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Line 1: − + − + − Under his leadership, Congress passed [[welfare reform]], passed the first balanced budget in a generation, and passed the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen our defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan [[9/11 Commission]]. + − Gingrich's congressional career ended in 1998 when he resigned from Congress after poor showings from Republicans in the mid-term elections and being investigated by the House ethics panel: + − + − <blockquote> − '''"[[Democrats]] filed 84 politically motivated ethics charges against Gingrich. All of them were found to be without merit. The last three were dismissed on Oct. 10, 1998. The fact is, not a single ethics charge filed against Speaker Gingrich was ever found to be based in fact -- not one. ''Gingrich was cleared of any and all wrongdoing.''''' − <br /> − '''The fallout in the case resulted in an [[IRS]] investigation and a federal court case. Ultimately, Speaker Gingrich was cleared of any wrongdoing by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee, the IRS and a federal judge."''' <ref>[http://www.salon.com/news/letters/2006/01/11/gingrich/index.html Rick Tyler, Communications Director, Gingrich Communications; Salon.com]</ref> − </blockquote> − − − − + Line 29:
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Educational details added; citations included
[[Image:Newtgingrich.jpg|200px|right|]]
[[Image:Newtgingrich.jpg|200px|right|]]
'''Newt Gingrich''' (born June 17, 1943) is a [[conservative]] politician. Representing [[Georgia]], Gingrich served as [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives| Speaker]] of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999, preceding [[J. Dennis Hastert]] and succeeding [[Thomas Foley]]. Widely considered a mastermind of the Republican revolution that swept [[Congress]] in the 1994 elections, the well-known architect of the “[[Contract with America]]” <ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=59]</ref> that led the [[Republican Party]] to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House for the first time in forty years.
'''Newt Gingrich''' (born June 17, 1943) is a [[conservative]] politician. Representing [[Georgia]], Gingrich served as [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives| Speaker]] of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999, preceding [[J. Dennis Hastert]] and succeeding [[Thomas Foley]]. In 1995, [[Time magazine]] selected him as the [[Person of the Year]] for his role in the House, ending 40 years of the [[Democratic Party]] being in the majority. Gingrich's leadership in Congress was paramount in providing political balance and opposition to many of the policies of the [[Clinton Administration]].
Gingrich remains very popular among many conservatives. He has repeatedly placed near the top of Republican presidential polls recently, even though he has not formed a campaign committee.
As a co-author of the 1994 "[[Contract with America]],"<ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=59]</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=An EIB History Lesson on 1994| work= [[Rush Limbaugh]] | url= http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031109/content/01125114.guest.html | last=Limbaugh | first=Rush | date=2009-03-11 | accessdate=2009-03-11}}</ref> Gingrich was considered to be a leading mastermind of the Republican revolution that swept [[Congress]] in the 1994 elections. Under his leadership as Speaker, Congress passed [[welfare reform]], managed to obtain the first balanced budget in a generation, and passed the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addition, Congress restored funding to strengthen the United States' defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan [[9/11 Commission]].
By 1998, Gingrich had become a highly visible and polarizing figure in the public's eye, and his approval rating was at 45% in April 1998.<ref> [http://www.gallup.com/poll/4225/Election-98-Promising-Year-Congressional-Incumbents.aspx Gallup Poll] </ref> Although Gingrich had been handily reelected to an 11th term in that election, the [[Republican party]] had lost 5 seats in the House in the 1998 midterm elections — and Gingrich suffered much of the blame for it, making him a target for Democratic congressional candidates across the nation. Thus, he announced on November 6 that he would not only stand down as Speaker, but would leave the House as well. Gingrich's congressional career ended in 1998 when he resigned. Commenting on his departure, Gingrich said, "I'm willing to lead but I'm not willing to preside over people who are cannibals. My only fear would be that if I tried to stay, it would just overshadow whoever my successor is."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/08/us/the-speaker-steps-down-excerpts-from-phone-call-about-gingrich-s-future.html ''The Speaker Steps Down,''] The New York Times, 11/8/98.</ref>
== Speaker of the House ==
=== Commemorations ===
== Speakership ==
[[File:Ronald Reagan with Newt Gingrich.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[President Ronald Reagan]] meets with Speaker Newt Gingrich in the Oval Office, May 20, 1985]]
[[File:Ronald Reagan with Newt Gingrich.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[President Ronald Reagan]] meets with Speaker Newt Gingrich in the Oval Office, May 20, 1985]]
*All ten items in the Contract With America were brought to a vote in the U.S. House in the first 100 days (the promise was to bring them to a vote). Nine of the ten items passed the House. The sole exception was term limits which received a plurality but required a two-thirds majority as a Constitutional Amendment.
