Editing Newt Gingrich (section)

== Personal life ==

=== Marriages and children ===
==== Jacqueline May "Jackie" Battley ====
Gingrich has been married three times. In 1962, he wed Jacqueline May "Jackie" Battley (February 21, 1936 – August 7, 2013), his former high school [[geometry]] teacher, when he was 19 years old and she was 26.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russakoff |first=Dale |title=He Knew What He Wanted; Gingrich Turned Disparate Lessons into a Single-Minded Goal Series: Mr. Speaker: The Rise of Newt Gingrich Series Number: 1/4 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=A1 |date=December 18, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gingrich May Be Perfect for the Task |newspaper=[[Montgomery Advertiser]] |url=http://www.majorcox.com/columns/gingrich.htm |last=Cox |first=Major W. |date=January 4, 1995|archive-date=October 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008062531/http://majorcox.com/columns/gingrich.htm}}</ref> They had two daughters: Kathy, who is president of Gingrich Communications,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/02/fox-less-newt-remains-gainfully-employed |title=Fox-less Newt remains gainfully employed |first=Robert |last=Yoon |date=March 2, 2011 |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304015448/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/02/fox-less-newt-remains-gainfully-employed/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Jackie Sue, who is an author, conservative columnist and political commentator.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://townhall.com/columnists/jackiegingrichcushman/|title=Jackie Gingrich Cushman - Articles & Political Commentary - Jackie Gingrich Cushman|website=Townhall|access-date=July 15, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715224002/https://townhall.com/columnists/jackiegingrichcushman/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/25/style/weddings-jackie-gingrich-j-e-cushman-jr.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 25, 1998 |title=WEDDINGS; Jackie Gingrich, J. E. Cushman Jr. |access-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731222630/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/25/style/weddings-jackie-gingrich-j-e-cushman-jr.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout his congressional campaign in 1974, Gingrich was having an affair with a young volunteer. An aide who worked with Gingrich throughout the 1970s stated that "it was common knowledge that Newt was involved with other women during his marriage to Jackie."<ref name="Vanity Fair"/><ref name=motherjones>{{cite web |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1984/11/newt-gingrich-shining-knight-post-reagan-right/ |newspaper=Mother Jones |date=November 1, 1984 |title=The Swinging Days of Newt Gingrich |access-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731222630/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1984/11/newt-gingrich-shining-knight-post-reagan-right/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the spring of 1980, he filed for divorce from Jackie after beginning an affair with Marianne Ginther.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gingrich Admits to Affair During Clinton Impeachment |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2937633 |access-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107182959/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2937633 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Newt Gingrich: The Indispensable Republican |magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a8131/newt-gingrich-0910/ |first=John |last=Richardson |date=August 10, 2010 |access-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104001148/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a8131/newt-gingrich-0910/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackie later said in 1984 that the divorce was a "complete surprise" to her.<ref name="maverick">{{cite news |title=Newt Gingrich, Maverick on the Hill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/01/03/newt-gingrich-maverick-on-the-hill/46aab64f-7752-493d-b28b-9b675c0775b5/ |first=Lois |last=Romano |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 3, 1985}}</ref>

