Continuing a Primary Season Series By: Aaron Joseph. As the political season gains steam it is this author’s intent to bring forth in the next weeks an unbiased and factual mini biography on the relevant players, amongst other pieces. From the most dynamic Speakers of The House in recent U.S. history, to a creative, entrepreneurial success, Newt possesses a glib, effortless and instantaneous command of relevant facts and then some in most any given arena. Newt is a powerhouse of a public servant. Named Newton Leroy McPherson at birth, Newton Leroy “Newt” Gingrich is a voluminous, vibrantly colorful and gripping saga that would even entertain the entertained.
BACKGROUND:
Born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during 1943 Newt was raised in Hummelstown near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and on military bases where his step father Robert Gingrich was stationed. Gingrich is a mix of German-English, Scottish-Irish ancestry, and was raised a Lutheran.
In 1961, Newt graduated from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. During his teen years he lived in Orléans, France where his political interests were sparked.
Attending a private, religious research university in Atlanta, Georgia called Emory University from which he earned a B.A. in history in 1965, and a M.A. in 1968, Newt went on to receive his Ph.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana during 1971.
For a while after graduating, Newt taught college history, while unsuccessfully running for a seat in the U.S. Congress. In his first bid for office during 1974, a bad year for Republicans because of Nixon’s resignation and the Watergate scandal, Newt nearly defeated Democrat Jack Flynt, a 20-year incumbent, losing by only 2,770 votes.
CONGRESS:
In November, 1978 at the age of 35 he won his first of many elections and the following January, was duly sworn in to his seat as the representative from Georgia’s 6th congressional district. Newt held this post until he resigned 20 years later after being cleared by a congressional ethics committee.
Possessing significant leadership skills, Newt’s time in congress can attest to the many bills he sponsored or helped legislate. Early on in his Tenure, Newt co-founded the Congressional Military Reform Caucus (MRC) as well as the Congressional Aviation and Space Caucus. He also supported a proposal to ban loans from the International Monetary Fund to Communist countries and he endorsed a bill to make Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a national holiday
In March 1989, Gingrich became the House Minority Whip This was Gingrich’s first formal position of power within the Republican party During his time in this position he railed against what he and other Republican’s saw as ethical lapses under Democratic control for almost 40 years
During the 1994 mid-term election season, Newt and several other Republicans came up with a Contract with America, many policies that Republicans promised to accomplish in the new Congress. Issues such as welfare reform, term limits, tougher crime laws, and a balanced budget law, and many others were in the workings.
That November, Republicans gained 54 seats and took control of the House for the first time since 1954. Newt was credited and he became the Speaker of The House.
Within the first 100 days of the new congress Newt’s “Contract With America” was fulfilled and the House passed his bills. In 1996, the Republican majority in congress was re-elected. During his remaining time as Speaker of The House, many significant Bills were passed including the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which was intended to reconstruct the welfare system.
A key aspect of the Contract with America was the promise of a balanced federal budget President Clinton signed the budget legislation in August 1997. At the signing, Gingrich gave credit to ordinary Americans stating, “It was their political will that brought the two parties together.” In early 1998, with the economy performing better than expected, increased tax revenues helped reduce the federal budget deficit to below $25 billion. Gingrich then called upon President Clinton to submit a balanced budget for 1999—three years ahead of schedule—which Clinton did, making it the first time the federal budget had been balanced since 1969
During 1997 President Clinton signed into effect the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which included the largest capital gains tax cut in U.S. history Gingrich has been credited with creating the agenda for the reduction in capital gains tax, especially in the “Contract with America”
Eighty-four ethics charges were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term in office. Following an investigation by the House Ethics Committee Gingrich was sanctioned US$300,000 In 1999, the IRS cleared Newt’sorganizations connected with the “Renewing American Civilization” courses under investigation for possible tax violations.
On November 5, 1998 only a day after being elected to an 11th term from his district, Newt announced that he would not only stand down as Speaker, but would leave the House as well. Newt 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.”
POST CONGRESS:
Gingrich has since remained involved in and comments upon national politics and is highly involved in many public policy debates, especially on issues regarding healthcare, national security, and fighting for recognition of the role of religion in American public life.
