Recent GOP Chief Deputy Whips' career paths

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton is the Republican chief deputy whip, a key party leadership position that has served as a springboard for other congressmen. Here's a look at the career paths of previous GOP House leaders, many of them from Illinois.

• Leslie Arends (Illinois): Minority and Majority Whip, 1943-1976

• Robert Michel (Illinois): Minority Whip, 1975-1981; House Republican Leader, 1981-1995

• Trent Lott: Republican Majority Whip 1982-1988

• Newt Gingrich (Georgia): Minority Whip 1989-1995; Speaker of the House 1995-1999

• Tom DeLay (Texas): Majority Whip 1995-2003; Majority Leader 2003-2005

• Dennis Hastert (Illinois): Chief Deputy Whip 1995–1999; Speaker of the House 1999-2006

• Roy Blunt (Missouri): Chief Deputy Whip 1999–2003; Majority Whip 2003-2007; Interim Majority Leader 2005-2006

• Eric Cantor (Virginia): Chief Deputy Whip 2003–2009; Minority Whip 2009-2011; Majority Leader 2011-Present

• Kevin McCarthy (California): Chief Deputy Whip 2009–2011; Majority Whip 2011-present