Hastert Makes Final Floor Speech

[ Hastert, a former government, history and economics teacher and a wresting coach began, his political career when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1980.

Last year, Hastert came under fire in the midst of a scandal over inappropriate e-mails to House pages from former Florida GOP Rep. Mark Foley.

Foley was forced to resign in the scandal, and critics said that Hastert's office knew about the e-mails a year before they were made public, but did not intervene. ]

Hastert bids farewell to House

[ Senate GOP leaders Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Trent Lott (Miss.) attended the speech and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) wiped away tears as Hastert spoke.

Hastert appeared to indirectly address the Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) page scandal by raising the question of mistakes he may have made during his tenure as Speaker, the longest ever for a Republican. The Illinois lawmaker took the gavel as Speaker at the beginning of 1999 and held the position until the beginning of this year.

He did not detail his errors, saying that is “best left to others.” But he added that there has been a breakdown in civility in the House and acknowledged that his efforts to improve the relationship between the parties fell short. ]