Ryan growing Speaker’s first beard in 90 years

Speaker Paul Ryan’s facial hair is making history.

The Wisconsin Republican is the first Speaker in nearly a century to sport a beard, or the beginnings of one, on the job.

Ryan, who has appeared clean-shaven for the majority of his public political life, popped the follicle-focused trivia question (complete with a photo showing some freshly grown facial fuzz) to the House’s History, Art, & Archives via Twitter on Monday:

.@SpeakerRyan It’s been a while (Gillett & Cannon before him). https://t.co/5uGWNQzUlV https://t.co/d9GTiTaMUl pic.twitter.com/SCc2Y2PhLV

— U.S. House History (@USHouseHistory) November 30, 2015

Frederick Gillett, a Massachusetts Republican, was Speaker for six years beginning in 1919, while the white bearded Joseph Cannon (R-Ill.) served in the role from 1903 to 1911.

ITK reached out to the American Mustache Institute’s Aaron Perlut about the 45-year-old lawmaker’s historic beard, who told us: “Mr. Ryan has often waved a big stick in discussing America’s lack of ‘leadership.’ And clearly, his newly minted facial forestry unit sends a stark, sexually dynamic signal to the Mustached American community that he is serious about leading and we’re willing to listen.”