In September 1980, according to friends who knew them both, Newt visited Jackie in the hospital the day after she had undergone surgery to treat her [[uterine cancer]]; once there, Newt began talking about the terms of their divorce, at which point Jackie threw him out of the room.<ref name=seelye/><ref name="maverick"/> Gingrich disputed that account.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news|title=On the Stump, Gingrich Puts Focus on Faith|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/politics/27newt-gingrich.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 26, 2011|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119104922/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/politics/27newt-gingrich.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Newt's presidential campaign staff continued to insist in 2011 that Jackie had requested the divorce, court documents from [[Carroll County, Georgia]], indicated that she had in fact asked a judge to block the process, stating that although "she has adequate and ample grounds for divorce ... she does not desire one at this time [and] does not admit that this marriage is irretrievably broken."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/26/politics/gingrich-divorce-file|title=Newly recovered court files cast doubt on Gingrich version of first divorce|date=December 25, 2011|first=Alan|last=Duke|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-date=December 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226173304/http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/26/politics/gingrich-divorce-file/|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to L. H. Carter, Gingrich's campaign treasurer, Gingrich said of Jackie: "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of the President. And besides, she has cancer."<ref name=scheer>{{cite news |title=Gingrich Puts a Price on His Family Values: He sheltered his $4-million book bonanza from his struggling, non-trophy ex-wife |date=December 25, 1994 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-25-op-12904-story.html |first=Robert |last=Scheer |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228001825/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-25/opinion/op-12904_1_family-values |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Calmes |first=Jackie |title=Newt's House: Republicans' Wins Put their Attack Tactician in a Position to Lead—Gingrich, Having Led Assault on Capital Ways, Faces Unfamiliar Role: Builder—'This Is a Brand New World |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=November 9, 1994 |author2=Kuntz, Phil |page=A1}}</ref> Newt has denied saying it.<ref name=seelye>{{cite news |author=Seelye, Katharine Q.|date=November 24, 1994 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/24/us/gingrich-s-life-the-complications-and-ideals.html |title=Gingrich's Life: The Complications and Ideals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804035244/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/24/us/gingrich-s-life-the-complications-and-ideals.html |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Following the divorce, Jackie had to raise money from friends in her congregation to help her and the children make ends meet; she later filed a petition in court stating that Newt had failed to properly provide for his family.<ref name=motherjones/> Newt submitted a financial statement to the judge, which showed that he had been "providing only $400 a month, plus $40 in allowances for his daughters. He claimed not to be able to afford any more. But in citing his own expenses, he listed $400 just for 'Food / dry cleaning, etc.'—for one person."<ref name=motherjones/> In 1981, a judge ordered him to provide considerably more; in 1993, Jackie stated in court that Newt had failed to obey the 1981 order "from the day it was issued."<ref name=scheer/> Jackie, a [[deacon]] and volunteer in the First Baptist Church of [[Carrollton, Georgia]], died in 2013 in [[Atlanta]] at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/political-insider/2013/aug/07/jackie-gingrich-first-wife-former-us-house-speaker/ |title=Jackie Gingrich, first wife of former U.S. House speaker, dies |date=August 7, 2013 |first=Jim |last=Galloway |newspaper=ajc.com |access-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223092708/http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/political-insider/2013/aug/07/jackie-gingrich-first-wife-former-us-house-speaker/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Marianne Ginther ====
In 1981, six months after his divorce from Jackie was final, Gingrich wed Marianne Ginther.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Good Newtgooge, Bad Newt |first=Peter J. |last=Boyer |date=July 1989 |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/boyernewt1.html |access-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917091055/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/boyernewt1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Gingrich confession: Clearing the way for a 2008 run? |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/09/gingrich.schneider/index.html |date=March 9, 2007 |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-date=March 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326025313/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/09/gingrich.schneider/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="blogs.cbn.com">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2011/03/08/newt-gingrich-tells-brody-file-he-felt-compelled-to-seek.aspx |title=Newt Gingrich tells The Brody File he 'felt compelled to seek God's forgiveness' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104213541/http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2011/03/08/newt-gingrich-tells-brody-file-he-felt-compelled-to-seek.aspx |archive-date=January 4, 2016 |work=The Brody File, Christian Broadcasting Network blog |date=March 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{cite news |author=McCaffrey, Shannon |date=March 9, 2011 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-us-newt-gingrich-2012,0,624356.story |title=Newt Gingrich says his passion for his country contributed to his marital infidelity |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405185405/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-us-newt-gingrich-2012%2C0%2C624356.story |archive-date=April 5, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> Marianne helped control their finances to get them out of debt.<ref>{{cite news |author=Fritz, Sara |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66441538.html?dids=66441538:66441538&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+26%2C+1989&author=SARA+FRITZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Made+Money+From+Book%2C+Gingrich+Says&pqatl=google |title=Made money from book, Gingrich says |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702161917/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66441538.html?dids=66441538%3A66441538&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Apr%2026%2C%201989&author=SARA%20FRITZ&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times%20%28pre-1997%20Fulltext%29&desc=Made%20Money%20From%20Book%2C%20Gingrich%20Says&pqatl=google |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 26, 1989}}</ref> She did not, however, want to have the public life of a politician's wife.<ref name="Vanity Fair">{{cite magazine |author=Sheehy, Gail |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/vanityfair1.html |title=The Inner Quest of Newt Gingrich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423145019/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/vanityfair1.html |archive-date=April 23, 2016 |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=September 1995}}</ref> His daughter Kathy described the marriage as "difficult".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-jan-19-la-marianne-gingrich-on-nightline-20120119-story.html |title=Newt Gingrich's ex-wife talks end of marriage |first=Paul |last=West |date=January 19, 2012 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124152606/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/19/news/la-marianne-gingrich-on-nightline-20120119 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Callista Bisek ====
[[File:Newt and Callista Gingrich 2012 RNC (7898358692) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Callista Gingrich|Callista]] and Newt Gingrich at the [[2012 Republican National Convention]]]]

