Dennis Hastert

John Dennis Hastert (born January 2, 1942) is an American politician, and has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. He surpassed Joseph Gurney Cannon as the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history on June 1, 2006.

Since 1987, he has been a Republican congressman from Illinois, representing that state's 14th District. Hastert's opponent in the 2006 general election is a Democrat and former United States Navy intelligence officer John Laesch.

Early life

Hastert was born in Aurora, Illinois and grew up in Oswego, Illinois. He graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1964 and earned a master's degree in education from Northern Illinois University in 1967. He moved to Yorkville, 55 miles west of Chicago, and took a job as a government and history teacher at Yorkville High School. He also coached wrestling and football, leading the wrestling team to a state title in 1976. In 1980, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and served three terms, becoming the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee.

The Congressman from Illinois's 14th congressional district, John Groteberg did not run for a second term in the 1986 election due to a terminal illness. Hastert was nominated by a Republican convention to succeed him. He faced Mary Lou Kearns, the Democratic coroner of Kane County. Hastert initially ran a sluggish campaign, but eventually the district's strong Republican lean (the 14th has been held by Republicans for all but four years since its formation in 1903) prevailed, allowing Hastert to win with 52 percent of the vote. He has never faced another contest nearly that close, winning reelection nine times with more than 70 percent of the vote in what is arguably the most Republican district in the state.

Rise to the Speakership

Hastert's rise to the Speakership came unexpectedly. During his first 12 years in Congress, he had been a relatively low-key member with a reliably conservative voting record. He worked closely with Illinois Republican leaders, especially Minority Leader Robert Michel. After the Republicans took control of the House in 1995, Hastert was named Chief Deputy Whip, the highest appointed position in the House Republican caucus. In this position, he was chief vote-counter for former Majority Whip Tom DeLay.

Following a disappointing Republican performance in the 1998 elections and facing rebellion from his caucus, Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia abruptly resigned from the Speakership and did not take his seat for an 11th term. Appropriations Committee chairman Bob Livingston of Louisiana quickly gathered enough support within the Republican caucus to become de facto Speaker-elect, but announced that he would resign his seat as well after admitting to an extramarital affair. This series of events occurred amid the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

With the departures of Gingrich and Livingston, the likely candidates for the Speakership seemed to be Majority Leader Dick Armey and DeLay, both from Texas. However, both were seen as vulnerable. Armey had only recently deflected a challenge from Oklahoma's Steve Largent to unseat him as majority leader. DeLay was as controversial then as now, and was well aware that with a sharply reduced majority (indeed, it was at least in part Gingrich's prediction of a 30-seat win, and subsequent 5-seat loss, that had forced Gingrich out of the House), he would be too controversial and polarizing for the Republicans to reliably transact business in such a closely divided Congress. The leadership then turned to Hastert as a compromise candidate.

Speaker

Hastert was sworn in as Speaker on January 6, 1999. In accepting the position, Hastert broke with tradition by delivering his acceptance speech from the floor, and by allowing Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri to preside briefly. Hastert noted the need for both parties to work together, saying: "Solutions to problems cannot be found in a pool of bitterness. They can be found in an environment in which we trust one another's word; where we generate heat and passion, but where we recognize that each member is equally important to our overall mission of improving the life of the American people." His policy agenda focused on lowering taxes, improving education, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and bolstering national defense.

Although Hastert, as Speaker, is nominal leader of the House Republicans, he does not take a high profile role in the media, in dramatic contrast to Gingrich. Some observers felt that the Majority Leader (first Armey, then DeLay, then John Boehner) had more real power. Hastert denies this. In the months after 9-11, he met regularly with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, the two Senate leaders and the House minority leader to shape the national response. Some have offered the observation that while Gingrich was a bombastic strategist, Hastert is a quiet tactician; the contrast of his predecessor may have exaggerated Hastert's preferred working style. As Speaker he traditionally does not serve on any committee nor vote on the floor.

