Glory, Grief, and the Gavel: An Inside Guide to Running for Speaker of the House

Glory, Grief, and the Gavel takes readers deep into the high-stakes world of Capitol Hill, pulling back the curtain on what it takes to lead one of the most complex and unruly institutions in America: the U.S. House of Representatives. While presidential elections hinge on tens of millions of votes, the speakership—the third-highest office in the land and second in line to the presidency—can be decided by just 218. Written by former top congressional advisor John Leganski, this vivid personal memoir chronicles a decade-long battle for the gavel that ultimately erupted in the dramatic January 2023 floor fight to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Over the course of five extraordinary days and fifteen ballots, the contest became the first multi-ballot vote for Speaker in a century, the longest such struggle since the Civil War, and a defining moment in modern House history. Filled with never-before-reported scenes from a showdown that captivated the nation and the world, this rare front-row account doubles as a Rosetta Stone for understanding today’s Republican Party and the unforgiving realities of Washington politics. Along the way, Leganski offers hard-won lessons in leadership, the art of vote counting, and the human cost of wielding power in the People’s House. If you’ve ever wondered how Speakers are chosen, why congressional leadership elections turn into political warfare, or what really happens in the rooms the cameras never see, Glory, Grief, and the Gavel delivers an unflinching and unforgettable answer.