House of Representatives Republican leaders faced growing pressure over a congressional sex scandal.
Speaker Dennis Hastert rejected calls to step down after accusations he did not follow-up warnings about Florida Republican Mark Foley's sexual messages to teenage boys.
The conservative Washington Times newspaper said in an editorial Mr Hastert "must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once."
Mr Hastert has denied any knowledge of Foley's overtly sexual Internet messages to male congressional pages until they were made public on Friday, and he rejected calls for his resignation.
"I'm not going to do that," he said in an interview with conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, adding he was trying "to do the right thing."
In an interview with WBBM TV in Chicago, Mr Hastert said he had talked to more than 200 House members and the idea of his resignation did not come up, but rather "people urged us to go forward."
President George W Bush did not respond to questions in California over whether Mr Hastert should resign, but said he was "confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement" in its investigation of Mr Foley.
"He's a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country," said Mr Bush , adding he was "dismayed and shocked" by Mr Foley's behavior.
The scandal was a blow to Republicans and provided fresh ammunition to Democrats ahead of congressional elections on November 7th, when Democrats must pick up 15 House seats and six Senate seats to claim majorities in each chamber.