People bought into that stupid term limits crap, which Netherbutt promptly weasled out of when his time was up. What a creep he was, too. Screwed people I know out of inheritances when he was an attorney, never met with constituents unless they were financial supporters, etc. Foley wouldn't have been Speaker anymore anyway, as the Repubs took control of the House that year, so perhaps it worked out better for him.

I will agree with you on that point WB....Nethercutt was a creep. To campaign and win soley on term limits then turn around and ignore them when it was no longer convenient---no class.

But isn't someone who can admit they were wrong worth our respect?

Speaker of the House is not a position that seems to end well in recent years.

Dennis Hastert 1999-2006 (managed to lose position without any particular humiliation but his party was resoundingly tossed)
Newt Gingrich 1995-1999 (took blame for seat losses in 1998 election and resigned both position and seat in congress)
Tom Foley 1989-1995 (unpopularly sues home state to overturn term limits and gets voted out of office; first since 1860 to be so defeated)
Jim Wright 1987-1989 (after ethics investigation he resigned the post and then his seat a month later)

Then a decade of calm:
Tip O'Neill 1977-1987 (Retired from office still holding the position)

Back to trouble:
Carl Albert 1971-1977 ("retired" after allegations of taking bribes from a lobbyist that turned out to be affiliated with South Korean intelligence)

Personally, since Sam Rayburn kicked it the position doesn't seem to have attracted America's best.

Then what did he do?

Uh, nothing much. Am I not getting something?

No, it's me that is not getting something. I sometimes get George Mitchel mixed up with Jim Wright. Color me embarassed.