# If Texas secedes... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081 "2001-11-07T23:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/21 "2001-11-09T04:13:49Z")
I wondered about that too, **Chronos.** It looks like a substantial portion was, according to the [Architect of the Capitol](http://www.aoc.gov/main/faqs.htm#built): > [@](#): > > **When was the Capitol built?** > > The Capitol was begun in 1793 and has been “completed” several times. The original building was finished in 1826. The growth of the Congress compelled its expansion in the middle of the 19th century; the extensions and new dome were finished in 1868. An addition to the east front in 1958-1962 added more rooms to the Capitol. The most recent work, the restoration of the west front and terraces and the in-filling of courtyards, was completed in 1993. Detailed information about the Capitol’s construction is also available. > > **When did the Congress first meet in the Capitol?** > > November 17, 1800. > > … > > **Is anyone buried in the Capitol?** > > No. A tomb area was built for the remains of George Washington beneath the Crypt, but his will specified that he wished to be buried at his home at Mount Vernon, and his descendents honored this wish. Since it was originally thought that Washington would be buried there, I assume that there would have been enough of a building for a lying-in-state in 1799, the year of his death. However, I have to wonder if it’s really the case that there’s only been one ex-President who hasn’t lain-in-state in the Capitol. I mean, before planes, trains and automobiles (not to mention modern refrigeration techniques :eek: ), how often would they lug a body a couple of hundred miles for a lying-in-state, if the ex-Prez died away from Washington? For example, Harding died in California - would they have shipped him all the way to Washington for a lying-in-state, and then back to Ohio for burial? And then there’s Nixon…did he get a last trip to the Capitol? I sort of doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/22 "2001-11-09T06:24:11Z")
[Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda](http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/lain_in_state.htm) First was Henry Clay in 1852, last were two Capitol Policemen killed in the line of duty in 1998. Nixon not included. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/23 "2001-11-09T07:17:53Z")
/hi-jack/ Heh… Texas shmexas if Alaska was cut in half, Texas would become the _third_ largest state…:eek: -TM “The Alaskan guy” 😃 /lo-jack/ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/24 "2001-11-09T07:30:06Z")
Lets remember something else, too. The constitution doesn’t require that the president be born in the U.S. It only requires that he or she be a natural-born citizen, which means a citizen at the time of his or her birth. You become an American citizen at birth if you’re born in the country, or if you are the child of a U.S. citizen. ---
**Author:** ![mapsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@mapsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mapsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/25 "2001-11-11T00:46:03Z")
I too have heard of this capability. However, it was explained that it was a condition of the original articles of Statehood for Texas (1845) After the end of the war of Northern Agression, and Texas was readmitted, the right to secession and division for the State was deleted. Also, as to being born in the US to be President. In 1963, the US Supreme Court was called to determine the legitimacy of Barry Goldwater since he was born in Arizona before it was a State. They ruled that he was eligible since he was born in a Territory of the United States. This means that technically, a citizen of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands or any other US Territories could become President. Dr. Thompson your Samoan is needed for President 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/26 "2001-11-11T04:12:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mapsmith \* > **In 1963, the US Supreme Court was called to determine the legitimacy of Barry Goldwater since he was born in Arizona before it was a State.** Cite, please? I could find no evidence of this. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081/27 "2001-11-11T05:09:44Z")
You can’t call the Supreme Court and ask them for their opinion on something that isn’t a case. They don’t give advisory opinions, as some state Supreme Courts do. It’s possible that somebody asked the Attorney General for an opinion. That would have been his job. And in 1963, the president and the AG probably talked with each other frequently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-texas-secedes/92081.md?page=1)