Former Republican Representative Dennis Hastert served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representives from 1999 to 2007. Hastert resigned in 2007 following the Democratic takeover of the House leadership in the 2006 elections. His post as Speaker passed to Democratic California Representative Nancy Pelosi.

1. Full name: John Dennis Hastert
2. Born: January 2, 1942
3. Birthplace: Aurora, IL, Illinois
4. Alma Mater: Wheaton College
5. Graduate School: M.A. in Education, Northern Illinois University
6. Spouse: Jean Kahl
7. Longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House in history
8. Former high school wrestling and football coach

Born and raised in Illinois, Hastert received a Master's in Education from Northern Illinois University and coached wrestling and football at Yorkville High School in Yorkville.

In 1980, Hastert was elected to the first of three terms in the Illinois House of Representatives. Six years later, Hastert ran for the House in Illinois's 14th Congressional District in place of comatose incumbent John Grotberg, and won. In 1998, Newt Gingrich decided not to run for another term and his post as Speaker of the House became available. The original choice of the Republican House, Bob Livingston, had to step down in the wake of a sex scandal, and Hastert became the Speaker. Hastert served in that capacity until his retirement from the House in 2007.

• 1942: Born on January 2, in Aurora, Illinois

• 1980: Elected to Illinois House of Representatives

• 1987: Enters U.S. House of Representatives on January 6

• 1999: Sworn in as Speaker of the House on January 6

• 2006: Released statement refusing to resign over the Mark Foley Scandal on October 6

• 2007: Resigned from politics on November 26