Boehner Predictably Cries During Tribute to Pelosi at Her Portrait Unveiling

Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) choked up on Wednesday as he spoke about departing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at a ceremony for the unveiling of her speaker’s portrait.

“Madam Speaker, I have to say, my girls told me, ‘Tell the speaker how much we admire her,’” said Boehner as tears filled his eyes and the crowd applauded. Boehner, who has a reputation for public crying, was succeeded by Pelosi in 2011. He then added with a laugh, “If you couldn’t tell, my girls are Democrats.”

Pelosi delivered remarks after Boehner, saying, “How about John Boehner? Wasn’t that something? I’m telling you, I would have been a little disappointed if he did not get emotional.”

The portrait of Pelosi, the first woman to become speaker of the House, will be hung in a lobby of portraits of speakers in the U.S. Capitol.

Boehner also noted during his remarks that he and Pelosi “disagreed politically” but “were never disagreeable.” He said, “You were so gracious to me, in fact, that at times, it got me in trouble with my own members.”

Democrats are always gracious to the Republicans who lack the cojones to stand up to them.