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'''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) served as [[Speaker of the House]] from 1995 until 1998, preceding [[J. Dennis Hastert]] and succeeding [[Thomas Foley]]. He is widely considered the mastermind of the [http://www.conservapedia.com/Bill_Clinton#1994_Republican_Revolution 1994 Republican Revolution] and "Contract with America" that led the [[Republican Party]] to capture the majority in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] for the first time since 1954. He was considered the chief Republican opposition to President [[Bill Clinton]] in the 1990's.

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.  

Popular with conservatives, Gingrich is a television commentator and the author of nineteen books including 11 fiction and non-fiction [[New York Times]] best-sellers.  

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]].   

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 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:  

Gingrich's congressional career ended in 1998 when he resigned from Congress after poor showings from Republicans in the midterm elections and being investigated by the House ethics panel:  

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== Speakership ==

== 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]]

[[Image:032309contractwithamerica.jpg|right|275px|]]

*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.