Newt Gingrich Biography
Newt Gingrich is an American former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, author and a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination working for FOX NEWS as a political contributor. He joined the FOX news team in 1999, after previously working as a former Speaker of the House.
Newt Gingrich Career
In 1961, Gingrich graduated from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Emory University in Atlanta in 1965 and pursued graduate studies at Tulane University, obtaining an M.A. in 1968 and a Ph.D. in European history in 1971. During 1969–1970, he spent six months in Brussels working on his dissertation, titled “Belgian Education Policy in the Congo 1945–1960.” He received deferments from military service during the Vietnam War due to being a student and a father. Despite this, he later expressed a sense that he should have participated. In 1970, he joined the history department at West Georgia College, initially spending limited time teaching history. He later transitioned to the geography department in 1976, where he coordinated a new environmental studies program.
Throughout this period, he took unpaid leaves three times to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, facing initial defeats before eventually leaving the college. His departure in 1977 resulted from being denied tenure. Moreover, he served as the southern regional director for Nelson Rockefeller in the 1968 Republican primaries. He made his first bid for political office in 1974 as the Republican candidate in Georgia’s 6th congressional district, facing 20-year incumbent Democrat Jack Flynt. Despite losing by 2,770 votes, Gingrich’s relative success surprised political analysts given Flynt’s lack of prior serious challengers. Additionally, he sought a rematch in 1976 but lost again. However, in 1978, after Flynt’s retirement, he defeated Democratic State Senator Virginia Shapard by 7,500 votes. He was re-elected five times from this district before redistricting modified it.
In 1981, he co-founded the Military Reform Caucus (MRC) and the Congressional Aviation and Space Caucus. He played a role in the 1983 congressional page sex scandal and supported various conservative causes. In 1983, he founded the Conservative Opportunity Society (COS), a group of young conservative House Republicans. His influence grew, and in March 1989, he became House Minority Whip. During this time, he was involved in talks about the Panama Canal’s administration and was a vocal critic of giving control to the Panamanian dictatorship. Additionally, he gained prominence during the House banking scandal and the Congressional Post Office scandal in 1992. His successful efforts against Democratic Speaker Jim Wright contributed to his rising influence.
In 1990, he played a key role in the government shutdown following disagreements on a deficit reduction package. Due to redistricting in 1992, his district was eliminated, but he won a new seat in the heavily Republican 6th district. In the 1994 campaign, he and other Republicans crafted the Contract with America, outlining policies they promised to bring to a vote if elected to the House of Representatives. This initiative aimed to provide an alternative to Democratic policies and unite the Republican Party. In the November 1994 midterm elections, Republicans secured a substantial victory by gaining 54 seats and assuming control of the House for the first time since 1954. With the long-time House Minority Leader, Bob Michel of Illinois, opting not to seek re-election, Gingrich, as the highest-ranking Republican returning to Congress, was poised to become Speaker.
The midterm election, which shifted congressional power to Republicans, was deemed a transformative moment that “changed the center of gravity” in the nation’s capital. Gingrich’s pivotal role in the election earned him the title of Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 1995. In the summer of 1997, a faction of House Republicans sought to replace him as Speaker, citing concerns about his public image as a liability. This attempted “coup” was set in motion on July 9, initiated by a meeting involving Republican conference chairman John Boehner of Ohio and Republican leadership chairman Bill Paxon of New York. Their plan involved presenting an ultimatum to him, orchestrated by House Majority Leader Dick Armey and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay: either resign voluntarily or face a vote for removal. However, Armey hesitated when it came to the proposal of making Paxon the new Speaker.
Consequently, he instructed his chief of staff to warn him of the brewing challenge. On July 11, Gingrich met with senior Republican leadership to assess the situation and made it clear that he would not step down under any circumstances. He emphasized that if a vote were to take place, it would lead to a new election for Speaker, potentially resulting in Democrats and dissenting Republicans voting for Democrat Dick Gephardt. By July 16, Paxon, feeling that he had mishandled the situation, offered to resign his post. As the only member of the leadership appointed to his position by Gingrich rather than elected, Paxon’s resignation was accepted, and he was directed to immediately vacate his leadership office space.
