New Bedford Whaling Park Gets Visit From Former Speaker Boehner

Summertime in New Bedford draws in visitors from all over, but one very special visitor from Ohio stopped by the Whaling National Historical Park.

Former Speaker of the House John Boehner stopped by the Visitor’s Center on William Street, and took a moment to snap a photo with the ranger who provided him with a tour that was then posted to the park’s official Facebook page.

Boehner, a Republican, was the 53rd Speaker of the House, holding the position from January 2011 until October 2015. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio’s 8th district in 1991, after serving six years in the Ohio state legislature.

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During his tenure as Speaker of the House, Boehner often clashed with President Barack Obama over the latter’s initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.” Although known for his conservative views, Boehner also showed an ability to reach across the aisle, such as when he worked with Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, a Democrat, on the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Boehner is also a devout Catholic, and pundits say he and Kennedy were able to bond over their shared faith.

In fact, Boehner actually resigned the day after Pope Francis addressed Congress on September 24, 2015, becoming the first Pope to do so, which came at the invitation of Boehner and then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi both preceded and succeeded Boehner in the role of Speaker of the House.

In 2018, Boehner began working in the cannabis industry, including lobbying for federal decriminalization. Perhaps he was in town to stop by MariMed or check out the progress on Ascend New Bedford?

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