Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

1. 1980
   Hastert won an Illinois House primary seat after the incumbent became fatally ill, winning the general election.
2. 1986
   Hastert became a congressional candidate after local Republicans replaced an ailing incumbent, winning with 52% of the vote.
3. 1998 midterm elections
   Republicans lost seats, leading to Gingrich's loss of support.
4. January 1999
   Hastert was elected House speaker, succeeding Gingrich after Bob Livingston's resignation.
5. 2007
   Hastert stepped down as speaker when Democrats gained House control, then resigned his seat later that year.
6. 2015-2016
   Hastert was indicted for banking violations tied to hush money, then sentenced in 2016 to prison after abuse details emerged.

“Solutions to problems cannot be found in a pool of bitterness.”