In 2001, Hastert visited Osweiler, the village in Luxembourg where his ancestors are from.

Hastert has been a prominent advocate of the Fairtax proposal to replace the income tax with a national sales tax. He has been a strong supporter of all of the Bush administration foreign and domestic policies.

On June 1, 2006, Hastert became the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House in history, surpassing the record previously held by fellow Illinoisan Joe Cannon, who held the post from November, 1903 to March, 1911.

Presidential succession

Hastert is second in the Presidential Line of Succession. Should both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney be removed, die, resign, or become otherwise unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President, Hastert would become Acting President under the terms of the 25th amendment.

Controversies

Campaign contributors

According to Federal Election Commission records, Hastert has received campaign contributions from numerous PAC's and individuals. The companies include several with ties to Illinois, such as McDonald's, Caterpillar, and Allstate. Many Fortune 500 companies, medical associations, and agricultural interests have also contributed. ^*

Hastert has declined and returned contributions from the National Rifle Association. Money from tobacco companies, including Lorillard Tobacco Company and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, have also been returned. ^*

From 1997 to 2001, Hastert received multiple contributions from Enron Corporation and Arthur Andersen; however, the extent of their issues was not fully known at the time. Hastert accepted multiple contributions from Accenture, despite the GAO noting Accenture is incorporated in a tax haven country (Bermuda), thereby avoiding federal income tax. ^*

The law firm of Winston and Strawn has made multiple financial contributions. Winston and Strawn's CEO is Republican James R. Thompson, who served as the audit committee chairman for Hollinger International, which is now under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Winston and Strawn represented, on a pro bono basis, former Illinois governor and Republican George H. Ryan, who was convicted on April 17, 2006 on 18 criminal charges related to corruption. ^*

Hastert received approximately $70,000 in contributions from clients of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A Hastert spokesman said the money would be donated to charity; however, the charity was undisclosed. A source close to the probe said investigators are looking at about a half dozen members of Congress. ^*

Support for Turkey

During his time in Congress, critics have alleged he is too friendly with Turkey because he has not supported initiatives related to the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. He has frequently traveled to Turkey.

In October 2000, Hastert withdrew at the last minute a promised House vote on a resolution to recognize the Armenian killings. Hastert claimed that this was prompted by a telephone conversation with then-President Bill Clinton in which "Clinton said he was 'deeply concerned' about the language in the document... Hastert said Clinton had warned of 'possible far-reaching negative consequences for the United States' if the House voted on the legislation." ( Hastert defended pulling the vote, saying "I believe the Armenian people suffered a historic tragedy, and that this resolution was a fitting condemnation of those events. But the president of the United States, the commander and chief of our Armed Forces, has asked us not to bring this resolution to the House floor. This is not an idle request. We all know that the situation in the Middle East is unusually tense."(^*

In August 2005, an article published in Vanity Fair reported that FBI translator turned whistleblower Sibel Edmonds has sworn under oath that she listened to wiretaps in which Turkish nationals boasted that Hastert had accepted bribes.^* A Hastert spokesperson has denied any knowledge of these events even though an NSA investigation is underway.

George Soros' drug money

On August 29, 2004, in a Fox News interview, Hastert said, "You know, I don't know where George Soros gets his money ... if it comes overseas or from drug groups or where it comes from." Asked if he thought Soros got money from drug cartels, Hastert responded, "Well, that's what he's been for a number years -- George Soros has been for legalizing drugs in this country. So, I mean, he's got a lot of ancillary interests out there. I'm saying I don't know where groups -- could be people who support this type of thing. I'm saying we don't know." ^*" target="_blank" >[http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2004/08/23

On August 31, Soros, who had made his money from investments and currency speculation, wrote to Hastert requesting an apology. Hastert replied that Soros had "funded organizations such as The Drug Policy Foundation, The Open Society, The Lendesmith Center, the Andean Council of Coca Leaf Producers, and several ballot initiatives across the country to decriminalize illegal drug use"; he did not apologize. Slate magazine noted that "Hastert's explanation is preposterous. Soros gives money to these groups. He doesn't collect money from them." ^*

In September 2004, Soros filed an official complaint with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct charging that Hastert had slandered him by making comments on radio and television that Soros received drug money.

