CELEBRITY
Hastert died at age 84 over the weekend of natural causes at his home in Illinois, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell. The question is what will he be remembered for?
Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a once-powerful Republican leader whose political career was later overshadowed by a criminal case involving hush-money payments connected to sexual abuse of teenage boys, has died at the age of 84.
Hastert died over the weekend of natural causes at his home in Illinois, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell.
Hastert represented Illinois in Congress from 1987 until his resignation in 2007 and served as speaker from 1999 to 2007.
He became the longest-serving Republican speaker in U.S. history and played an important role in advancing much of President George W. Bush’s legislative agenda during his years leading the House.
Before entering national politics, Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois.
It was his earlier career as a coach that eventually became central to the scandal that dramatically changed his public legacy.
