John Boehner's emotions nearly got the best of him late Tuesday night, as he addressed news that the GOP had taken majority control of the House of Representatives with a quivered lip, a quavering voice and perhaps a few tears.
"Listen, I hold these values dear because I've lived them. I've spent my whole life chasing the American Dream," Boehner said during his address, struggling to keep it together.
The crowd then began chanting "USA, USA," encouraging the Minority Leader to finish.
"I started out mopping floors, waiting tables, and tending bar at my dad's tavern. I put myself through school working every rotten job there was and night shift I can find. And I poured my heart and soul into running a small business," Boehner continued, his voice trembling. "And when I saw how out-of-touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation, I put my name forward and ran for office."
Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that the emotional moment gave the man who is likely to become the next Speaker of the House the sniffles, especially considering his propensity for crying.
The Washington Post recently reported on a poignant moment in Boehner's career, when he was ousted from his GOP leadership position in the late 1990s:
He kept a brave face over glasses of red wine, until Republican Rep. Tom Latham of Iowa rose to toast his best friend. That's when Boehner, who is prone to tears (it drives him crazy, but he can't help it), lost it.
"Everybody in the whole room cried," he said.
But that wasn't a newsflash for anyone who's followed John Boehner's tenure in Washington. Whether speaking on the House floor or receiving an award, it's no secret that the man who would be Speaker is predisposed to showing off the waterworks.
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