Boehner Becomes Emotional During Press Conference Announcing Resignation

BOEHNER: "All right, Junior, go ahead."
REPORTER: "Speaker Boehner, you were noticeably overcome with emotion yesterday."
BOEHNER: "Really? What a surprise."
REPORTER: "I’m curious, did you make this decision last night — if the grace of Pope Francis led you to this decision?"
BOEHNER: "No, no. Yesterday was wonderful day. It really was. Was I emotional yesterday? I think I was. I was really emotional in a moment that really no one saw. As the Pope and I were getting ready to exit the building, we found ourselves alone. And the Pope grabbed my left arm, and said some very kind words to me about my commitment to kids and education. And the Pope puts his arm around me, and kind of pulls me to him and says, 'Please pray for me.' Well, who am I to pray for the Pope? But I did."
REPORTER: "If it wasn’t the Pope, then what was it?"
BOEHNER: "It’s — listen, it was never about the vote, all right? There was never any doubt about whether I could survive the vote. But I don’t want my members to have to go through this. I certainly don’t want the institution to go through this. And so — especially when, you know, I knew I was — I was thinking about walking out the door anyway. So, it’s the right time to do it, and frankly, I am entirely comfortable doing it."
REPORTER: "Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard you say before that a leader who doesn’t have anybody following him is just a guy taking a walk."
BOEHNER: "That’s right. I have got plenty of people — I’ve got plenty of people following me. But this turmoil that’s been churning now for a couple months is not good for the members and it’s not good for the institution. And if I wasn’t planning on leaving here soon, I can tell you I would not have done this."