Newt Gingrich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newt Gingrich
Official portrait, c. 1995-1999
50th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Tom Foley
Succeeded by	Dennis Hastert
Leader of the House Republican Conference
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Robert H. Michel
Succeeded by	Dennis Hastert
House Minority Whip
In office March 20, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Leader	Robert H. Michel
Preceded by	Dick Cheney
Succeeded by	David Bonior
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 6th district
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	John Flynt
Succeeded by	Johnny Isakson
Personal details
Born	Newton Leroy McPherson (1943-06-17) June 17, 1943 (age 82) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Jackie Battley ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1981)​ Marianne Ginther ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2000)​ Callista Bisek ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	2
Relatives	Candace Gingrich (maternal half-sibling)
Education	Emory University (BA) Tulane University (MA, PhD)
Signature

Newton Leroy Gingrich (born June 17, 1943) is an American politician and author. He was the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Georgia's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 until 1999. In 2012, Gingrich ran for president but did not win the Republican nomination.

Early Life and Education

Gingrich as a young history professor

Newt Gingrich was born as Newton Leroy McPherson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1943. His mother, Kathleen, married his biological father, Newton Searles McPherson, in 1942. Their marriage ended quickly.

In 1946, his mother married Robert Gingrich, who adopted Newt. Robert Gingrich was an Army officer. Newt's family moved to Europe in 1956, living in France and Germany.

Newt has three younger half-sisters from his mother: Candace, Susan Gingrich, and Roberta Brown. He grew up in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, and on military bases. In 1960, his family moved to Georgia.

In 1961, Gingrich graduated from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. He became interested in politics when he was a teenager. When he lived in France, he visited the site of the Battle of Verdun. This visit taught him about the importance of good political leaders.

Gingrich earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Emory University in 1965. He then studied at Tulane University, where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1968 and a PhD in European history in 1971.

In 1970, Gingrich started working in the history department at West Georgia College. He also helped create a new environmental studies program. He took time off from teaching to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He left the college in 1977.

Political Career Highlights

Gingrich traveling with President Ronald Reagan aboard Air Force One in August 1983

Gingrich meets with President Reagan in the Oval Office in May 1985

Gingrich sits alongside First Lady Barbara Bush in December 1989

Gingrich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1978. He was the first Republican to win in Georgia's 6th congressional district. He served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995. This role meant he helped lead the Republican Party in the House when they were not the majority.

In 1994, Gingrich and other Republicans created the Contract with America. This was a plan with 10 policy ideas they promised to vote on if they won the election. The contract included ideas about welfare reform, term limits, crime, and a balanced budget.

Gingrich was a key leader in the Republican Party's big win in the 1994 congressional election. In 1995, Time magazine named him "Man of the Year." This was because he helped end the Democratic Party's control of the House, which had lasted for 40 years.

Speaker of the House (1995 – 1999)

Official portrait of Speaker Gingrich

Senator Bob Dole, Vice President Al Gore, President Clinton and Gingrich meet for budget talks in December 1995

Vice President Gore, Gingrich and President Clinton at the 1997 State of the Union Address

Dick Gephardt tried to replace Gingrich as Speaker of the House

As Speaker of the House, Gingrich helped pass important laws. These included changes to welfare and a tax cut in 1997. He was involved in several government shutdowns. He also led the effort to impeach President Bill Clinton.

Republicans did not do well in the 1998 congressional elections. Also, the House gave Gingrich a formal warning for breaking a rule. Because of these reasons, and pressure from other Republicans, Gingrich resigned as Speaker on November 6, 1998. He left the House of Representatives completely on January 3, 1999.

After Being Speaker

Gingrich poses with soldiers during a visit to Kuwait in February 2003

Gingrich presenting his 21st Century Contract with America in Iowa in September 2011

Gingrich speaking at CPAC in February 2012

Gingrich and his wife alongside President Donald Trump in October 2017

Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Gingrich and Al Sharpton meet with President Barack Obama in May 2009

After leaving the House, Gingrich continued to be active in public discussions. He worked as a political consultant. He also started several policy groups called think tanks. These included American Solutions for Winning the Future.