In 1993, while still married to Marianne, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer [[Callista Gingrich|Callista Bisek]], more than two decades his junior.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/11/11/gingrich-friend-dates-affair-to-93/ |title=Gingrich Friend Dates Affair To '93 |date=November 11, 1999 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-date=January 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116010309/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-11-11/news/9911110139_1_callista-bisek-georgia-republican-house-speaker-newt-gingrich |url-status=live }}</ref> Gingrich was having this affair even as he led the [[impeachment of Bill Clinton]] for perjury related to Clinton's own extramarital affair.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2937633&page=1 |title=Gingrich admits to affair during Clinton impeachment |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|first=Jake |last=Tapper |date=March 9, 2007 |access-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301045208/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2937633&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Fox News"/> Gingrich filed for divorce from Marianne in 1999, a few months after she had been diagnosed with [[multiple sclerosis]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theweek.com/articles/491953/newt-gingrich-5-juiciest-details-from-exwife |title=Newt Gingrich: The 5 juiciest details from his ex-wife |website=[[The Week]] |date=August 11, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010205319/https://theweek.com/articles/491953/newt-gingrich-5-juiciest-details-from-exwife |url-status=live }}</ref> The marriage produced no children. On January 19, 2012, Marianne alleged in an interview on ABC's ''Nightline'' that she had declined to accept Newt's suggestion of an [[open marriage]].<ref name=NYTOpen>{{cite news |title=Former Gingrich Wife Says He Asked for 'Open Marriage{{'-}} |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/former-gingrich-wife-says-he-asked-for-open-marriage |access-date=January 19, 2012 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 19, 2013 |author=Gabriel, Trip |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119182329/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/former-gingrich-wife-says-he-asked-for-open-marriage/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Newt disputed the account.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/politics/gop-debate/index.html |title=Gingrich delivers show-stopper at beginning of South Carolina debate |last1=Streitfeld |first1=Rachel |last2=Steinhauser |first2=Paul |date=January 20, 2012 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121011859/http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/politics/gop-debate/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2000, Gingrich married Callista Bisek four months after his divorce from Marianne was finalized.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Timeline–Newt Gingrich's Marriages |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/timeline-newt-gingrichs-marriages/ |date=January 19, 2012 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326053555/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/timeline-newt-gingrichs-marriages/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He and Callista live in [[McLean, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Callista Gingrich |publisher=Newt.org |url=http://www.newt.org/team/callista-gingrich-biography |year=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102044220/http://www.newt.org/team/callista-gingrich-biography |archive-date=January 2, 2011 |access-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref>

