Hastert becomes the longest-serving GOP speaker of the House

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Dennis Hastert, who vaulted out of political obscurity when Newt Gingrich resigned as speaker of the House more than seven years ago, became the longest-serving Republican speaker in history Thursday.
Hastert, 64, surpasses fellow Illinoisan Joseph "Uncle Joe" Cannon, a pugnacious politician who ruled the House from November 1903 until the Democrats regained the majority in March 1911.
"The House has achieved unprecedented success under his leadership," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., noting GOP successes in Medicare, education and tax cut legislation. "It's no wonder Denny has become the longest-serving Republican speaker in history."
The longest-serving speaker is Democrat Sam Rayburn of Texas, who served more than 17 years, with two breaks when Republicans were in power, from 1940 through the early 1960s. Like Cannon, Rayburn has a House office building named after him. The longest-serving speaker without a break was Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, D-Mass., House leader from 1977 through 1987.
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