first speaker, muhlenberg of pennsylvania, in the first congress, he simply was a presiding officer. he was paid $2 more than the other members. $6 a day. he got $8 a day. and for that $8 he said i spent most of it on oyster suppers for the members so he didn't feel like it was much of a bonus. he thought he was losing money on the deal. but even muhlenberg, quickly as he got power to appoint committees, found that he was elevated above the other members. >> the door to the house chamber is behind you. the speaker is second in line to succeed the president after the vice president. what does this say about the speaker's authority? >> the speaker has great authority in the constitution in that respect. that was changed in 1947 with the secession act which brought the speaker up into a higher position as the highest elected officer after the president and vice president. and then it goes to the president to pro tem of the senate after that. so the speaker is, after the vice president, something happens to the president, the speaker is in line to succeed. and that 1947 act was an effort