Speaker Boehner to Resign

"US Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), the speaker of the House, woke up Friday morning. He went to

Starbucks for his morning coffee. He got breakfast at Pete's Diner, a Washington institution where he's a regular.

And he decided that "today's the day" he was going to resign as speaker.

"I decided today's the day I'm going to do this. It's as simple as that," Boehner said Friday, during an emotional press conference.

Tears formed in his eyes, and his handkerchief made several appearances during the press conference, which he held hours after he stunned Washington by announcing he would resign from congress at the end of October.

Boehner was prodded by the visit of Pope Francis, who on Thursday became the first pontiff to address congress.  Negotiations to get Francis to Washington were spearheaded by Boehner, a Catholic, and it was perhaps the seminal moment of his speakership. 

Boehner, whose emotions were on full display during the pope's visit, talked about a moment during which he and Francis were alone after the day's events. Francis, he said, grabbed his left arm and said "kind words" to Boehner about his commitment to kids and education. Francis put his arm around Boehner, pulled Boehner closer to him, and asked Boehner to pray for him." BI