Nov 15, 2007 1:52 pm US/Central
Hastert Gives Last Speech As House Member
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert plans to leave Congress before the end of the year.
The Illinois Republican had previously announced he won't seek another term but it had been unclear if he'd finish his current term, which runs until January 2009.
Hastert delivered his farewell remarks this afternoon in Washington to the House of Representatives. His staff says he plans to formally resign before the end of the year, but no date was specified.
In the speech, Hastert quoted the Old Testament as he explained it was time to move on.
"My heart is here and it always will be but as the Bible reminds us in the book of Ecclesiastes, to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven," he said. "The time has come for me to make my last speech from this podium… it is time for this legislator to return to being a private citizen."
Hastert received a standing ovation in Congress before and after his speech.
Hastert's upcoming departure will close out a 21-year tenure in Congress that saw the former wrestling coach become the longest-serving Republican speaker in history.
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