murder and banquo's ghost." turning the tables on hayne, webster explained that banquo's ghost "was an honest ghost, it disturbed no innocent man, but appeared only to banquo's assassins, macbeth and lady macbeth." by identifying with those who saw the ghost, webster argued, hayne had slipped up, and had unintentionally revealed his own sinister motives. after citing several lines from the play, webster asked, "those who murdered banquo, what did they win by it? substantial good? permanent power? or disappointment rather, mortification, dust and ashes, the common fate of vaulting ambition overleaping itself." then he said derisively, "i need persue the illusion no further." there are many other examples. congressman william jennings bryan began a speech by directing the house clerk to read a passage from merchant of venice. a manager of president andrew johnson senate impeachment trial compared johnson's cabinet members to polonius and hamlet. references to shakespeare were part of the ebb and flow of congressio

after citing several lines from the play come webster asked, "those who murdered banquo, what if they win by it? power, or disappointment, mortification, dust and ashes, the common fate of balding itself."overleaping then he said derisively, "i need person the illusion no further." to our many other examples congressman william jennings bryan began a speech by directing the house clerk to read the passage from merchant of venice. a manager of president andrew johnson sent an impeachment trial compared johnson's cabinet members to glorious and hamlet. anerences -- to pollonius hamlet. references to shakespeare were used in debate. there were over 159 references during congressional debate to shakespeare himself or to the place hamlet, macbeth, othello affiliate. let me add a fan fact about shakespeare in congress. -- shakespeare american scholars was the chairman of the house ways and means committee during the fierce tariff battles of the late 1830's. after leaving congress, he became the editor of the first major american additional shakespeare's plays -- edition of shakespeare's pla