Spotlight on Xavier Alum
1977 graduate John Boehner becomes House of Representatives Majority Leader

Kelly Shaw
Contributing Writer

Recently Xavier graduate John Boehner replaced indicted Republican Representative Tom Delay of Texas as the House of Representatives’ majority leader, becoming the House’s no. 2 man, second only to the speaker.

His success is backed by much support coming from his home town of Cincinnati as well as his Alma Mater.

"This is a very proud moment in Xavier’s history," said President Fr. Michael Graham, S.J.

"On behalf of the entire Xavier family, I congratulate Rep. Boehner and offer him our support and prayers."

After graduating in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in business, Boehner began working at a packaging and plastics industry called Nucite Sales, and eventually became president of the firm.

Boehner says he became a Republican when, after graduating from Xavier, he paid more in taxes than he earned in his first year of working.

"Along the way, we all became Republicans," said the Congressman.

He became involved in politics when he became the Union Township trustee in 1982. He was elected as a representative in the Ohio state legislature from 1984 to 1990. Elected to Ohio’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, he has been re-elected every two years with an average of 70 percent majority in his represented counties.

Butler County Republican Party Chairman Joe W. Schwartz, Sr. says: "He’s in tune with the people of the district. He’s frank, honest, refreshing. Quite frankly, I think John Boehner ought to be speaker of the House someday and, who knows, with his qualities, he could be president."

Although Democrats probably do not agree with Mr. Schwartz, they agree that Boehner has become successful in his career as a congressman.

"He has not had a significant impact in this region outside his district," said Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Tim Burke. "But he clearly has developed a very loyal and strong following, and he has become very difficult to try to unseat."

Boehner was particularly popular during the 1990s as a member of the "Gang of Seven," who fought against the corrupt House banking practices. Boehner has also worked on committees for the Freedom Project and the No Child Left Behind Act.

Boehner attributes many of his successful qualities to his humble beginnings in Cincinnati.

"I win because I’m very up-front with people about what I’m going to do. All this goes back to my days in the bar with my dad. He’d treat everyone the same."

Boehner is the second of 12 children who were all put through Catholic schools by his father’s income as the owner of his late grandfather’s bar.

He says he learned many lessons through talking with his father and his Moeller High School football coach, Gerry Faust.

"I learned from Faust that there’s nothing in this world you can’t succeed at if you’re willing to work hard enough and sacrifice," he said.

"I look over my life and that formula has worked. That was a very important part of who I am and what I am."