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"Speaker Boehner is a master of the legislative process who has always demonstrated great respect for the institutions of Congress. I congratulate and thank him for his years of service to his constituents in Ohio and to the American people." — Former President George W. Bush.
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"He has given selflessly and tirelessly of his energy, and I would think every Republican would be grateful to him for his contributions to and leadership of not only our great party, but also the U.S. House of Representatives." — Former President George H.W. Bush.
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"Since his election to leadership, he has unfortunately been plagued by a group of Republican naysayers, including one from Kansas ... I doubt this group of obstructionists will be supportive of whomever succeeds John as speaker, but we can always hope they will become team players." — Former Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole.
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"Speaker Boehner was able to transform a broken and dispirited Republican minority into the largest Republican majority since the 1920s. That's a legacy few can match. That a young man from Reading, Ohio wielding a bar towel could one day wield the gavel of the U.S. House of Representatives, it reminds us of the continuing promise of this country." — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
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"I have not always agreed and I wasn't always happy with what John told me. But he never, ever misled me. He never, ever told me something that wasn't true. His word was always good." — Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.
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"The resignation of the speaker is a stark indication of the disarray of the House Republicans. It is a demonstration of their obsession with shutting down government at the expense of women's health and a sign of the failure of the House Republicans to be willing to engage in dialogue for the good of the American people and for us to move forward." — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.
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"The country will be better served with a strong conservative speaker." — Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.