The assembled Republicans rose in a standing ovation Thursday night when Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) showed them a C-Span video of the vote itself, according to people present. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) told the group that Wednesday’s vote reminded him of a roll call in 1993 when Republicans forced Democrats to pass a tax increase without a single GOP vote. And conservative Arizona Rep. John Shadegg offered a toast to many of his more moderate Republican colleagues who opposed the legislation.

During his remarks, Gingrich told the Republicans not to “think about the future of the Republican Party” but rather “think about the future of America.

“If the Republican Party takes care of America, America will take care of the Republican Party,” the former speaker said.