The Life and Times of John Boehner

GOP Lieutenant
Once in Congress, Boehner allied himself with Republican leader Newt Gingrich, becoming a leading spokesman for the Contract with America, that, according to GOP lore, helped the party take back the House in 1994. During the budget standoff of late 1995 and early 1996 that led to the shutdown of the Federal government, he offered President Clinton coal as a "Christmas gift" at a Capitol Hill news conference, above.

• 2011 TIME 100: John Boehner