Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 5, 1993 TAG: 9310050111
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PEORIA, ILL. LENGTH: Short
"To our friends in the media, you'll be happy to hear you won't have to ask me any more whether I'll be running again. The answer is simply no," Michel said in a statement prepared before a morning news conference in his hometown.
"Had George Bush won re-election, I would have felt obligated to see his administration through and capped my career with 40 years in the House. I don't have that obligation now."
Michel was first elected to Congress in 1956. He was first elected House Republican Leader in 1980 and re-elected six more times.
Before that, he served two other Republican leadership positions: GOP whip and chairman of the Congressional Campaign Committee.
Michel said he has 50 years of public service, counting all his time in politics and the military.
"That ought to be enough," he said. "I think it's a good time to hang it up."
Michel went on: "Even though I believe the prospects are excellent for our winning big in the House next year, I'm not sure it will be enough to make me the speaker.
"Therefore I believe it's appropriate to announce my intention to bow out now, when we're on a high and there's time remaining in this term to help make an orderly transition from my leadership to whomever."
by CNB