Why 'John John' Boehner’s Capitol Hill Breakfast Buddies Will Miss Him
Pete’s Diner in Washington, D.C. has served him eggs and sausage for years.
— -- Friday morning began like any other for John Boehner.
After grabbing a coffee at Starbucks, the House Speaker headed to Pete’s Diner on Capitol Hill to enjoy the same breakfast of eggs and sausage he’s been ordering since he first came to Washington.
But this time, something different was on his mind: Retirement.
“This morning, I woke up and I said my prayers, as I always do, and I decided, you know, today’s the day I’m going to do this,” said Boehner (R-Ohio) at a press conference later in the day announcing his resignation.
Among Beltway political types, Boehner’s decision was celebrated by some and lamented by others, but at Pete’s, line cook Carlos Marroquin, summed up the sentiment.
“We’ll miss him,” Marroquin, who has made Boehner fried eggs at the griddle every morning, told ABC News.
Pete’s Diner has served its share of congressman and politicos for more than 50 years, but it’s Boehner that owner Gum Tong knows by name -- a special name -- “John John.”
“He's a very simple guy, he always sits at the counter and he only uses one napkin,” Tong said. “Never wastes a thing.”
As an immigrant from Malaysia, Tong said she’s not used to politicians being so down-to-earth. “To be in his position and be very humble it's a very nice way to be.”
Pete’s Diner is humble, too. Wooden booths line the restaurant, a plastic lawn chair serves as extra seating, and Christmas cards sent by customers decorate a bulletin board behind the cash register. Everyone pitches in at Pete’s -- Tong greets customers at the door, takes orders, and helps run dishes back and forth to the small kitchen.
Boehner grew up waiting tables with his 11 siblings at Andy’s Café, a restaurant run by his father Earl in Carthage, Ohio. Andy’s Café and Pete’s Diner share a similar menu—Boehner’s favorite of fried eggs and sausage go for $4.25 at Andy’s -- and Tong thinks that’s why Boehner starts his day at her counter.
“He felt like he's home,” said Tong. “And he treats everyone like they're part of the family.”
After running Pete’s Diner for fifteen years, Tong said that while Boehner doesn’t talk about his work with the staff, she understands what’s going on in the marble hallways across the street.
“You can't have everybody love you and like you but you have to get the job done,” said Tong about Boehner’s resignation. “He's doing the best he can. If it was easy then everyone would be House Speaker.”
Tong expects he’ll continue to stop by even after he’s cleaned out his desk in the Speaker’s office. “John John,” she said, “he's a part of our family.”