Our Congressman, Gresham Barrett, is ranked No. 9 on The Hill’s 50 most beautiful people.
Age: 47; Hometown: Westminster, S.C.; Political party: Republican; Dating status: Married

Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.) is proof positive that a high school quarterback can marry his cheerleader girlfriend and live happily ever after.

“I know it’s corny,” he says. But “she was a cute little thing.” He and Natalie dated for a year in high school and all through college before getting married in August 1984. Next year they’ll celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Barrett learned the importance of first impressions from an early age.

“My daddy always told me you can tell a lot about a man by the way his shoes look,” says the three-term Congressman. “I try to shine my shoes and keep my tie straight.”

He also credits his time at The Citadel and in the Army for his consistently clean, crisp look.

These days you’ll more than likely see Barrett and his aides walking around the Capitol in matching seersucker suits. He and his staff have adopted a “seersucker Wednesdays” tradition during the summer, attracting both compliments and gentle ribbing from his amused colleagues.

The congressman doesn’t play much football now but boasts of his status as starting catcher for the GOP baseball team. What’s puzzling to him, though, is the idea that others might find him good-looking.

“This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me, so it’s all kind of new,” he says. “I’m just kind of an average guy.”

- By Kris Kitto