Скачать или смотреть USA: HASTERT TAKES OATH AS NEW SPEAKER OF CONGRESS

(7 Jan 1999) English/Nat

The New Congress of the United States has convened with promises to cooperate on big issues such as Social Security and education - but only after first concentrating on the highly partisan impeachment trial of President Clinton.

The House opened the 106th session of Congress on Wednesday by electing as its new speaker Republican Dennis Hastert.

He urged Democrats to join him in ending the political wars that have divided Congress in recent years.

After a year of partisan bickering, the House of Representatives started anew on Wednesday.

Its first order of business was electing Illinois Republican Dennis Hastert as the new House Speaker.

UPSOUND: (English)
Dennis Hastert taking the oath
SUPERCAPTION: Dennis Hastert, Speaker

The House elected the former high school teacher and wrestling coach along party lines by a 220 to 205 margin.

Democrats voted for their own nominee, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt.

But after the votes were counted, and the Speaker was declared, the two party leaders pledged a new era of cooperation.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Mr. Speaker and members of the House, before I hand the gavel over to our new speaker let me say to him simply, let's bury the hatchet."
SUPER CAPTION: Richard Gephardt, House Minority Leader

The call to end the partisan rancour received a standing ovation from House members.

Hastert emphasised, he's ready to cooperate with Democrats.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And to my Democratic colleagues, I will say I will meet you halfway, maybe more so on occasion, but cooperation is a two-way street and I expect you to meet me halfway too"
SUPER CAPTION: House Speaker Dennis Hastert

Hastert's first order of business as Speaker was to deliver the oath of office to his 434 colleagues.

As in most years, the House is then expected to go into recess until after the president's State of the Union address, before getting down to real business.

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