Washington – For House Speaker Paul Ryan, it’s bye-bye beard.
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The Wisconsin Republican has been sporting a “hunting beard” since Thanksgiving, but he appeared clean shaven on Tuesday as the House returned to business.
In a tweet accompanying a photo of the suddenly beardless speaker, he writes: “Fresh year. Fresh start. Fresh shave.”
The 45-year-old Ryan grew the beard at “deer camp” and his office said at the time that he would keep it as long as his wife, Janna, let him.
One of the last two speakers to sport a beard was Joe Cannon of Illinois. The Republican led the House from 1903-11.
Another bearded Republican, Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts, led the House from 1919-25.
With or without the beard he’s a tool for Obama.