(NewsGlobal.com)- Former Speaker of the House John Boehner cried while telling Nancy Pelosi how much his daughters “admire” her. The comments came at a portrait unveiling at the Capitol honoring the speaker, according to Mediaite.
Pelosi is the first woman speaker and held the gavel from 2007 to 2011 when Boehner took over. She took the gavel back in 2019 during former President Trump’s term in office when Democrats regained control of the lower chamber. She will not hold another Democratic leadership position in the incoming 118th Congress.
Boehner is reportedly known for a few habits: tanning, tobacco, alcohol, and spontaneous crying. It was often a joke in politics that, while he was speaking, he was going to erupt into tears. This occasion did not fail to impress as he celebrated his one-time Democratic rival from the podium.
“You’ve been unfailingly gracious to me, to my family and, frankly, my team here in Washington,” he said. “And Madam Speaker, I have to say, my girls told me, ‘Tell the Speaker how much we admire her.’”
He began to cry as the audience applauded and he joked once more saying that his daughters were democrats.
He continued to say that there was no other speaker in the modern era that wielded the gavel with her authority, calling her a “tough cookie.” Despite their many disagreements, Boehner noted how they were never disagreeable with one another.
“As you might have heard me say before, you can disagree without being disagreeable,” he said.
Boehner resigned from the House in 2015 when Paul Ryan took over until Democrats regained the majority in 2018.
While on the House floor, Pelosi announced that she will not seek reelection for speaker but will continue to serve her district as she has for 35 years. She received a standing ovation from her colleagues.
