Editing Newt Gingrich (section)

=={{anchor|Conservative Opportunity Society}} Congress==
In 1981, Gingrich co-founded the Military Reform Caucus (MRC) and the Congressional Aviation and Space Caucus. During the [[1983 congressional page sex scandal]], Gingrich was among those calling for the [[Expulsion from the United States Congress|expulsion]] of representatives [[Dan Crane]] and [[Gerry Studds]].<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news |first=Steven V |last=Roberts |title=Congressman asks expulsion of two |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/19/us/congressman-asks-expulsion-of-two.html |date=July 19, 1983 |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119105019/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/19/us/congressman-asks-expulsion-of-two.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Gingrich 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. Day]] a new federal holiday.<ref name=Roberts>{{cite news |title=One Conservative Faults Two Parties |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/11/us/one-conservative-faults-two-parties.html?scp=1&sq=One+Conservative+Faults+Two+Parties&st=nyt |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 11, 1983 |page=18A |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119104847/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/11/us/one-conservative-faults-two-parties.html?scp=1&sq=One+Conservative+Faults+Two+Parties&st=nyt |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:President Ronald Reagan Talks with Newt Gingrich During a Trip Via Air Force One to Atlanta Georgia.jpg|thumb|Gingrich traveling with President [[Ronald Reagan]] aboard [[Air Force One]] in August 1983]]

In 1983, Gingrich founded the Conservative Opportunity Society (COS), a group that included young conservative House Republicans. Early COS members included [[Robert Smith Walker]], [[Judd Gregg]], [[Dan Coats]] and [[Connie Mack III]]. The group gradually expanded to include several dozen representatives,<ref name=Balz>{{cite news |title=Gingrich, allies made waves and impression; conservative rebels harassed the house |first=Charles R. |last=Babcock |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 20, 1994 |page=A1}}</ref> who met each week to exchange and develop ideas.<ref name="Roberts" />

Gingrich's analysis of polls and public opinion identified the group's initial focus.<ref name=Balz/> [[Ronald Reagan]] adopted the "opportunity society" ideas for his 1984 re-election campaign, supporting the group's conservative goals on economic growth, education, crime, and social issues. He had not emphasized these during his first term.<ref name=WashPo84>{{cite news |title=Reagan expected to gloss over second-term sacrifices |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 12, 1984}}</ref> Reagan also referred to an "opportunity" society in the first [[State of the Union address]] of his second term.<ref name=Balz />

[[File:Ronald Reagan with Newt Gingrich.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Gingrich meets with President Reagan in the [[Oval Office]] in May 1985]]

In March 1988, Gingrich voted against the [[Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987]] (as well as to uphold President Reagan's veto).<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h506|title=House Vote #506 -- To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, A Bill To Restore The Broad Coverage And Clarify Four Civil Rights Laws By Providing That If One Part Of An Institution Is Federally-Funded, Then The Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate|date=March 2, 1988|website=GovTrack.us|access-date=June 16, 2020| archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616045234/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h506|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h527|title=House Vote #527 -- To Pass, Over President Reagan's Veto, S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, A Bill To Restore The Broad Coverage And Clarify Four Civil Rights Laws By Providing That If One Part Of An Institution Is Federally-Funded, Then The Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate. Veto Overridden; Two-Thirds Of Those Present Voting in Favor|date=March 22, 1988| website=GovTrack.us|access-date=June 16, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616045108/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h527|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 1988, Gingrich (along with 77&nbsp;other House members and [[Common Cause]]) brought ethics charges against Democratic Speaker [[Jim Wright]], who was alleged to have used a book deal to circumvent campaign-finance laws and House ethics rules. During the investigation, it was reported that Gingrich had his own unusual book deal, for ''Window of Opportunity,'' in which publicity expenses were covered by a [[limited partnership]]. It raised $105,000 from Republican political supporters to promote sales of Gingrich's book.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/03/20/gingrichs-book-venture/9a1af92c-e6b0-4c23-a598-58093b063113/ |first=Charles R. |last=Babcock |title=Wright's key accuser has his own book deal |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 20, 1989 |access-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715111836/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/03/20/gingrichs-book-venture/9a1af92c-e6b0-4c23-a598-58093b063113/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Gingrich's success in forcing Wright's resignation contributed to his rising influence in the Republican [[caucus]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Germond, Jack W. |author2=Witcover, Jules |date=March 24, 1989 |title=Can Gingrich unify GOP without throwing bombs? |agency=Chicago Tribune Syndicate}}</ref>

