As HOH bids adieu to outgoing Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, we reflect on a time long, long time ago — when CQ Roll Call’s Alan K. Ota filed this story on Feb. 15, 2006, after Boehner was elected House majority leader, and made a few Boehner-specific, tobacco-laden changes:

“Now that John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, is House majority leader, there’s a noticeable change in the air at GOP leadership meetings. It’s the Boehner break.

When Republican leaders broke a long huddle this week in the office of Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., they agreed to reconvene in five minutes. That was just enough time for Boehner to duck into a side room, a pack of cigarettes in hand, for a smoke.

Boehner has plenty of opportunities to indulge, since he acquired a ceremonial office just off the floor with his elevation to the No. 2 GOP leadership position.

Incidentally, aides say nothing but courtesy prevents House members from smoking in meetings, on the House floor or in the cloakrooms.”

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