Newton Leroy Gingrich was born in Pennsylvania on June 17, 1943, the son of Newton and Kathleen (Daughtery) McPherson. After his parents divorced, his mother married in 1946 Robert Bruce Gingrich, who adopted Newt.

Newt Gingrich earned his B.A. from Emory University in 1965, an M.A., 1968 from Tulane University, and a Ph.D. in European History in 1971 from Tulane University. He taught History and Environmental Studies at West Georgia College for eight years.

He was elected Republican congressman from Georgia in 1978. He became Speaker in the U.S. House of Representatives at the 104th Congress in 1995.

On November 6, 1998, two days after re-election, he resigned from the position of Speaker of the House and from his seat in Congress. His stated reason was "The Republican conference needs to be unified and it is time for me to move forward, where I believe I still have a significant role to play for our country and our party. My party will have my full support and I will do all I can to help us win in 2000." Newt Gingrich is expected to announce his candidacy for U.S. President in the year 2000 election.

Newt Gingrich is speaker and chairman Emeritus for GOPAC.

Newt Gingrich has authored several books, some of which are Window of Opportunity, 1984, co-authored with Marianne Gingrich and David Drake, Renewing American Civilization, 1995, and Contract With America, co-authored with U.S. Representative Dick Armey.

Newt and his first wife had two daughters, Linda Kathleen and Jacqueline Sue. He married, second, Marianne Ginther in August of 1981.

Posted by Contact on Wednesday November 18, 1998.