*All ten items in the [[Contract With America]] were brought to a vote in the U.S. House in the first 100 days (the promise was to bring them to a vote). Nine of the ten items passed the House. The sole exception was term limits which received a plurality but required a two-thirds majority as a Constitutional Amendment.
*Committee Chairmen were term-limited as was the Speakership.
*Committee Chairmen were term-limited as was the Speakership.
*The Legislative branch was cut including the Speaker's office. Also reduced were committee sizes. Unnecessary perks like the House barbershop, shoeshine and ice service were eliminated.
*The Legislative branch was cut including the Speaker's office. Also reduced were committee sizes. Unnecessary perks like the House barbershop, shoeshine and ice service were eliminated.
*More women were appointed to leadership positions in the House than anytime in history.
*More women were appointed to leadership positions in the House than anytime in history.
*Increased funding for the Violence Against Women Act by 700%.
*Increased funding for the Violence Against Women Act by 700%.
*[[Megan's Law]] was passed. <ref>[http://www.registeredoffenderslist.org/national-alert/?engine=adwords!3475&keyword=%2Amegan%27s+law%2A&match_type=&gclid=CKC_9fSEi4sCFSMhYQodWTGRHQ]</ref> <ref>[http://www.klaaskids.org/pg-legmeg.htm</ref>
*[[Megan's Law]] was passed. <ref>[http://www.registeredoffenderslist.org/national-alert/?engine=adwords!3475&keyword=%2Amegan%27s+law%2A&match_type=&gclid=CKC_9fSEi4sCFSMhYQodWTGRHQ]</ref> <ref>[http://www.klaaskids.org/pg-legmeg.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=31]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=31]</ref>
=== Ethics Sanctions ===
Eighty-four ethics charges, most of which were leveled by [[Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives|House Democratic Whip]] [[David Bonior]], were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term, including claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. Eighty-three of the 84 allegations were dropped.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/101198.htm WashingtonPost.com: Ethics Committee Drops Last of 84 Charges Against Gingrich]</ref> Gingrich denied the charges over misuse of tax-exempt funds; however, he admitted to providing inaccurate statements during the probe over the college course and agreed to pay US$300,000 for the cost of the investigation.<ref>[ibid]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm Washingtonpost.com: House Reprimands, Penalizes Speaker<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The House Ethics Committee concluded that inaccurate information supplied to investigators represented "intentional or ... reckless" disregard of House rules.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/011897.htm washingtonpost.com | title=Ethics Panel Supports Reprimand of Gingrich | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | author=Yang, John E. and Dewar, Helen | page=A01 | date=1997-01-18 | accessdate=2006-08-15 }}</ref> The full committee panel did not reach a conclusion about whether Gingrich had violated federal tax law, instead they opted to leave it up to the [[IRS]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/011897.htm Washingtonpost.com: Ethics Panel Supports Reprimand of Gingrich<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1999, the IRS cleared the organizations connected with the "Renewing American Civilization" courses under investigation for possible tax violations.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE7D61138F937A35751C0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 I.R.S. Clears Foundation Linked to Gingrich's Ethics Dispute - New York Times]</ref>
<blockquote>
'''"[[Democrats]] filed 84 politically motivated ethics charges against Gingrich. All of them were found to be without merit. The last three were dismissed on Oct. 10, 1998. The fact is, not a single ethics charge filed against Speaker Gingrich was ever found to be based in fact -- not one. ''Gingrich was cleared of any and all wrongdoing.'''''