New Orleans rebuilding

Hastert generated controversy on 1 September 2005 when he said spending Federal money to rebuild New Orleans from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina "doesn't make sense to me." Hastert went on to say that "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed"[http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5592348.html.

Hastert's web site responds to this controversy with the following statements: "It is important that when we rebuild this historic city that we consider the safety of the citizens first. I am not advocating that the city be abandoned or relocated."

Connection to Jack Abramoff scandal

On May 24 2006, a dispute arose over whether Hastert was under FBI investigation regarding a connection to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. While no charges have been filed against him (and the Justice Department disputes the report), ABC News alleged he was a subject of the Abramoff investigation.

ABC News chief investigative reporter Brian Ross reported that the FBI has begun an investigation into Hastert's connections with former lobbyist Jack Abramoff ABC said the FBI was investigating Mr Hastert concerning a letter he allegedly wrote three years ago urging the secretary of the interior to block a casino on Native American Indian reservation that would have competed with tribes represented by Mr Abramoff. The ABC report - citing unnamed justice department sources - said Mr Hastert's letter was written shortly after a fund-raiser for Hastert at Abramoff's Signatures Restaurant.[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/20060525/bs_ft/fto052420062123450486;_ylt=Ave8xqPcs71L3OsUwf.kj8eGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

The Justice Department quickly issued a denial of the ABC report: "Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department," DOJ Director of Public Affairs Tasia Scolinos said in a one-line statement. Hastert has strongly denied the report and hinted that the story may have been leaked to ABC. ABC News later issued a updated report which stated that its sources stood by the story. ^*

FBI search of a Congressional office

Just prior to the ABC report on May 24, Hastert had been critical of the FBI for its May 20, 2006 search of Rep. William J. Jefferson's House congressional office in a bribery investigation ^*. Hastert contended that the FBI, an agency in the executive branch of the federal government, had no constitutional right to search the offices of Congress, a separate branch. The FBI had obtained a warrant for the search.

A number of conservative and Republican oriented pundits have criticized Hastert's position regarding the right of the FBI probe to do such a search. These critics include Captain's Quarters, contributors to National Review and Red State, and the nation's leading talk show host, Rush Limbaugh. The Washington Post also published an editorial critical of the Speaker's anti-FBI stance. Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter was also sharply critical of the Speaker's actions, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Connecticut Republican Rep. Rob Simmons supported the FBI search.

An ABC News poll released June 1 2006 found that by a 86% to 10% margin Americans supported the FBI's right to search congressional offices when they obtain a warrant ^*.

Real estate investments

On June 14, 2006, the Sunlight Foundation reported that Hastert has used an Illinois trust to invest in real estate near the proposed route of the Prairie Parkway. Hastert's financial disclosure statements did not list the trust or its value, but did list several transactions done by the trust as if Hastert had done them directly. The House Ethics manual states that "Disclosure of real property should include a description sufficient to permit its identification (e.g., street address or plat and map location)." The use of an undisclosed trust to purchase and own land made it impossible to identify the property owned by Hastert. ^*

In the summer of 2005, Hastert personally intervened during House and Senate negotiations over a huge transportation and infrastructure bill to secure $152 million to build the highway project and $55 million for an interchange 5.5 miles from his property. President Bush signed the bill into law in September 2005. ^*

On June 15, 2006, the Chicago Tribune reported that Hastert and two partners had sold a 138 acre parcel to a developer in December 2005 for $4.99 million. The land that was sold came equally for two purchases, in August 2002 and February 2004, and had a total cost of $1.9 million. Hastert's share of the profits was $2.018 million. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/21/AR2006062102210.html

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