Timeline of the career of ex-US House Speaker Dennis Hastert
By Associated Press
May 29, 2015 1:22 AM CDT
FILE - In this March 5, 2008, file photo, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert speaks to lawmakers on the Illinois House of Representatives floor at the state Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Federal prosecutors have indicted Thursday, May 28, 2015, the former U.S. House Speaker on bank-related charges....   (Associated Press)

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal grand jury has accused former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of agreeing to pay $3.5 million in hush money to keep an unidentified person silent about "prior misconduct" by the Illinois Republican. Before the indictment handed down Thursday, Hastert was remarkable for being a little-known state lawmaker from suburban Chicago who eventually rose to the third-highest office in the land.

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1965: Hastert begins teaching history at Yorkville High School and coaching wrestling team.

1976: Hastert named Illinois Coach of the Year after leading Yorkville to state wrestling championship.

1980: Hastert comes in third in Illinois state House of Representatives primary. But GOP chooses him to replace fatally ill primary winner; Hastert later wins general election.

1981: Hastert leaves Yorkville teaching post.

1986: GOP leaders name Hastert to replace freshman Republican U.S. Rep. John Grotberg, who was battling cancer. Hastert defeats Democratic opponent with 52 percent of vote — the closest of his many elections.

1998: Hastert tells incumbent Speaker Newt Gingrich dissatisfaction in GOP ranks makes it unlikely the Georgia lawmaker will hold onto post. Gingrich resigns next day.

1999: Hastert voted speaker of the House of Representatives.

2007: Hastert steps down as speaker after becoming longest serving Republican in position.

2007: J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government and Public Policy founded at Wheaton College

2008: Hastert joins Washington lobbying firm of Dickstein Shapiro as senior adviser.

2015: Hastert, 73, charged with evading bank regulations as he withdrew less than $10,000 at a time to make alleged hush money payments, according to the indictment. Hastert also charged with one count of lying to the FBI about reason for bank withdrawals.