House Speaker John A. Boehner will resign from Congress at the end of October, according to news reports.
- Quotes: “During the almost five years since he was selected by his Republican colleagues, John Boehner has faced a difficult challenge,” says Duke University political science professor David Rohde. “He has had to try to unite a diverse party conference in the face of deep partisan polarization that prevented him from collaborating with the opposite party.” “The most problematic divisions in his party were not over desired policy outcomes, but rather over disagreements about strategy and what results would follow from possible actions.” “The Tea Party wing of House Republicans often believed that the outcomes they wanted did not occur because their leaders would not stand firm and take vigorous actions against President Obama and congressional Democrats. They believed that public opinion would rally to their side if that were done, although there was often evidence to the contrary. These views led to agitation for dumping Speaker Boehner.” “Now a new leader will have to be selected (most likely Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy) who will face the same challenges. The new leader may enjoy a brief honeymoon during which conservatives will allow him some leeway, but the previous underlying dynamic will soon reassert itself and the new speaker will have to deal with the same kinds of difficult choices.”
- Bio: David Rohde is a professor of political science and director of the Political Institutions and Public Choice Program at Duke University. He specializes in American politics, including campaigns and elections and legislative issues. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, author of "Parties and Leaders in the Post-Reform House" and co-author of a series of books on every national election since 1980. http://polisci.duke.edu/people?Gurl=&Uil=4159&subpage=profile
- Archive video interview (different subject): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMptMoOPRf0
- For additional comment, contact David Rohde at: (919) 660-7053; rohde@duke.edu