Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert confirmed Thursday that he won't complete his 11th term in the House -- and may resign before his term is over.

Hastert told reporters that he thinks he'll be "gone by the first of the year."

Earlier, in a floor speech that he said would be his last, he offered a farewell to his colleagues, and indicated that his resignation would come soon.

"It's time for this legislator to return to being a private citizen," he said, before being given a long ovation by members of both parties.

Hastert, a former government, history and economics teacher and a wresting coach began, his political career when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1980.

He was House speaker longer than any other Republican, after winning the speaker's office in January 1999. Two better-known Republicans were forced aside by scandals and by intra-party rivalries.

Hastert left the post when Democrats regained control of the House after the 2006 elections, and announced he wouldn't seek another term in August.

His resignation will trigger a special election in his Chicago-area district.

Republicans are hoping to hold the seat ahead of next year's general election, which some are fearing will draw large numbers of Democratic voters unhappy with President George W. Bush and the Iraq war.

Last year, Hastert came under fire in the midst of a scandal over inappropriate e-mails to House pages from former Florida GOP Rep. Mark Foley.

Foley was forced to resign in the scandal, and critics said that Hastert's office knew about the e-mails a year before they were made public, but did not intervene.

Hastert denied any wrongdoing in how his office handled the matter, and fought against efforts to force him from the speakership.