WASHINGTON — On a recent afternoon the lunch rush was in full swing as Hill staffers stood in line in one of the Capitol’s many dining spots. From Dunkin’ to Subway to a beloved frozen yogurt stand, the options available can fulfill any craving.
As most Americans can agree, everyone needs to eat.
But the overwhelming majority of Americans — nearly 80% — said that the United States is more divided than ever before, according to a recent Gallup study. The makeup of the 119th Congress is no different. The House is divided: 218 Republicans to 215 Democrats, one of the thinnest majorities in the country’s two-century-long history.
Despite the political divide, House interns said dining together is not a polarizing affair.
“Food is one of the few things that transcends party lines,” said Cole Tacker, 23, an intern for Rep. Trent Kelly’s (R-Miss.) office. “It’s a reminder that, at the end of the day, everyone here is human and can bond over something as simple as a good meal.”
The Longworth Food Court, in the basement of the House’s Longworth Building, is a popular spot to grab a quick and easy bite. Amid the bustle of hungry staffers buying meals, people can be seen rushing to tables that open up and waving down colleagues to join them.
“I usually go for the Boars Head sandwiches,” Tacker said.
A staple for interns and staffers alike, Tacker said he was hooked after one meal on his first day on the job. On busy days, it provides him a much-needed break after back-to-back meetings.
The number four combo — a double-steak hamburger with bacon and cheese from the Steak and Shake in the Rayburn House Office Building — is Daniel Bednar’s go-to comfort meal on the Hill. The 19-year-old also discovered this favorite Capitol meal when wandering the Hill on his first day interning in the office of Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.).
Mille Grace Roberts, 20, an intern for a Kentucky representative, prefers the Jamba Juice in Longworth where she always gets an açaí bowl.
Since arriving in January, she has found it “inspiring that everyone can come together to enjoy this great food and traditions, even when they may disagree on other things.”
Food has a way of softening edges and sitting people together at a lunch table. Tacker said he’s seen bipartisan groups sharing a meal.
“When you’re here in these common dining areas, politics completely goes to the back door,” Bednar said. “We’re not talking about policy. We’re talking about our shared experiences.”
The common space has sparked new connections for young professionals seeking to expand their careers.
“So it’s a good place to network, to meet people, to not only meet friends but then you meet their friend and their friend,” Bednar said. “Then you start to really start building your network of contacts.”
It is a spot for interns from different offices to eat lunch together or seek career advice from senior staffers.
“Whether it’s grabbing a quick bite between meetings or sitting down for a more formal lunch, meals create an opportunity for conversation that might not happen in a more structured setting,” Tacker said.
The shared dining space gave Bednar the chance to make friends with another college intern, who turned out to live less than a mile away from him back home in Florida.
For Roberts, who considers herself a “foodie,” shared spaces and shared experiences link people across time and political divides.
“Food is a way for people to come together and have fellowship,” she said. “It is something that most everyone enjoys, and it gives a sense of community when you are gathered and enjoying a good meal, no matter the political party.”
