Former members of Congress generally emphasize their bipartisan credentials. Instead of discussing pitched battles of years past pitting Democrats against Republicans and vice versa, they’re prone to reminisce instead about legislation they sponsored, foreign travel with lawmakers from the opposition party, and other efforts to work across the aisle.

But ask any House Republican who was in office during a winter-to-spring 1985 recount fight for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District, and they’re likely to get their partisan dander up. The episode remains a source of partisan rage nearly 40 years later, with Republicans contending Democrats stole a House seat rightfully won by the GOP candidate.