On March 29, 1952 he surprised Democratic leaders by saying he would not seek re-election
... On Friday, 
March 29, the President said at a news conference that he would... [DOC] [TLE] DeLay DeParts DeCongress : NPR [PAR] Apr 5, 2006 ... Tom DeLay Challenge Opens 2006 Primary Season March 1, 2006 ... House 
majority leader  that he will not only drop out of his race for re-election but 
resign from Congress as well  is perhaps that it came as a surprise.