Live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate floor.

It began 39 years ago -- June 2nd, 1986 – Day One of C-SPAN2.

Here's one of the first things heard that first day of Senate TV:

"Today begins the video history book. No longer will the great debates in this

Chamber be lost forever. What a thrill it would be to watch Henry Clay, John Calhoun, or Daniel Webster in action. Of course, there were no cameras or tape recorders rolling when those congressional giants spoke. But sadly, the sights and sounds of great debates featuring such legends as Everett Dirksen, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, and Howard Baker, men who lived during the age of radio and television, were also lost forever. Now, future generations can have the opportunity to watch history in the making, thanks to videotape. So there are a number of good things about to happen."

That was Republican Majority Leader Bob Dole.

In a few days: the 39th anniversary of live, gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the U.S. Senate floor...

Bob Dole listed several lions of the Senate ... In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — we hear from other lions of the Senate — lions of the Senate press corps ... three top Senate observers pick their favorite moments from 39 years of the Senate on TV.

Our three special guests:

• Carl Hulse of the New York Times

• Paul Kane of the Washington Post

• Chad Pergram of Fox News

Which favorite moments did they pick – and why?

And what big moments from Senate history before there was TV do they wish they could have witnessed?

Find out in "The Weekly."

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