>> Eric: FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER KURT DAUDT IS PREPARING FOR HIS FINAL DAYS IN OFFICE.

HE MADE HISTORY WITH HIS QUICK RISE TO POWER FOR REPUBLICANS.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER HAS THE ONLY TV INTERVIEW WITH DAUDT AND IT'S A DEEPLY EMOTIONAL LOOK AT POLITICS TODAY AND IN THE PAST IN A CANDID CONVERSATION.

>> COME ON, LUCY.

CAN YOU GET AROUND THERE?

>> Mary: FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER KURT DAUDT AND HIS FAITHFUL CAPITOL COMPANION ARE PREPARING FOR A FINAL FAREWELL.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I WAS SWORN IN AS SPEAKER, THE FIRST TIME IN 2015.

>> HE QUICKLY ASCENDED TO LEADERSHIP BECOMING ONE OF THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE TO EVER PRESIDE OVER THE HOUSE.

>> THAT'S WHAT SITS OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

I WAS THE FIRST THIRD TERM SPEAKER SINCE 1930, ALMOST 100 YEARS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WILL PROBABLY EVER BREAK THAT RECORD.

THE MOTION PREVAILS AND THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

>> FOLLOWING 14 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, DAUDT IS DEPARTING AFTER MAKING HISTORY.

>> THE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER CAUGHT ME IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION OUTSIDE.

>> SAYING GOODBYE ISN'T EASY.

>> IT'S A BITTERSWEET THING FOR ME TO LEAVE THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: A BIG, LONG PART OF YOUR LIFE AND CAREER.

YEAH.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH.

YOU DID LOVE IT, DIDN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> FOR ME, I REALLY FEEL LIKE I WAS MADE FOR IT.

I WILL MISS THE FRIENDS.

EXCUSE ME.

>> Mary: AT 50 YEARS OLD THE REPUBLICAN IS PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT, GOING FULL-TIME AS A CONSULTANT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CLOSE ONE CHAPTER YOU OPEN ANOTHER AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE AND I'M XCITED -- >> Mary: AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT LOBBYING DESPITE EVERYBODY IN THE WORKED SAYING -- >> CORRECT, IT IS DEFINITELY NOT LOBBYING.

>> Mary: WHY?

WHAT'S THE REAL MOST HONEST VERSION OF WHY?

>> YEAH, A COUPLE OF REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S TIME FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT BATON.

THE SECOND REASON IS I HAVE MISSED SOME OF THE BEST EARNING YEARS OF MY LIFE AND IT'S TIME THAT -- I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT MY RETIREMENT AND MAKING UP FOR SOME OF THAT TIME.

>> Mary: EVEN AFTER LAWMAKERS PAY INCREASED IT'S STILL PART TIME WORK.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP REALLY GOOD QUALITY LEGISLATORS HERE, PARTICULARLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB AT FINDING OUTSIDE PART TIME EMPLOYMENT OR WHATEVER FOR THEIR MEMBERS.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF WINNING STATEWIDE OFFICES IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHAT ELSE DO REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO BETTER?

>> I SPENT THE BETTER PART OF MY CAREER FUND-RAISING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, EVEN BEING THE MESSENGER AND FACE AND VOICE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND I WAS ALWAYS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT US MODERNIZING ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE, DOING A BETTER JOB OF MESSAGING BUT WE NEED TO RAISE MONEY.

HERE'S A MEMORY.

COVID, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THIS WAS FINISHING SESSION WITH JUST VERY FEW MEMBERS IN THE ROOM.

>> Mary: LGBTQ RIGHTS AND THEN ABORTION.

THOSE TWO ISSUES ARE REALLY HARD FOR THE PARTY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> FOR ME ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ABLE TO MAKE ANY IMPACT ON THOSE ISSUES.

I REMEMBER AS A FRESHMAN IN MY CAUCUS WHEN THEY WERE DEBATING THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

I WAS STANDING UP AND SAYING THIS S A BAD IDEA.

THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON THAT ISSUE CHANGED MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD.

NOW NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT.

>> LOVE IT THE LAW.

>> Mary: PEOPLE STILL TALK ABOUT DAUDT'S PERSONAL LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT PEOPLE TALKING, RUMORS, WHISPERS ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE ALL THESE YEARS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> YEAH, I DON'T -- CERTAINLY I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THAT EARLIER ON.

IN RECENT YEARS I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY CARE.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE CHOSEN HERE BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TARGET PEOPLE OR HATE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE OR ARE NOT -- >> Mary: DOES IT MATTER >> NO, I DON'T THINK IT DOES.

I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS AT ALL.

>> Mary: WHAT MATTERS TO HIM IS A LEGACY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>> THIS GOT DAMAGED DURING THE RESTORATION OF THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: THAT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL MEMENTO TO HAVE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE STATE HAVE BEEN SPEAKER?

>> I AM THE 60TH SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> Mary: DAUDT SERVED AS SPEAKER DURING THE TOP TO BOTTOM RESTORATION OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> ONE OF THE BEST THICKS ON IWORKED ON HERE WAS THE RESTORATION OF THE CAPITOL.

I WAS SPEAKER DURING THE RESTORATION AND IT WAS THE MOST BIPARTISAN THING WE WORKED ON.

THIS IS HISTORIC.

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE HOUSE SINCE THIS CAPITOL OPENED THAT THE HOUSE EVER HELD A SESSION OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING.

>> Mary: OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE, DAUDT FAMOUSICALLY CUT A BUDGET DEAL WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR, AT HIS HOUSE.

>> THAT WAS PROBABLY MY MOST FUN MEMORY IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS THAT MOMENT.

>> Mary: YOU'VE HAD FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS AND LLIES WITH TOM AKK, WITH TIM WALZ.

YOU WERE NOT AFRAID TO WORK WITH EMOCRATS.

DID THAT HURT YOU POLITICALLY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK SO.

TOM BAKK AND I ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.

WE WOULD GO ON -- I CAN SAY IT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH GOING TO BE GONE.

WE WOULD GO ON FISHING TRIPS TOGETHER JUST THE TWO OF US IN CANADA AND AT HIS CABIN.

>> ALTHOUGH KURT DAUDT IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE, HE'S KEEPING HIS POLITICAL FUTURE IN DOUBT >> Mary: DOES THIS MEAN YOU WOULD NEVER RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> IT DOESN'T, I WOULD LOVE TO.