The Political Stripe

By Alex Gangitano

Posted June 9, 2016 at 7:00am

The best part of summer in Washington is finally here: Seersucker Thursdays.

Senators Bill Cassidy and Dianne Feinstein are leading the National Seersucker Day celebration on Thursday to kick off the long-time tradition of wearing seersucker at least once a week throughout the very hot summers in the nation’s capital.

“For all those attorneys, Atticus Finch wore seersucker,” Cassidy said of the fictional lawyer in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“So, my gosh, if Atticus is considered the icon of what the good American lawmaker should be, we should all imitate our icon.”

And, “it’s fun,” the Louisiana Republican added. See the fun for yourself at 2 p.m. for the official photograph, which will be taken Thursday at the Ohio Clock in the Capitol.

UNITED STATES - JUNE 23: Senators wearing seersucker suits pose for a group photo in the Senate Reception Room in the Capitol on Thursday, June 23, 2011. From left are Senators Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Mike Lee, Kay Hagan, Amy Klobuchar, Mitch McConnell, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski, and Roger Wicker. The third thursday of June is traditionally called Seersucker Thursday. (Photo By Bill Clark/Roll Call) — From left are Senators Cochran, Collins, Mike Lee, Kay Hagan, Klobuchar, McConnell, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Wicker in 2011. (Photo By Bill Clark/Roll Call File Photo)

“It’s only as air conditioning came in that people wore wool suits all year round,” Cassidy said. “So it’s also a statement, if you will, of how to be more compatible with our environment.”

Cassidy reintroduced National Seersucker Day in 2014 after it was briefly discontinued in 2012. The tradition dates back to 1996 and was started by former Mississippi Senator Trent Lott .

“I think, of course, Dianne Feinstein wears it marvelously,” Cassidy said. “I actually think seersucker looks very nice on women . And, aside from that, I can’t say I notice any of the men.”

A memorable moment in seersucker history for the senator was in 2012 while he served in the House. Former New York Rep. Michael G. Grimm was under indictment at the time .

“I go, ‘Mike you should wear a seersucker,’” Cassidy said. “He goes, ‘Bill, I can beat the indictment but I couldn’t beat wearing seersucker.’”

Back Row: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Senate Majority Whip Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO), Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), Senate Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), FRONT ROW: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) pose for photographers during a photo session for the annual official photo of — Back Row: Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gordon Smith (R-OR), McConnell (R-KY),Christopher Bond (R-MO), Trent Lott (R-MS), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). Front row: Feinstein (D-CA),Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in 2002.

Modern air-conditioning did not reach the Capitol until the 1950s. Thereafter, Lott originally declared National Seersucker Day any warm day in the second or third week of June.

In 2004, Feinstein encouraged female participation in seersucker day and in 2005, she gave the several female senators that year an outfit to wear on National Seersucker Day.

Thursday’s forecast calls for a high of 81 degrees and swarms of blue and white on the Capitol grounds.

Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.