The Life and Times of John Boehner

Majority Leader
Though Boehner was ousted from the party leadership after Gingrich's excesses cost him his job, Boehner assiduously returned to the legislative grind, where he helped create bipartisan outreach on the No Child Left Behind Act. Then in 2006, after Tom DeLay stepped down as majority leader, Boehner was elected to take his place. In this photo, Majority Whip Roy Blunt announces the party's election of Boehner to the post.

• 2011 TIME 100: John Boehner