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In the late morning, Paine walked to the Capitol and over to the Senate Wing. As he passed through the Senate cloakroom, several of his colleagues wished him well, saying, "See you in the White House!"—an obvious reference to his White House aspirations and the still-current assumption that President Roosevelt would not seek a third term. To his relief, Jeff Smith was at his assigned desk; when Smith made a point of telling Paine that he was using the desk that Senator [[Daniel Webster]] had once used, Paine observed that the late Senator Webster certainly would not mind. He then asked Smith to hand him his credentials and wait.

In the late morning, Paine walked to the Capitol and over to the Senate Wing. As he passed through the Senate cloakroom, several of his colleagues wished him well, saying, "See you in the White House!"—an obvious reference to his White House aspirations and the still-current assumption that President Roosevelt would not seek a third term. To his relief, Jeff Smith was at his assigned desk; when Smith made a point of telling Paine that he was using the desk that Senator [[Daniel Webster]] had once used, Paine observed that the late Senator Webster certainly would not mind. He then asked Smith to hand him his credentials and wait.

The [[Vice-President of the United States]] (who, under the [[United States Constitution]], serves as President of the Senate), called the Senate to order, and then had to call the roll after Senator Milton Agnew, Democratic Party floor leader, suggested the absence of a [[quorum]]. The quorum issue settled, Paine then rose to present Smith's credentials and ask that the oath of Senatorial office be administered. The VP asked Smith to step forward—and then Senator Agnew raised a point of order, citing the embarrassing press coverage as evidence that Smith was not qualified to sit.

The [[Vice President of the United States]] (who, under the [[United States Constitution]], serves as President of the Senate), called the Senate to order, and then had to call the roll after Senator Milton Agnew, Democratic Party floor leader, suggested the absence of a [[quorum]]. The quorum issue settled, Paine then rose to present Smith's credentials and ask that the oath of Senatorial office be administered. The VP asked Smith to step forward—and then Senator Agnew raised a point of order, citing the embarrassing press coverage as evidence that Smith was not qualified to sit.

At first Smith tried to defend himself, and the Vice-President sharply reminded him that he had no floor privileges until he had taken the oath. Paine himself answered Senator Agnew, saying that Smith was entirely innocent in the matter and had been misquoted. Agnew made one further attempt to object, but the Vice-President overruled him and proceeded to administer the oath. That done, Senator Agnew manfully apologized to Smith, who accepted with grace. Paine told Smith, {{cquote|Don't worry about the others; they're just Senators.}}

At first Smith tried to defend himself, and the Vice-President sharply reminded him that he had no floor privileges until he had taken the oath. Paine himself answered Senator Agnew, saying that Smith was entirely innocent in the matter and had been misquoted. Agnew made one further attempt to object, but the Vice-President overruled him and proceeded to administer the oath. That done, Senator Agnew manfully apologized to Smith, who accepted with grace. Paine told Smith, {{cquote|Don't worry about the others; they're just Senators.}}