In March 1989, Gingrich became [[House Minority Whip|House minority whip]] in a close election against [[Edward Rell Madigan]].<ref name=Komarow>{{cite news |title=House Republicans Elect Gingrich to No. 2 Spot, Chart Battle with Democrats |first=Steven |last=Komarow |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=March 22, 1989}}</ref> This was Gingrich's first formal position of power within the Republican party.<ref name=Drinkard>{{cite news |title=Party Mobilizes to Fill Cheney's Post |first=Jim |last=Drinkard |agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=March 13, 1989}}</ref> He said his intention was to "build a much more aggressive, activist party".<ref name=Komarow /> Early in his role as Whip, in May 1989, Gingrich was involved in talks about the appointment of a Panamanian administrator of the [[Panama Canal]], which was scheduled to occur in 1989 subject to U.S. government approval. Gingrich was outspoken in his opposition to giving [[Torrijos-Carter Treaties|control over the canal]] to an administrator appointed by the dictatorship in [[Panama]].<ref>{{cite news |title=House GOP Leader Questions Relinquishing Canal to Panama |first=Merrill |last=Hartson |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 4, 1989}}</ref>

Gingrich and others in the House, including the newly minted [[Gang of Seven]], railed against what they saw as ethical lapses during the nearly 40 years of Democratic control. The [[House banking scandal]] and [[Congressional Post Office scandal]] were emblems of the exposed corruption. Gingrich himself was among members of the House who had written NSF checks on the House bank. He had [[overdraft]]s on twenty-two checks, including a $9,463 check to the [[Internal Revenue Service]] in 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/23/magazine/house-revolutionary.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=House Revolutionary |first=Adam |last=Clymer |date=August 23, 1992 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |archive-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122025137/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/23/magazine/house-revolutionary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1990, after consulting focus groups<ref name="arsenal" /> with the help of pollster [[Frank Luntz]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/16/v-print/2853325/gingrichs-old-habits-die-hard.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731135941/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/16/v-print/2853325/gingrichs-old-habits-die-hard.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |title=Gingrich's old habits 'die hard' |last=Douglas |first=William |date=December 16, 2011 |newspaper=Charlotte Observer |publisher=McClatchy |access-date=January 24, 2012}}</ref> [[GOPAC]] distributed a memo with a cover letter signed by Gingrich titled "Language, a Key Mechanism of Control", that encouraged Republicans to "speak like Newt". It contained lists of "contrasting words"—words with negative connotations such as "radical", "sick," and "traitors"—and "optimistic positive governing words" such as "opportunity", "courage", and "principled", that Gingrich recommended for use in describing Democrats and Republicans, respectively.<ref name="arsenal">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/09/us/political-memo-for-gop-arsenal-133-words-to-fire.html |title=Political Memo: For G.O.P. arsenal, 133&nbsp;words to fire |last=Oreskes |first=Michael |date=September 9, 1990 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 24, 2012 |archive-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129074440/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/09/us/political-memo-for-gop-arsenal-133-words-to-fire.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Barbara Bush and Newt Gingrich.jpg|thumb|Gingrich sits alongside First Lady [[Barbara Bush]] in December 1989]]

During negotiations with the Democrats who held majorities in the House and Senate, President [[George H. W. Bush]] reached a [[Deficit reduction in the United States|deficit reduction]] package which contained tax increases despite his campaign promise of "[[read my lips: no new taxes]]". Gingrich led a revolt that defeated the initial appropriations package and led to the [[1990 United States federal government shutdown]]. The deal was supported by the President and Congressional leaders from both parties after long negotiations, but Gingrich walked out during a televised event in the [[White House Rose Garden]]. [[House Minority Leader]] [[Robert H. Michel]] characterized Gingrich's revolt as "[[Thousand points of light|a thousand points of spite]]".<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/140262759|title=House Rejects Deficit-Reduction Agreement: Federal Shutdown Looms After Budget Vote|last1=Yang|first1=John E.|last2=Kenworthy|first2=Tom|date=October 5, 1990|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175514/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/doc/140262759.html|id={{ProQuest|140262759}} |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4b">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-his-debut-in-washingtons-power-struggles-gingrich-threw-a-bomb/2011/12/22/gIQA6GKCGP_story.html|title=In his debut in Washington's power struggles, Gingrich threw a bomb|last=Woodward|first=Bob|date=December 24, 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref>

