Changes

'''J. Dennis Hastert''', M.C. was the [[Speaker of the House]] (1999-2007), preceding [[Nancy Pelosi]] and succeeding [[Newt Gingrich]], and currently is a [[Republican]] [[House of Representatives|Representative]] from [[Illinois]].

'''J. Dennis Hastert''', M.C. was the [[Speaker of the House]] (1999-2007), preceding [[Nancy Pelosi]] and succeeding [[Newt Gingrich]], and currently is a [[Republican]] [[House of Representatives|Representative]] from [[Illinois]].

"Hastert, Longest-Serving GOP Speaker, Announces Retirement". Representative Hastert said that he will not seek [[Election|re-election]] in 2008.  <ref>[[Cybercast News Service|CNSNews]] story: [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200708/POL20070817d.html] </ref>

On November 26, 2007, Hastert submitted his resignation to [[Illinois]] [[Governor]] [[Rod Blagojevich]]. Hastert wanted to give the governor sufficient time to set a special primary election for February 5, 2008 so voters can pick candidates to run for the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2009. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312985,00.html Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Submits Official Resignation Letter to Illinois Governor], Associated Press, [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]], November 27, 2007.</ref>

<ref> Announcement on Rep. Hastert's website: [http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il14_hastert/Retire08_17_07.html] </ref> On October 18, 2007, aides said that Hastert intended to retire from Congress 15 months before the end of his term. <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_on_go_co/hastert_resignation;_ylt=Av_BEQoEg_9O2kvQF1fI_Fas0NUE</ref>

==References==

==References==

==External Links==

==External Links==