A bit of history we don’t teach in grade school: 113 years ago, a group of U.S. congressmen carousing for St. Patrick’s Day forever deprived the House speaker of the power to control committees and legislation in the people’s House. The revolt against Rep. Kevin McCarthy resembles the one against Joseph Gurney Cannon . It was Thursday, March 17, 1910: St. Patrick’s Day, nearly 10 years before Prohibition took effect. Cannon was widely regarded as the most powerful speaker in history.

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