Dr Newton Leroy Gingrich (b. June 17, 1943 -), is an American politician who is best known as the Speaker of the United States House of Representitives from 1995-1999. In 1995 he was named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year".

He was born Newton McPherson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Kathleen and Newton McPherson. His parents separated soon after Newt's birth, and his mother raised him by herself until she married Robert Gingrich, who adopted Newt, hence his name change.

Gingrich was often touted as a possible Presidential candidate in the 2000 Presidential election, but this never matirealized.

He has since remained involved in US national politics and public policy debate. He is a senior fellow at the conservative think tank "American Enterprise Institute", focusing on health care (he has founded the "Center for Health Transformation"), information technology, the military, and politics. He is occasionally a guest or panel member on "Inside-the-Beltway" news shows. Gingrich has publicly questioned the decisions and motivations for some policies, particularly foreign policies, of the Bush Administration. Specifically, he has challenged the policy of the State Department, calling for a transformation of the department due to what he has percieved to be numerous diplomatic failures. He has also called the State Dept "ineffective and incoherent" in its resolve to persuade members of the UN Security Coucil for a second resolution for military action against Iraq.

Gingrich has also been co-author with science fiction author William Forstchen, of three alternative history novels; "1945" (in which WWII never happened), "Gettysburg" (in which the Confederacy won the battle of Gettysburg) and "Grant Comes East", a sequel to "Gettysburg".

For the full text on Newt Gingrich go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich

so you have finally discovered Wikipedia for the first time, and decided that you like what you see?

Newt Gingrich is a great political theologian, who's ideas, including the Contract For America, helped unlock the House, and Senate, for the Republicans. His ideas were refreshing and noble.

Unfortunately, he was saddled with a true "slash and burn" outlook and a overly hostile press. In other words, he was his own worst enemy when it came to PR work. That, and his moral questions with regards to this former wife led to his eventual downfall.

But he has found his true calling: political pundit and ideological guru. It is what he does best!

I must admit I am big a fan of wiki

Agreed. Great American. He together with Rush Limbaugh turned the landscape of American politics. His influence will be felt for decades.

Just checked out the encyclopdeia, and other books like dictionary and quotes. Very impressed.