Hastert was for all practical purposes selected for office. Who were the power brokers who selected him, and did they know he was compromised by his behavior?
of course they knew; that gave them control over him.
(no link)
Respect lets Hastert pin down speaker’s post
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) (Published as Chicago Sun-Times) - December 21, 1998
EXCERPT
His first political bid was unsuccessful. Hastert finished fourth out of five candidates for two positions from the 39th Legislative District that included parts of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties. But he established a political base as the leading vote-getter in Kendall County.
In 1981, Hastert, with the support of (Kendall County Republican Chairman Dallas) Ingemunson and then-state Sen. John Grotberg (R-St. Charles), was appointed to the Illinois House when state Rep. Allan L. Schoeberlein resigned. Hastert eventually became the ranking GOP member of the Revenue Committee.
Hastert was chosen as the GOP’s replacement nominee for the U.S. House from the 14th Congressional District in 1986 when the incumbent resigned for health reasons. Hastert survived a powerful challenge from Kane County Coroner Mary Lou Kearns. Since then, Hastert easily has been re-elected.
(snip)
In the U.S. House, Hastert was groomed for a future leadership role by House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-Peoria), who led the GOP from 1981 until 1994. Hastert also worked closely with the late Rep. Edward Madigan (R-Lincoln), who served as Michel’s chief deputy whip. Hastert was among the key strategists in Madigan’s unsuccessful 1988 run against Newt Gingrich for GOP whip. Michel later named Hastert one of six deputy whips.
When the GOP won a House majority in 1994 for the first time in 40 years, Hastert managed Texas conservative Tom DeLay’s election as majority whip.
DeLay then appointed Hastert as chief deputy.
I had not been aware of Hastert until the late, great Bob Novak broke the story that Hastert was the odds-on-favorite to succeed Livingston as Speaker.