I remember the late journalist Bob Novak (one of my favorites) predicting correctly that Hastert would be Gingrich’s successor when others were not sure who Hastert was. Bob talked about how everybody in the House liked Hastert. Obviously, Mr. Novak was fooled too, and he was supposedly one who could find where the bodies are buried.
I'm pretty sure that no one is allowed to rise to the top UNLESS they have bodies buried. Everyone must be vulnerable. Everyone needs to be bought and sold. Hastert was perfect -- of course he could be Speaker! -- they could destroy him any time they wanted. But as long as he "played ball" they'd leave him alone.
I think part of the problem with Trump is that although he has minor flaws, he is not vulnerable in the typical ways. He is his own man, not theirs.
Cruz, on the other hand, is a stooge for the Establishment, and they have things over him. No, I don't "have proof". But it's pretty obvious.
Newts follies were with adult consenting females, and not hookers. Luddite. Not progressive...