Gingrich has since remained involved in national politics and public policy debate. In 2003, he founded the Center for Health Transformation. He expressed support for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which established the Medicare Part D federal prescription drugs benefit program. Despite criticism from some conservatives due to its cost, he maintained his belief in the collective responsibility to contribute to healthcare expenses. In a May 15, 2011, interview on Meet the Press, he suggested achieving this through either a mandate for health insurance or a requirement to post a bond for coverage. In the same interview, he emphasized his opposition to both right-wing and left-wing social engineering, stating that radical changes from either side are not conducive to a free society. This stance drew backlash within the Republican Party.
He collaborated with Hillary Clinton in 2005 to introduce the proposed 21st Century Health Information Act, a bill aiming to replace paperwork with confidential electronic health information networks. Additionally, he also co-chaired an independent congressional study group formed in 2007 to assess the efforts within the U.S. to combat Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, he served on various commissions, including the Hart-Rudman Commission (U.S. Commission on National Security/21st century), which examined national security issues affecting armed forces, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. In 2005, he became the co-chair of a task force for UN reform, focused on developing a plan for the U.S. to strengthen the UN. For over two decades, he taught at the United States Air Force’s Air University. Holding the record as the longest-serving teacher of the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course as of 2010.
He also served as an honorary distinguished visiting scholar and professor at the National Defense University and, as of 2012, taught officers from all defense services. Furthermore, he provided informal advice to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on strategic matters, including the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and advocated for the Pentagon to maintain influence in foreign policy. Additionally, he is a guiding coalition member of the Project on National Security Reform. He also founded and chaired American Solutions for Winning the Future, a 527 group established in 2007. This fundraising entity, backed by major donors like Sheldon Adelson and Peabody Energy, raised $52 million and advocated for deregulation, increased offshore oil drilling, and other fossil-fuel extraction. It also opposed the Employee Free Choice Act. The group, described as a “fundraising juggernaut,” supported his causes, promoted his books, and funded his travel. American Solutions ceased operations in 2011 after Gingrich’s departure.
Among other organizations and companies founded or chaired by Gingrich are the creative production company Gingrich Productions and the religious educational organization Renewing American Leadership. He is a former member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow at conservative think tanks, including the American Enterprise Institute and Hoover Institution. Furthermore, he serves as a commentator, guest, or panel member on cable news shows, particularly the Fox News Channel, where he is listed as a contributor. He has also hosted occasional specials for Fox News. He also pledged support for promoting Six Sigma methods to reduce government spending through the “Strong America Now” initiative.
Gingrich, along with former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy and Van Jones, co-founded Advocates for Opioid Recovery. After leaving Congress in 1999, he initiated several for-profit companies between 2001 and 2010, generating revenues of almost $100 million for the companies he and his wife owned. As of 2015, he served as an advisor to the Canadian mining company Barrick Gold. Additionally, he is the host of the “Newt’s World” podcast. The podcast aims to provide context to today’s world through entertaining stories and conversations. Furthermore, he has authored numerous books, including both fiction and nonfiction works. Some of his books, such as “Understanding Trump” and “Trump’s America: The Truth About Our Nation’s Great Comeback,” have become New York Times bestsellers.
Newt Gingrich Salary
Gingrich earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Newt Gingrich Net Worth
Gingrich has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which he has earned through his career as a politician.
Newt Gingrich Age
Gingrich was born on June 17, 1943, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania United States. He is 80 years old as of 2023, and he celebrates his birthday on the 17th of June every year.
Newt Gingrich Height and Weight
Gingrich stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Newt Gingrich Family
Gingrich is the son of Kathleen “Kit” née Daugherty who passed away in 2003 and Newton Searles McPherson who passed away in 1970. They got married in September 1942 and the marriage fell apart within days. His mother married Robert Gingrich in 1946, who adopted him. He also has a half-sister and half-brother, Randy McPherson, from his biological father’s side. He passed away in 1996, and he also has three younger half-siblings from his mother, Candace and Susan Gingrich, and Roberta Brown.
Newt Gingrich Wife
Gingrich has been married three times. His first marriage was to Jacqueline May “Jackie” Battley in 1962 when he was 19 and she was 26. During his congressional campaign in 1974, Gingrich had an affair with a young volunteer. In 1980, he filed for divorce from Jackie and began a relationship with Marianne Ginther, whom he eventually married. Jackie, diagnosed with uterine cancer, reportedly found out about the divorce plans during a hospital visit after her surgery. Although Gingrich’s campaign staff claimed that Jackie had requested the divorce, court documents suggested otherwise. Jackie filed a petition stating that she did not desire a divorce at that time.
