John Boehner

John Boehner was born in Ohio in 1949. He had eleven siblings and was raised Catholic. He played football at his high school, and after he graduated, he enlisted in the navy, as the Vietnam War was taking place. After only a couple of months, though, he was honorably discharged due to back problems he endured. He spent seven years at Xavier University and was the first college graduate in his family. In order to eventually earn his business administration degree, he had to work a variety of jobs during his time in college to be able to pay for his education.

Boehner did not immediately go into politics. Yet, after serving in a number of positions, he entered Congress in 1990, defeating Donald “Buz” Lukens, the former Republican representative of Ohio who was convicted of “contributing to the unruliness and delinquency of a minor.” Boehner was one of the youngest members of the House. A Republican, Boehner has supported conservative policies and small government. Biography.com explains how he gained influence during the beginning of his time in Congress: “Boehner was a part of the ’Gang of Seven,’ a group of freshmen Republicans who brought attention to corruption in Congress. By exposing scandals like the 1992 House Banking scandal, the Gang of Seven helped Republicans gain control of Congress in the 1994 elections—and Boehner became a rising Republican star.”

John Boehner has won twelve elections, and he served as Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015, during Obama’s presidency. Before this, Boehner was also majority leader in 2006 and minority leader from 2007 to 2011. He “earned a reputation as a crusader against what he considered wasteful spending in the federal budget,” according to Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer. Boehner also helped draft the “Contract With America,” working with Newt Gingrich.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boehner

During the presidency of George W. Bush, Boehner played a significant role in introducing the No Child Left Behind Act and the Pension Protection Act (which would not be signed into law until 2008). While Barack Obama served as president, Boehner symbolized the House Republican opposition to legislation advocated by Obama. He was against President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (as were the other Republican representatives) as well as the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and Obama’s proposed economic regulations. Nonetheless, Boehner and Obama attempted to discuss a compromise regarding spending cuts, Medicare and Social Security, and tax reform, in secret because of the strong disapproval from other members of his party with which Boehner knew he would be met. The potential for an adequate solution seemed to fade as the terms Obama ultimately wanted were very complicated. However, Boehner eventually helped work out a bipartisan agreement that would be passed in 2011.

Source: http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/president-obama-wishes-speaker-boehner-happy

In the later years of his career, Boehner would not always express beliefs consistent with the rest of the conservatives. For example, he supported a bill increasing taxes for the wealthy in 2013, an action that Tea Party supporters especially strongly disapproved. Many Republicans did not agree with Boehner towards the end of his career, and there was potential for a conservative revolt and government shutdown, leading to Boehner’s resignation in 2015. That same year, many Republicans also asserted that unless a budget deal defunded Planned Parenthood, they would oppose it. Before he left Congress, Boehner did introduce a budget plan that would be passed by the House, even though most of the Republicans rejected it. John Boehner’s career and the events that happened during his time in the United States House of Representatives clearly displayed the political divisions in the country that were continuing to strengthen.

https://www.biography.com/people/john-boehner-20656041

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-26/news/mn-916_1_lukens-thomas-tyack-rosie-coffman

https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Boehner

http://history.house.gov/People/Detail/9538