David Rowland Francis

David Francis (1850–1927) entered politics as mayor of St. Louis and then governor of Missouri. President Cleveland tapped Francis to be secretary of the Interior during the final six months of his administration. During his brief tenure, Francis advocated for reclamation and forest conservation. He subsequently served as president of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis and opened the Summer Olympics held there that same year—the first on U.S. soil. In 1916 President Wilson appointed him ambassador to Russia; as the last U.S. ambassador received at the Russian Imperial Court, Francis witnessed the Bolshevik Revolution. A bust of Francis is situated on the University of Missouri campus; rubbing his nose is rumored to bring good luck on exams.

Artist Charles Whipple (1859–1928) was renowned for his portraits of high-level officials, including numerous Cabinet members and President McKinley. According to a 1897 article in The Illustrated American, "Whipple claims that public men make the best subjects for the painter's skill."