<br />
'''The fallout in the case resulted in an [[IRS]] investigation and a federal court case. Ultimately, Speaker Gingrich was cleared of any wrongdoing by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee, the IRS and a federal judge."''' <ref>[http://www.salon.com/news/letters/2006/01/11/gingrich/index.html Rick Tyler, Communications Director, Gingrich Communications; Salon.com]</ref>
</blockquote>
== Post Congressional Activities ==
== Post Congressional Activities ==
*Started the Center for Health Transformation, January 2003. <ref>[http://www.healthtransformation.net/about/History/ Center for Health Transformation, History]</ref>
*Started the Center for Health Transformation, January 2003. <ref>[http://www.healthtransformation.net/about/History/ Center for Health Transformation, History]</ref>
*In late September 2007, Gingrich founded ''[[American Solutions]] for Winning the Future''. The stated mission of the group is to become the "leading grassroots movement to recruit, educate, and empower citizen activists and elected officials to develop solutions to transform all levels of government." Gingrich spoke of the group and its objectives at the CPAC conference of 2008 and currently serves as its General Chairman.<ref>[http://www.americansolutions.com/about/ About American Solutions for Winning the Future]</ref>
=== On National Security ===
In an interview with ''[[The Economist]]'' Newt Gingrich stated, "As a British court noted, waterboarding is not torture." Gingrich also believes the [[George W. Bush]] policy of "aggressive national security" kept the US safe and "blocked a number of planned attacks," but he admitted that "In the larger and longer war with the irreconcilable wing of Islam, it is clear we are not yet winning". In terms of national security, Gingrich commented, "...we are watching the Obama administration return to the criminal-justice attitudes that failed to keep [the U.S.] safe in the Clinton years," and he also claimed, "The Obama team is even more pro-terrorist rights and anti-national security than the Clinton team was."<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/05/nine_questions_for_newt_gingri.cfm Nine questions for Newt Gingrich], ''[[The Economist]]'', May 30, 2009</ref>
=== 2012 presidential speculation ===
Gingrich warned, "If the Republicans can’t break out of being the right wing party of big government, then I think you would see a third party movement in 2012." Gingrich thrashed Republicans for allowing increased spending during the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] and for not doing enough to block President [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]] early initiatives.<ref>{{cite web | title=Gingrich: GOP-ers may form third party| work= [[politico]] | url= http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20809.html | last=Barr | first=Andy | date=2009-04-03 | accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref> In an interview from ''[[On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren|On the Record]]'' with [[Greta Van Susteren]], Gingrich said, "I am very sad that a number of Republicans do not understand that this country is sick of [[Earmark (politics)|earmarks]]. They are sick of politicians taking care of themselves. They are sick of their money being spent in a way that is absolutely indefensible ... I think you're going to see a steady increase in the number of incumbents who have opponents because the American taxpayers are increasingly fed up."<ref>{{cite web | title=Newt Gingrich for President in 2012?| work= [[FoxNews.com]] | url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508628,00.html | last=Van Susteren | first=Greta | date=2009-03-10 | accessdate=2009-03-11}}</ref> Gingrich noted how, at American Solutions, the organization is "working to help people with the [[Tax Day Tea Party|April 15 taxpayers parties]]," because it was good for those Americans who are fed up to communicate how ready they are to fire some of their incumbents next year. But when asked if he is thinking of running in 2012, Newt replied, "I want to spend all of 2009 trying to develop good policies at American Solutions ... trying to defeat bad policies, like the effort to take away your right to a secret ballot before being forced to join a union. We need to focus everybody on 2009 and finding solutions this year because we are on the edge of being in big trouble."
== Quotes ==
== Quotes ==
== Writings ==
== Writings ==
As an author, Gingrich has published nine books including the best sellers, ''Contract with America'' and ''To Renew America'' and his most recent book, ''Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America''. In June 2005, ''Never Call Retreat'' concluded Newt's series of active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on a fictional account of the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] and its aftermath. And in ''Saving Lives & Saving Money'', Gingrich demonstrates how to transform health and healthcare into a 21st century system.<ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=71][http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=newt%20gingrich%20books&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_28026792_1&results-process=default]</ref>
As an author, Gingrich has published nine books including the best sellers, ''Contract with America'' and ''To Renew America'' and his most recent book, ''Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America''. In June 2005, ''Never Call Retreat'' concluded Newt's series of active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on a fictional account of the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] and its aftermath. And in ''Saving Lives & Saving Money'', Gingrich demonstrates how to transform health and healthcare into a 21st century system.<ref>[http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=71][http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=newt%20gingrich%20books&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_28026792_1&results-process=default]</ref> On May 19, 2009 Newt Gingrich was a guest on [[Comedy Central|Comedy Central's]] ''[[The Daily Show]] with [[Jon Stewart]]''. Gingrich made an appearance on the [[television]] program to talk about his [[book]], ''5 Principles for a Successful Life'', and he also discussed current political issues that have affected the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Daily Show welcomes Newt Gingrich as guest| work= [[examiner.com]], [[The Daily Show]] | url= http://www.examiner.com/x-3108-Baltimore-Republican-Examiner~y2009m5d20-The-Daily-Show-welcomes-Newt-Gingrich-as-guest | last=O'Donnell | first=Sean | date=2009-05-19 | accessdate=2009-05-20}}</ref>
== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==