 1st District Congressman Wesley E. Disney requesting a street to be named for Oklahoma in the nation’s capitol. The bill was sent on to the Senate but was blocked. It was introduced again in 1937.
On Aug. 27, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed that not only Oklahoma but Ohio, Missouri and Maine should have Washington streets named for them. Disney had wanted a street on the mall to be renamed for Oklahoma, but Roosevelt refused to sign a resolution to change the names. He said in his veto message the change “would result in a complete change in the policy established by Thomas Jefferson when the city was laid out by L’Enfant. Jefferson named the diagonal avenues after the 13 original states and the rectangular streets were lettered and numbered.” The president offered some alternative streets for renaming.
An Internet map search of Washington, D.C., streets shows that if you follow Constitution Avenue NW past the Ellipse in front of the White House and continue on past the Capitol building and the Senate office buildings, where the street changes to Constitution Avenue NE. Continue following the street until it turns to become 21st NE. Curving off of 21st NE you will find yourself on Oklahoma Avenue NE. It is north of RFK Stadium, orginally home to the Washington Redskins football team and the Washington Senators baseball team. It is now home to the D.C. United soccer team.
Mary Phillips
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