Following the divorce, Jackie had financial difficulties, raising money from friends in her congregation to support herself and the children. Gingrich provided $400 a month, and in court, he claimed not to afford more. However, in 1981, a judge ordered him to provide more financial support. In 1993, Jackie stated that Gingrich had not obeyed the 1981 order from the day it was issued. Jackie Battley Gingrich died in 2013 at the age of 77. In 1981, six months after his divorce from Jackie was finalized, Gingrich married Marianne Ginther. Marianne played a role in managing their finances to address their debts. However, she was not keen on having the public life associated with being a politician’s wife. Gingrich’s daughter Kathy described the marriage as “difficult.”
In 1993, while still married to Marianne, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer Callista Bisek, who was more than two decades his junior. He continued this affair even as he led the impeachment of Bill Clinton for perjury related to Clinton’s extramarital affair. Furthermore, he filed for divorce from Marianne in 1999, a few months after she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The marriage with Marianne produced no children. On January 19, 2012, in an interview on ABC’s Nightline, Marianne alleged that she had declined to accept Gingrich’s suggestion of an open marriage. Gingrich disputed this account.
In August 2000, Gingrich married Callista Bisek, four months after his divorce from Marianne was finalized. He and Callista live in McLean, Virginia. In December 2011, after the group Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government requested that he sign their “Marriage Vow,” Gingrich sent a lengthy written response, including his pledge to “uphold personal fidelity to my spouse.”
Newt Gingrich Children
Gingrich has two daughters, Kathy and Jackie Sue from his first marriage with Jacqueline May “Jackie” Battley.
Newt Gingrich Presidential Run
In late 2008, political commentators, including Marc Ambinder and Robert Novak, identified Gingrich as a top contender for the 2012 presidential election. He officially announced his exploration of a potential presidential run in March 2011 and later declared his candidacy on May 11, 2011. However, his campaign faced challenges, including the departure of senior aides in June 2011, raising doubts about its viability. Despite setbacks, he demonstrated resilience, citing his experience and commitment to building Republican majorities.
After gaining support following Herman Cain’s withdrawal amid harassment allegations, he became a leading candidate. By December 2011, he was leading in national polls. However, negative ads and strong debate performances by opponents led to a decline in his polling numbers. In the Iowa caucuses, he finished fourth, and in the New Hampshire primary, he finished fifth. After victories in the South Carolina primary and Georgia, his campaign faced setbacks in Florida, where he placed second. On Super Tuesday, he won Georgia but struggled in other states.
As the primary continued, Santorum urged Gingrich to drop out, but he persisted. After Santorum suspended his campaign in April, Gingrich, facing campaign debt, suspended his campaign on May 2, 2012, and endorsed Mitt Romney. Despite not formally dissolving, Gingrich’s campaign faced financial challenges, with outstanding debt reaching $4.6 million in 2016. The FEC rejected a proposal to shut down without settling the debt.
Newt Gingrich Speaker of The House
The House fulfilled Gingrich’s commitment to bring all ten of the Contract’s issues to a vote within the first 100 days of the session. President Clinton, however, referred to it as the “Contract on America.” Proposed legislation by the 104th United States Congress, under Gingrich’s leadership, included measures such as term limits for Congressional Representatives, tax cuts, welfare reform, and a balanced budget amendment. The agenda also encompassed independent auditing of the House of Representatives finances and the elimination of non-essential services, including the House barbershop and shoe-shine concessions. After his initial two years as House Speaker, the Republican majority secured re-election in the 1996 election, marking the first time Republicans had achieved such a feat in 68 years and the first instance of simultaneous re-election with a Democratic president.
During his tenure as Speaker, he aimed to increasingly align Christian conservatism with the Republican Party. By 2000, Christian conservatism had become deeply embedded in the Republican Party’s policy platforms, according to a 2018 study. Yale University congressional scholar David Mayhew characterized him as profoundly influential, noting, “In Gingrich, we have as good a case as we are likely to see of a member of Congress operating in the public sphere with consequence.” In 1997, Speaker Gingrich visited Taiwan and mainland China, including Beijing.
FOX NEWS
While working for FOX NEWS Gingrich co-works alongside:
Social Media Platform
Gingrich is very active on his Twitter and Instagram pages. He has 2.4M followers on and Twitter 276.6k followers on Instagram.