Due to population increases recorded in the [[1990 United States census]], Georgia picked up an additional seat for the [[1992 United States House of Representatives elections|1992 U.S. House elections]]. However, the Democratic-controlled [[Georgia General Assembly]], under the leadership of fiercely partisan speaker of the House [[Tom Murphy (U.S. politician)|Tom Murphy]], specifically targeted Gingrich, eliminating the district Gingrich represented.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/20murphy.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Brenda |last=Goodman |title=Tom B. Murphy, a Longtime Power in Georgia, Dies at 83 |date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=December 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225035217/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/20murphy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gerrymandering]] split Gingrich's territory among three neighboring districts. Much of the southern portion of Gingrich's district, including his home in [[Carrollton, Georgia|Carrollton]], was drawn into the [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]]-based [[Georgia's 3rd congressional district|3rd district]], represented by five-term Democrat [[Richard Ray]]. Gingrich remarked that "The Speaker, by raising money and gerrymandering, has sincerely dedicated a part of his career to wiping me out."<ref name="NYT" /> [[Charles S. Bullock III]], a political science professor at the [[University of Georgia]], said "Speaker Murphy didn't like having a Republican represent him."<ref name="Judd">{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/redistricting-gives-gop-key-political-power-georgia/NFfAvz7JptLsvArTGAvH5H/|title=Redistricting gives GOP key to political power in Georgia|first=Alan|last=Judd|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=June 2, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2021}}</ref> At the onset of the decade, Gingrich proved to be the only Republican representative of Georgia's 10 congressional districts until [[1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia|1992]], with the creation of [[Georgia's 4th congressional district]] and the Republican gains of [[Jack Kingston]] and [[Mac Collins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/90s/red-state-rising-the-last-days-of-georgias-two-party-system/|title=Red state rising: The last days of Georgia's two-party system|first=Peter|last=Applebome|work=[[Atlanta (magazine)|Atlanta]]|date=March 18, 2015|access-date=May 25, 2021}}</ref>

The Assembly created a new, heavily Republican [[Georgia's 6th congressional district|6th district]] in [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton]] and [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] counties in the wealthy northern suburbs of Atlanta—an area that Gingrich had never represented. Gingrich sold his home in Carrollton and moved to [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]] in the new district. His primary opponent, State Representative Herman Clark, who had challenged Gingrich two years earlier, made an issue out of Gingrich's 22&nbsp;overdraft checks in the [[House banking scandal]], and also criticized Gingrich for moving into the district. After a recount, Gingrich prevailed by 980 votes, with a 51 to 49 percent result.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/29/us/the-1992-campaign-gingrich-is-declared-winner-after-recount-in-a-primary.html |title=Gingrich is declared winner after recount in a primary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804035444/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/29/us/the-1992-campaign-gingrich-is-declared-winner-after-recount-in-a-primary.html |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 29, 1992}}</ref> His winning the primary all but assured him of election in November. He was re-elected three times from this district against nominal Democratic opposition.<ref name="Judd" />