A FEW QUICK FACTS:
*Is a dinosaur enthusiast
*Has authored 18 books
*Was married 3 times
*Advocates space exploration
*Writes book reviews for Amazon.com
*Believes that the United States has become too secular
* Favors a strong immigration border policy and a guest worker program
* Identified education as “the number one factor in our future prosperity”
To read more about the views of this most interesting public figure it would be worthwhile to read two of his books:
1) “Rediscovering God in America”, in which Newt writes that the Founding Fathers intended the United States to not only allow, but encourage, public religious expression.
2) To Save America, where Newt espouses his conservative approach.
Focus: Meet A Republican Front Runner: Newt Gingrich
This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].
Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**
**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**
Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.
Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**
**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**
Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.
13 COMMENTS
Comments are closed.
I hate it when TLS abandons Lakewood and delves into national politic.
Will he help with Yeshiva tuition ? And will he lower property taxes?
Yeshiva tuition- what about senior taxes.
to #2
he is running for national office not local office. i doubt any polotician can do anything about yeshiva tuition.
to the 3 previous posts #! 1 & #2 & #3, voting for the next President that will run this country has absolutely nothing to do with your concerns . take off your blinders and look beyond your narrow vision
Married three times… this guy is no different than Clinton . Do we want another eight years of that ?
Hey #6
where do you get “eight years of that ?” The office is only four years, with your thinking Obama still has 5 years to go.
This election is important, either 4 more years of this or 4 years in another direction…. not sure what is better but what we have now isn’t working very well.
“I hate it when TLS abandons Lakewood…” The only thing abandoned here is the matter found within your cranium.
What an utter display of the naivete and selfishness of someone as yourself.
This election has everything to do with us. Are you pro-socialism or capitalism? Are you pro-Israel or anti-Israel? Do you want more or less government in your life?
You, oyyyyy, are a bore and a boar and a boor.
oy ye foolish folk. The country is a mess. This is just as much a lakewood issue as it is a national issue. We need a new leader. As far as his 3 marriages, who cares as long as he can lead the country out of this financial mess. Look at his long list of accomplishments before zeroing in on his personal issues.
“OMG, this guy was married three times, do we want that again?”
You sound like a baby. If it was a choice between him and Obama, who do you choose?
(Besides for the fact that Clinton LIED about it. Gingrich admitted it)
Stop pounding on every human weakness of the Republican candidate, because if it’s not him, it’ll be four more years of Obama. Do you want that???
Obama in his second term will openly support the leftists of the world and the Muslim Brotherhood, he will forment world wide revolutions which will bring about a total collapse of the world as we know it, the entire world will become very dangerous, as leftists and anarchists take over the world.
Our own beloved US of A will turn into a third world country with the total collapse of the economy and the dollar, and the Occupy Wall St crowd will be the new leaders of our country. Look for hyper inflation, social unrest, a complete breakdown of the social order, antisemitism, poverty, massive layoffs, a complete breakdown of the health care industry, implementation of the EPA-run police state, absolute gun control and leaving citizens without any means to defend themselves, all illegal alins becoming voting citizens and voting for the complete transfer of wealth from American citizens to the new permanent underclass, total loss of jobs for anyone expecting more than minimum wage, etc etc etc
Obama hasn’t fully implemented his “hope and change” yet, because he still wants to get reelected. Once he is reelected, there is nothing more to stop him.
All this can be stopped if we vote for the man who married three times – Newt Gingrich.
It’s your choice. Vote with your head, or vote with your emotions.
Your kids and grandkids depend on the one vote that can still save the country – NOV 2012
obama seems to have a good marriage and nice family and his presidential ability stinks!!
so that might not be the best criteria for choosing a president.
Let’s see. Pres Obama has rescued the American Auto Industry and our financial system. He prevented a full blown Depression. Over 20 Terrorist leaders have been killed including Osam Bin Ladin. He is bringing two wars to a conclusion. He has implemented a health care system that will serve all Americans. He forced the oil companies to pay for the damage they caused in the Gulf of Mexico while the Republicans apologized to them. He has shown, by example, how a President should behave as a husband and father. He has been frustrated by a Republican Congress which has been been the most obstructionist group in our history. The Stock Market has risen from 6,200 in 3/29 to over 12,000. Pretty good for less than 3 years in office.
Well done TLS. This is an appropriate reminder as to why conservatism is needed. Newt is now ready, willing, and able to lead the nation back to prosperity.