John Boehner's active tear ducts have become as famous in the US capital as President Barack Obama's greying hair.
His tendency to choke up and shed tears in public has been viewed as either embarrassing or endearing in Washington circles, but the politician himself has shown no shame about it and even jokes about his emotional personality.
Boehner, a former chairman of the House education committee, is especially susceptible to tears on the topic of children, even in abstract terms.
On Friday, though, the speaker of the US House of Representatives remained cool and collected as he announced his October 30 retirement - until talking about the impact of his political career on his wife and now-adult daughters.
Asked about his wife's reaction to his decision, he said: "When I told my wife? She said, 'Good'."
A devout Roman Catholic, Boehner was especially moist around the eyes and nose during Pope Francis' visit on Thursday to the Capitol. Shortly before the pontiff's departure, they shared a private moment, Boehner said.
"I was really emotional in a moment that no one saw," he admitted.
"The Pope grabbed my left arm and said some very kind words to me about my commitment," he paused, clearing his throat, his lower lip contorted, "to kids and education."
Francis wasn't done, though, and neither were Boehner's overstimulated tear ducts.
"And the Pope puts him arm around me," he said, "and kind of pulls me to him, and says, 'Please pray for me.' Wow, who am I to pray for the pope? But I did."