In 1995, Gingrich's 1993 college course, entitled ''Renewing American Civilization'', taught on Saturdays at [[Reinhardt College]] in [[Waleska, Georgia]], was  televised on the cable channel, [[Mind Extension University]].<ref>{{multiref2 |{{cite news |last=Applebome |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Applebome |date=1995-03-12 |title=In Gringrich's College Course, Critics Find a Wealth of Ethical Concerns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/20/us/in-gingrich-s-college-course-critics-find-a-wealth-of-ethical-concerns.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526144341/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/20/us/in-gingrich-s-college-course-critics-find-a-wealth-of-ethical-concerns.html |archive-date=2015-05-26 |url-access=subscription}} |{{cite news |date=2005-10-03 |orig-date=March 12, 1995 |title=Gingrich closes up class |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/03/12/gingrich-closes-up-class/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url-access=limited}} |{{cite news |last=Chapman |first=Bruce |author-link=Bruce Chapman |date=1997-01-01 |title=Opinion: The Gingrich Case: At Most a Minor Failing |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1997/01/02/the-gingrich-case-at-most-a-minor-failing/7099bcab-09b1-4e12-94f8-c1b4b05aea17/ |url-access=limited |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}} |{{cite news |date=1995-01-19 |title=Gingrich lectures on men, women, combat |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/01/19/gingrich-lectures-on-men-women-combat/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url-access=limited}} |{{cite magazine |date=1995-02-26 |title=Jones-Gingrich Link Questioned |url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/jones-gingrich-link-questioned-99124483/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}} |{{cite news |last=Calhoun |first=Patricia |date=1997-01-02 |title=Happy Newt Year |url=https://www.westword.com/news/happy-newt-year-5057020 |work=[[Westword]]}} |{{cite news |last=McCaleb |first=Ian Christopher |date=1995-05-23 |title=Ethics presses on despite criticism |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/05/23/Ethics-presses-on-despite-criticism/8292801201600/ |work=[[United Press International]]}} |{{cite magazine |last=Didion |first=Joan |author-link=Joan Didion |date=1995-08-10 |title=The Teachings of Speaker Gingrich |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/08/10/the-teachings-of-speaker-gingrich/ |magazine=[[The New York Review of Books]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712203119/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/08/10/the-teachings-of-speaker-gingrich/ |archive-date=2016-07-12}} |{{cite conference |last=Pitney |first=John J. |author-link=John J. Pitney |date=1996-09-01 |title=Understanding Newt Gingrich |url=https://www1.cmc.edu/pages/faculty/JPitney/Understanding-Newt-Gingrich.pdf |conference=[[American Political Science Association]] |publisher=[[Claremont McKenna College]]}} |{{cite news |last=Ostrow |first=Ronald J. |date=1992-12-23 |title=Special Counsel Is Named in Gingrich Inquiry: COngress House Ethics panel appoints James Cole, a defense attorney specializing in white-collar crime cases, to probe tax charges. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-23-mn-17055-story.html |url-access=subscription |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}} |{{cite AV media |last=Gingrich |first=Newt |date=1995-03-13 |title=Welfare Reform |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?63851-1/welfare-reform |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |type=Telecast}}
}}</ref>

In the [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|1994 campaign season]], in an effort to offer an alternative to Democratic policies and to unite distant wings of the Republican Party, Gingrich and several other Republicans came up with a [[Contract with America]], which laid out 10 policies that Republicans promised to bring to a vote on the House floor during the first 100 days of the new Congress, if they won the election.<ref>{{cite web |title=An EIB History Lesson on 1994 |work=[[Rush Limbaugh]] |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031109/content/01125114.guest.html |last=Limbaugh |first=Rush |date=March 11, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2009 |archive-date=March 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315014519/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031109/content/01125114.guest.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The contract was signed by Gingrich and other Republican candidates for the House of Representatives. The contract ranged from issues such as [[welfare reform]], [[term limits]], crime, and a [[balanced budget]]/tax limitation amendment, to more specialized legislation such as restrictions on American military participation in United Nations missions.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html|title=Republican Contract with America| date=April 27, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427174200/http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html|access-date=December 30, 2019|archive-date=April 27, 1999}}</ref>

=== Republican Revolution ===
{{further|Republican Revolution}}
In the [[1994 United States elections|November 1994 midterm elections]], Republicans gained 54 seats and took control of the House for the first time since 1954. Long-time [[House Minority Leader|House minority leader]] [[Bob Michel]] of [[Illinois]] had not run for re-election, giving Gingrich, the highest-ranking Republican returning to Congress, the inside track at becoming Speaker. The midterm election that turned congressional power over to Republicans "changed the center of gravity" in the nation's capital.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2020388,00.html |title=Man of the Year 1995 |year=1995 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=June 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312112902/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2020388,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named Gingrich its 1995 "[[Time Person of the Year|Man of the Year]]" for his role in the election.<ref name="npr20111208" />