House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan indicated Tuesday that he would be willing to become Speaker of the House, if certain conditions are met by House conservatives.
According to Red Alert’s research, that would make him the youngest Speaker since James G. Blaine, who assumed the Speakership at age 39 in 1869 and left office in 1875.
Ryan is 45 years-old.
While many conservatives are skeptical of Ryan, there is no doubt he will bring a more energetic and better communicated approach to the Speakership. Ryan has a young family, and while that made him reluctant to take the job, it makes him that much more relatable.
And unlike Boehner, Ryan is a leader who will drive the debate with positive policy ideas–and Republicans won’t feel ashamed to send him to speak to the press.
