John Andrew Boehner (born November 17, 1949) is an American former politician and businessman. He was born in Reading, Ohio, into a working-class Roman Catholic family as the second of twelve children; his father worked as a bartender. Boehner earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Xavier University in 1977. Before entering politics, he worked in sales and management, including as president of a small plastics packaging company. His public service began in 1981 on the Union County Board of Commissioners, followed by service in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1985 to 1990. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Ohio, and served as Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015. A Republican known for his moderate views and pro-Israel stance, he led House Republicans during the Tea Party era and resigned as Speaker amid Tea Party pressures.