In a 2011 interview with David Brody of the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]], Gingrich addressed his past infidelities by saying, "There's no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate."<ref name="blogs.cbn.com" /><ref name="chicagotribune.com" /> In December 2011, after the group Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government requested that he sign their so-called "Marriage Vow", Gingrich sent a lengthy written response. It included his pledge to "uphold personal fidelity to my spouse".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/newt-gingrich-pledges-personal-fidelity-to-my-spouse |title=Newt Gingrich Pledges 'Personal Fidelity to My Spouse{{'-}} |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=December 12, 2011 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219171026/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/newt-gingrich-pledges-personal-fidelity-to-my-spouse/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[Image:Benedict XVI in Washington 1.JPG|thumb|right|Gingrich says that Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States influenced him to convert to Catholicism.]]
Raised as a [[Lutheran]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/religion-politics120811/religion-politics120811/ |title=Religion still affects voters' views of candidates |publisher=The Republic |date=December 8, 2011 |access-date=December 28, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Gingrich was a [[Southern Baptist]] in graduate school. He converted to [[Catholicism]], the faith of his third wife Callista Bisek, on March 29, 2009.<ref name="GetReligion.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.getreligion.org/2009/04/newt-swims-the-tiber/ |title=Newt swims the Tiber |publisher=Get Religion |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201010807/http://www.getreligion.org/2009/04/newt-swims-the-tiber/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Goodstein, Laurie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/us/politics/newt-gingrich-represents-new-political-era-for-catholics.html |title=Gingrich represents new political era for Catholics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717052659/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/us/politics/newt-gingrich-represents-new-political-era-for-catholics.html |archive-date=July 17, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 17, 2011}}</ref> He said: "over the course of several years, I gradually became Catholic and then decided one day to accept the faith I had already come to embrace". He decided to officially become a Catholic when he saw [[Pope Benedict XVI]], during the Pope's [[Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States|visit to the United States in 2008]]: "Catching a glimpse of Pope Benedict that day, I was struck by the happiness and peacefulness he exuded. The joyful and radiating presence of the Holy Father was a moment of confirmation about the many things I had been thinking and experiencing for several years."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53719.html |title=Newt Gingrich on why he became a Catholic |newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209141842/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53719.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At a 2011 appearance in [[Columbus, Ohio]], he said, "In America, religious belief is being challenged by a cultural elite trying to create a secularized America, in which God is driven out of public life."<ref name="Zeleny226" />

The [[Catholic Church]] recognizes his third marriage as a valid marriage, based on a [[declaration of nullity]] granted for his second marriage and the passing of his wife from his first.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-52908697.html |title=Newt Gingrich Asks for Annulment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609225911/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-52908697.html |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 10, 2002 |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Oppenheimer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/us/politics/on-religion-broad-mindedness-and-bigotry-among-voters.html |title=Faith and Family Values at Issue for Republicans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717052713/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/us/politics/on-religion-broad-mindedness-and-bigotry-among-voters.html |archive-date=July 17, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date= December 9, 2011 |access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Longenecker, Fr. Dwight |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/01/newts-three-marriages.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928100159/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/01/newts-three-marriages.html |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |title=Newt's Three Marriages |newspaper=The Anglican Patrimony |date=January 14, 2012 |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref>

=== Other interests ===
[[File:Newt Gingrich feeds an apple to Boma, a black rhino at Zoo Atlanta.jpg|thumb|Gingrich feeds an apple to a [[black rhinoceros]] at [[Zoo Atlanta]]]]

