House speakership, 1789-2023.
Tragedy to Comedy: The Demise of the Speakership
Unlike the tragic tale of Caesar’s assassination, the downfall of the speakership was a hilarious comedy of errors, orchestrated by a king among fools.
The position of the speaker of the House was once a powerful role, second only to the presidency. However, a clash with a mob of angry Republicans and compliant House Democrats sealed the fate of the speakership in American politics.
McCarthy’s Removal as Speaker: A Blow to GOP Cooperation with Biden
In the past, if eight Republicans had attempted to do to Joseph Gurney Cannon what they did to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), a simple thumbs-down signal, reminiscent of Commodus, would have not only halted their plans but made them vanish into thin air.
The first speaker, Frederick Muhlenberg, was elected on April 1, 1789. It’s quite amusing to think that the birth of the speakership coincided with April Fool’s Day. Muhlenberg faced the daunting task of defining the speaker’s role since the Constitution did not provide clear instructions. Initially, it involved maintaining order and establishing House rules. Under Henry Clay, the speaker’s influence expanded to include controlling the legislative process.
However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the speakership truly became a formidable political force within the House. Republican Cannon, known as the ultimate authority, not only determined the House agenda but also handpicked committee members, appointed committee chairmen, led the Rules Committee, and decided which bills each committee would handle. It’s no wonder they honored him by naming the oldest House office building after him.
Sam Rayburn, another esteemed speaker with a House building named in his honor, holds the record for the longest cumulative tenure. Rayburn played a crucial role in getting domestic laws and foreign assistance programs favored by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman signed into law.
The tumultuous events of the ’60s and ’70s, including assassinations, the Vietnam War, and Watergate, pushed the speaker’s role into the background as presidents took center stage. The rise of Ronald Reagan brought Speaker Tip O’Neill into the spotlight, as they clashed over spending bills, tax legislation, and defense expenditures.
The speaker’s role underwent a shift when Republicans, who had been out of power in the House for four decades, secured a majority in the 1994 midterm elections. Rep. Newt Gingrich, known for his role in forcing former House Speaker Jim Wright to resign due to ethical issues, assumed leadership. However, Gingrich’s downfall was his belief that he was bigger than the role itself. Within four years, he lost the support of his caucus, paving the way for Dennis Hastert to take over. Hastert, who kept a low profile, likely for good reason, didn’t draw much attention to himself. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s first tenure as speaker, aside from being the first woman in the role, was unremarkable, except for her involvement in pushing through Obamacare. She was eventually overshadowed by a new generation of Democrats.
The weakening of parties and campaign finance reforms that prioritized specific interests began to reshape Congress, bringing in bold and unruly representatives that proved difficult to control. During John Boehner’s time as speaker, the rebellious Freedom Caucus emerged. Within four years, Boehner had enough and retired. By then, the position had become so undesirable that Republicans practically begged Paul Ryan to take the job. However, Ryan, like his predecessors, chose to step down before the Democrats regained control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections.
Pelosi’s second stint as House speaker saw her maintaining control over her caucus for most votes. However, when she suggested censuring Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for her blatant antisemitism, she was overpowered by the “Squad.” Pelosi was also compelled to initiate an impeachment process against former President Donald Trump, knowing it wouldn’t result in his removal. When the GOP regained control of the House in 2022, Pelosi decided to step down from leadership.
Now, on life support, the speakership fell into the hands of McCarthy, who desired the role so desperately that he agreed to a list of demands that stripped the speakership of its power, making his ouster almost inevitable from the start.
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Jay Caruso is a writer and editor residing in West Virginia.
How did John Boehner’s struggles to appease factions within his own party and inability to pass major legislation make him a symbol of dysfunction and comedy in Congress?
Port of his own party and resigned as speaker. This marked a turning point for the speakership, as it showed that even the most powerful leaders could be brought down by their own mistakes and arrogance.
The rise of John Boehner as speaker brought a new era of comedy to the position. Boehner, known for his emotional outbursts and constant struggles to appease the various factions within his party, became a regular punchline in late-night comedy shows. His inability to pass major legislation and constant battles with conservative Republicans over issues such as immigration and healthcare made him a symbol of dysfunction in Congress. Even the famous “Crying Boehner” became a meme, further adding to the comedic element of his tenure.
However, it was during the tenure of Paul Ryan that the speakership truly reached its comedic peak. Ryan, seen as the intellectual and policy wonk of the Republican Party, struggled to unite his party and pass major legislation. His attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, ended in failure, leading to widespread mockery and laughter. The constant infighting within the Republican Party and the inability to advance their agenda made Ryan the ultimate laughingstock of the political world.
The demise of the speakership can be attributed to a variety of factors. The increasingly polarized political climate, the rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles, and the growing influence of grassroots movements all played a role in undermining the authority of the speaker. Additionally, the inability of speakers to navigate the complex dynamics of their own party and build consensus further weakened their position.
In conclusion, the downfall of the speakership in American politics was a tragicomedy of errors. From the clashes with mobs of angry Republicans to the constant struggles for power and the inability to pass major legislation, the speakership became a symbol of dysfunction and comedy. The demise of the position illustrates the challenges of leadership in a divided political climate and serves as a cautionary tale for future speakers. As the curtains close on this chapter of the speakership, it is clear that tragedy and comedy are not always mutually exclusive in the world of politics.
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