Photos: John Boehner's political career John Boehner has been the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011, making him second in line for the presidency, behind the vice president. On September 25, Boehner told colleagues he's stepping down as speaker and will leave Congress at the end of October. Look back at his career in politics so far. Hide Caption 1 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Pope Francis walks with Speaker Boehner and Vice President Joe Biden after delivering a speech to Congress in Washington on September 24. Hide Caption 2 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani (right) expresses his country's gratitude for America's fiscal commitment and military sacrifices during an address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress with Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol March 25 in Washington. Hide Caption 3 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career U.S. President Barack Obama walks with Speaker of the House John Boehner as they depart the annual Friend's of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 17. Hide Caption 4 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner await the arrival of President Barack Obama for the State of The Union address on January 20 in the House Chamber of the Capitol. Hide Caption 5 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career The image of the Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) is displayed in a monitor of a camera as he talks with reporters in his office in the Capitol in November 2014 in Washington. Hide Caption 6 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner blasts conservative groups during a press conference in December 2013 after passing a compromise budget deal aimed at removing the threat of another government shutdown. Fed up with criticism from conservative advocates, Boehner said they were "misleading their followers." He followed up with: "Frankly, I just think that they've lost all credibility." Hide Caption 7 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Reporters question Boehner as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol as the government stalemate continued in October 2013. President Obama signed a bill on October 17 that ended the 16-day shutdown and raised the debt ceiling. Hide Caption 8 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner speaks to the media after a meeting with President Obama at the White House in October 2013, the second day of the federal government's recent shutdown. The White House squared off with Republican rivals in Congress over how to fund federal agencies, many of which were forced to close, leaving a fragile economy at risk. Hide Caption 9 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner is sworn in as the speaker of the House after his re-election in January 2013. Hide Caption 10 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner presents golfing legend Arnold Palmer with the Congressional Gold Medal at a special ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol in September 2012. Hide Caption 11 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career On January 5, 2011, Boehner wipes away tears as he waits to receive the gavel from outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, during the first session of the 112th Congress. Hide Caption 12 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner hugs his wife, Debbie, after addressing the crowd at the NRCC Election Night watch party on November 2, 2010, when Republicans took back control of the House of Representatives. Boehner met his wife in college, and they have been married since 1973. Hide Caption 13 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner voices his concerns about the health care reform bill championed by Obama during a news conference in Washington on October 29, 2009. Hide Caption 14 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner, an avid golfer, talks with Tiger Woods while golfing at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2009. Hide Caption 15 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner, center, looks on as President Barack Obama speaks with then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in the East Room of the White House on February 23, 2009. Boehner and Obama have butted heads over the years. Hide Caption 16 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner, center, and fellow Republican House members sing Boehner's birthday song during a news conference on Capitol Hill on November 17, 2006. Boehner served as the House Minority Leader from 2007 to 2011. Hide Caption 17 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner answers questions during an interview with Bloomberg in Washington on June 29, 2005. Hide Caption 18 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career President George W. Bush signs into law the federal education bill No Child Left Behind at a high school in Hamilton, Ohio, in 2002. The law offered the promise of improved schools for the nation's poor and minority children and better-prepared students in a competitive world. Boehner, second from right, backed the bill. Hide Caption 19 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner and House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, listen to House Speaker Newt Gingrich at a 1997 news conference with entrepreneurs promoting the GOP tax relief plan. Hide Caption 20 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner dumps out coal, which he called a Christmas gift to President Clinton, during a news conference about the federal budget on December 21, 1995. Many government services and agencies were closed at the end of 1995 and beginning of 1996 as a Republican-led Congress battled Clinton over spending levels. Hide Caption 21 of 23

Photos: John Boehner's political career Boehner at a Capitol Hill news conference on February 6, 1995. He has had a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1990. Before that he was a member of the Ohio State House of Representatives for six years. Hide Caption 22 of 23