Nearly a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt convened with 39 governors in Washington, DC for the first meeting of what was to become the National Governors Association.

At Roosevelt's urging, governors decided to form an association through which they could come together to discuss their mutual concerns and act collectively.

Today, NGA is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths.

NGA provides a vehicle through which governors can shape critical federal policies on issues ranging from education to health care to homeland security. The association has a history of proposing bold programs with a goal of heightened national awareness, including chair's initiatives focusing on redesigning the American high school, bringing about behavioral and lifestyle changes to help Americans lead longer, healthier lives, and maximizing innovation to meet the challenges of the global economy.

---

View larger photo

GOVERNORS IN ATTENDANCE

STANDING; REARWARD
General MacKenzie, Mr. Shipp, Mr. Burton, Mr. Pinchot, Senator Bankhead, Mr. Herbert Knox Smith, Dr. McGee Mr. Newell, Governor Kibbey, Governor Ansel, Governor Cutler, Governor Lea, Governor Dawson, Governor Floyd, Governor Willson, Governor Swanson, Governor Curry, Governor Crawford, Governor Johnson, Governor Stuart, Ex-Governor Hill, Governor Frear (with Mr. Parker, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Hackett of the White House Staff).

STANDING; FORWARD
Mr. Plummer, Governor Post, Governor Proctor, Governor Fort, Governor Blanchard, Governor Burke, Governor Folk, Governor Norris, Governor Hoch, Governor Woodruff, Governor Higgins, Governor Glenn, Governor Deneen, Governor Warner, Governor Hanly, Governor Comer, Governor Brooks, Governor Buchtel, Governor Gooding, Governor Noel, Governor Hoggatt, Secretary Garfield.

SEATED
Senator Newlands, Governor Harris, Governor Hughes, Governor Davidson, Mr. Carnegie, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Hill, Mr. Mitchell, President Roosevelt, Vice-President Fairbanks, Mr. Justice Harlan, Mr. Justice Brewer, Mr. Justice White, Mr. Justice McKenna, Mr. Justice Holmes, Mr. Justice Day, Mr. Justice Moody, Secretary Cortelyou, Secretary Bonaparte.