Out the Window

Yesterday NPR aired a snippet about Abraham Lincoln, revived because of the Democrats in Wisconsin leaving town to make it impossible to pass the union busting bill. The Whigs found themselves in a similar situation in the late 1800's in Congress over a controversial banking bill. They all departed but left Lincoln behind to report on events. The bills' supporters dragged congressmen out of sick beds and probably the corner bar, and locked them all in the chamber including Lincoln. This would have worked for all but a cat and Lincoln, who opened up a second story window and jumped out. He landed unharmed, likely due to his unusual height.
Thanks to this event, when a new building was erected there was a law made by Congress that the chambers had to be in a structure that was at least three stories high. That might even work for some cats.