At least one Republican wants Dick Cheney to be speaker of the House

published 12 October 2015

One GOP senator is looking to the past for the Republican Party's future leader in the House. After Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) unexpectedly dropped out of the running to be House speaker, and with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) still sitting on the fence, Politico reports that freshman Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) suggested that the party draft former Vice President Dick Cheney to replace John Boehner.

"Look, these are trying times for our nation," Cotton, who is probably best known for drafting a direct letter to Iran during negotiations over its nuclear program, told Politico. "It's important to have a steady hand on the helm during times like this. I think experience really counts in a matter like this. I think House leadership experience really matters. And as you know the speaker doesn't have to be a member of the House: So therefore, Vice President Cheney for speaker.”

Cheney spent 10 years in the House of Representatives previous to serving as secretary of defense to President George H.W. Bush and vice president to President George W. Bush. When Politico followed up to see if Cotton was really serious about his suggestion, he said, "He's a man of the House, he says that himself."