Gingrich ran for president in 2012. He was a strong candidate at times, even winning the South Carolina primary. However, he did not win enough primary elections to continue his campaign. He stopped running in May 2012 and supported Mitt Romney.

As of August 2022, Gingrich was advising Kevin McCarthy and other House Republicans for the 2022 midterm elections.

Political Ideas

Gingrich in 2014, speaking to a group of conservatives

Gingrich and Congressmen Jay Kim and Ed Royce face North Korea from the Joint Security Area in 1997

Gingrich believes in having strong borders for immigration. He also supports a program that allows temporary workers to come to the U.S. for jobs.

When it comes to energy, he has supported using flex-fuel in cars sold in the U.S. He has also promoted the use of ethanol, which is a type of fuel made from plants.

Personal Life

Gingrich has been married three times. In 1962, he married Jacqueline May "Jackie" Battley. She was his former high school math teacher. They had two daughters, Kathy and Jackie Sue. Kathy is now president of Gingrich Communications. Jackie Sue is an author and political writer. Jackie Battley passed away in 2013.

In 1981, Gingrich married Marianne Ginther. Marianne helped them manage their money.

Callista and Newt Gingrich at the 2012 Republican National Convention

Gingrich married Callista Bisek in August 2000. He and Callista live in McLean, Virginia.

Other Interests

Gingrich feeds an apple to a black rhinoceros at Zoo Atlanta

Gingrich says that Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States influenced him.

Gingrich is very interested in animals. His first time speaking to a city council was to ask them to create a zoo in his hometown. He has visited over 100 zoos.

He is also very interested in space exploration. This interest began when he was a teenager, during the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Gingrich wants the U.S. to achieve new things in space. He believes that private companies, not just NASA, should lead this progress. Since 2010, he has been on the Board of Governors for the National Space Society.

Books and Films

Gingrich has written many books, both non-fiction and fiction.

Nonfiction Books

• The Government's Role in Solving Societal Problems (1982)
• Window of Opportunity (1985)
• Contract with America (co-editor, 1994)
• Restoring the Dream (1995)
• Quotations from Speaker Newt (1995)
• To Renew America (1996)
• Lessons Learned The Hard Way (1998)
• Saving Lives and Saving Money (2003)
• Winning the Future (2005)
• Rediscovering God in America (2006)
• The Art of Transformation (with Nancy Desmond, 2006)
• A Contract with the Earth (with Terry L. Maple, 2007)
• Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works (2008)
• Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less (with Vince Haley, 2008)
• 5 Principles for a Successful Life (with Jackie Gingrich Cushman, 2009)
• To Save America (with Joe DeSantis, 2010)
• Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny (2011)
• A Nation Like No Other (2011)
• Breakout: Pioneers of the Future, Prison Guards of the Past, and the Epic Battle That Will Decide America's Fate (2013)
• Understanding Trump (2017)
• Trump's America: The Truth about Our Nation's Great Comeback (2018)
• Trump vs China: America's Greatest Challenge (2019)
• Trump and the American Future: Solving the Great Problems of Our Time (2020)
• Beyond Biden: Rebuilding the America We Love (2021)
• Defeating Big Government Socialism (2022)
• March to the Majority: The Real Story of the Republican Revolution (2023)

Fiction Books

Gingrich has also co-written several fiction novels, often with William R. Forstchen. These include:

• 1945 (1995)
• Civil War series: Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War (2003), Grant Comes East (2004), Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory (2005), The Battle of the Crater: A Novel (2011)
• Pacific War series: Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8 (2007), Days of Infamy (2008)
• Revolutionary War series: To Try Men's Souls (2009), Valley Forge (2010), Victory at Yorktown (2012)
• Brooke Grant series (with Pete Earley): Duplicity (2015), Treason (2016), Vengeance (2017)
• Mayberry and Garrett series (with Pete Earley): Collusion (2019), Shakedown (2020)

Films

• Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny (2009)
• Nine Days That Changed the World (2010)

See Also

In Spanish: Newt Gingrich para niños

• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded