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Friends say the real John Boehner nothing like his 'insider' image
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Brandonius Maximus |
| Last Edited | Brandonius Maximus Nov 10, 2010 05:44pm |
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| Category | General |
| Author | Padmananda Rama and Brianna Keilar, CNN |
| Media | TV News - CNN |
| News Date | Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Washington (CNN) -- Who is John Boehner? Among friends, he's just one of the guys.
When the Republicans gained majority power in the House of Representatives Tuesday, the man poised to lead them was brought to tears.
That evening, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, who will soon become the new speaker of the House, told supporters, "I spent my whole life chasing the American dream."
With tears forming and his voice quavering, Boehner recounted details of his life growing up in southwestern Ohio: "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 every night shift I could find."
While it's a story of humble beginnings -- Boehner worked as a janitor in college -- it's a long way from the image many have of him today, as a Washington insider known for a ubiquitous tan, an unstoppable smoking habit and fiery speeches on the House floor.
One of Boehner's friends, Jerry Vanden Eynden, who has known the 60-year-old, 10-term congressman since seventh grade, told CNN Boehner's career continues to surprise childhood friends.
"It was nothing that any of us would ever have expected," said Vanden Eynden, president of a Cincinnati, Ohio, candle company. "We would have expected him more to be successful in business, the way he was, more than get into the political field." |
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