Gingrich has expressed a deep interest in animals.<ref>{{cite magazine |series=Discover Interview |title=Newt Gingrich |first=Grant |last=Delin |magazine=Discover Magazine |date=October 2006 |url=http://discovermagazine.com/2006/oct/discover-interview-newt-gingrich |access-date=October 14, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212093929/http://discovermagazine.com/2006/oct/discover-interview-newt-gingrich |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=5 Principles for a Successful Life: From Our Family to Yours |last=Gingrich |first=Newt |author2=Jackie Gingrich Cushman |year=2009 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-307-46232-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmYJL2KJqkYC |access-date=June 17, 2015 |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407070809/http://books.google.com/books?id=ZmYJL2KJqkYC |url-status=live }}</ref> Gingrich's first engagement in civic affairs was speaking to the city council in his native [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], as to why the city should establish its own zoo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2011/12/08/gIQAVb1yiO_story.html |title=Gingrich wild about zoos |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930120040/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2011/12/08/gIQAVb1yiO_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He authored the introduction to ''America's Best Zoos'' and claims to have visited more than 100.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2011-dec-15-la-pn-newt-gingrich-zoo-lover-video-20111215-story.html |title=10 great places to go wild over zoo animals |date=July 17, 2008 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=October 12, 2010 |archive-date=December 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217040235/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/15/news/la-pn-newt-gingrich-zoo-lover-video-20111215 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gingrich has shown enthusiasm towards dinosaurs. ''[[The New Yorker]]'' said of his 1995 book ''To Renew America'': "Charmingly, he has retained his enthusiasm for the extinct giants into middle age. In addition to including breakthroughs in dinosaur research on his list of futuristic wonders, he specified 'people interested in dinosaurs' as a prime example of those who might benefit from his education proposals."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/1995/07/17/1995_07_17_006_TNY_CARDS_000372055 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=July 17, 1995 |title=Cookie Monster |first=Hendrik |last=Hertzberg |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306003245/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1995/07/17/1995_07_17_006_TNY_CARDS_000372055 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Space exploration]] has been an additional interest of Gingrich since a fascination with the United States/Soviet Union [[Space Race]] started in his teenage years.<ref name=Aviation>{{cite news |first=Newt |last=Gingrich |title=Space first, NASA second |magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |date=June 30, 2008}}</ref> Gingrich wants the U.S. to pursue new achievements in space, including sustaining civilizations beyond Earth,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/623/1 |title=A few words with Newt Gingrich |date=May 15, 2006 |work=The Space Review |access-date=April 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214021258/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/623/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> but advocates relying more on the private sector and less on the publicly funded [[NASA]] to drive progress.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gingrich |first1=Newt |first2=Vince |last2=Haley |first3=Rick |last3=Tyler |title=Real Change: The Fight For America's Future|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/realchangefromwo00ging|chapter-url-access=registration |year=2009 |chapter=15|publisher=Regnery |isbn=9781596980532 }}</ref> Since 2010, he has served on the [[National Space Society]] Board of Governors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nss.org/about/bios/gingrich.html |title=Newt Gingrich profile |access-date=April 19, 2011 |archive-date=December 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212210908/http://www.nss.org/about/bios/gingrich.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the 2012 election campaign, ''[[Artinfo]]'' noted that Gingrich has expressed appreciation for the work of two American painters. He has described [[James H. Cromartie]]'s painting of the [[U.S. Capitol]] as "an exceptional and truly beautiful work of art"; in [[Norman Rockwell]]'s work, he saw the embodiment of an America circa 1965, at odds with the prevailing sentiment of the modern day "cultural elites".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/754813/which-republican-candidate-would-make-the-best-arts-nominee-the-artinfo-endorsement |title=Which Republican Candidate Would Make the Best Arts Nominee? |date=January 3, 2012 |first1=Benjamin |last1=Genocchio |first2=Andrew M. |last2=Goldstein |work=[[Artinfo]] |access-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref>

[[CNN]] announced on June 26, 2013, that Gingrich would join a new version of ''[[Crossfire (U.S. TV program)|Crossfire]]'' re-launching in fall 2013, with panelists [[S. E. Cupp]], [[Stephanie Cutter]], and [[Van Jones]].<ref name="xfire" /> Gingrich represented the right on the revamped debate program.<ref name="xfire">{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/26/crossfire-coming-back-to-cnn |title='Crossfire' coming back to CNN |date=June 26, 2013 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 26, 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630095908/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/26/crossfire-coming-back-to-cnn/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The show was cancelled the following year.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Moraes |first1=Lisa |title=''Crosssfire'' cancelled—again—as CNN pulls programs and slashes staff |url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/crosssfire-cancelled-cnn-staff-cuts-sanjay-gupta-christine-romans-rachel-nichols-852196 |access-date=April 27, 2016 |magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=October 15, 2014 |archive-date=May 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510140627/http://deadline.com/2014/10/crosssfire-cancelled-cnn-staff-cuts-sanjay-gupta-christine-romans-rachel-nichols-852196/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>