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House Speaker John Boehner will give up his seat in Congress at the end of October, NPR's Sue Davis reports.
AP Photo/Susan WalshHouse Speaker John Boehner will give up his seat in Congress at the end of October, NPR's Sue Davis reports.
Boehner became the 53rd Speaker of the House in 2011. His tenure has been marked by fierce confrontations with Democrats and his own party.
A Republican aide tells Sue that Boehner believes "the first job of any Speaker is to protect this institution."
The aide said that Boehner expected to serve through the end of the year, but changed his mind after seven term Rep. Eric Cantor, the former House Majority Leader, lost his seat to a Tea Party Candidate in 2014.
"The Speaker believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution," the aide said.
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