I also don't doubt that in between the moments of joie de vivre there were as many heated disagreements over busted deals as there were harsh words over busted flushes.
However, both occurred behind a screen of shared secrecy in the privacy of a club which was almost exclusively made up of White males. Members of the press corps - with the same gender ratio - were often invited but only after agreeing that what happened there (and who happened to be there), stayed there.
Pacts were made. Favors were dispensed. Punishments were agreed to. Tony Soprano would have recognized it. Substitute a hideaway office in the basement of the Capitol for the back room of the Bada-Bing and you've got the picture.
Times were different when the GOP was the permanent minority. It was tidier than the messy transparency of today, but I'm not certain having all that secrecy was better for democracy.
A last point about Bob Michel. Also from that Harvard Crimson piece:
In a chamber where guile and deception were often the tools of the trade, Michel was a straight shooter who believed in principle and honor. His word was as good as gold; his handshake was always a firm guarantee. Michel was so genuine that even dishonest men could not look him in the eye and lie to him.
The essential quality of Bob Michel is timeless. That, we could use more of today. Majority or not.
On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the Harvard Crimson and National Review pieces. A Mullfoto which is another view of a bad day, and a really stupid Catchy Caption of the Day.