Obama says goodbye to Boehner: 'Man, I'm gonna miss you'

John Boehner and Barack Obama at the Friends of Ireland luncheon.

(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 31 October 2015

It's the end of an era on Capitol Hill. With Paul Ryan officially replacing John Boehner as speaker of the House, now all that's left is for Boehner to say his goodbyes before he hops on a plane back to Ohio Friday, officially ending his nearly 25-year career in Congress.

In an expectedly teary exit interview with Fox News that aired on Friday, the outgoing speaker recounted one particularly memorable goodbye: His farewell with his longtime political adversary President Obama. In the Ohio Republican's retelling of their phone call this week, Obama said, "Boehner, man, I'm gonna miss you." Boehner's reply: "Yes, you are, Mr. President. Yes, you are."

Of course, it's not like these lawmakers were great pals; indeed, Obama and Boehner spent years clashing over everything from ObamaCare to the debt ceiling to immigration. "We had disagreements over all kinds of issues," Boehner said, "but we have a good relationship because I think it's essential that the leaders be able to work with each other, have a relationship, have some trust so we can do the nation's business." Watch Boehner's full farewell interview here.