Newt Gingrich, born on June 17, 1943 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a prominent politician who served as the Republican Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999. Despite his accomplishments in office, he resigned in disgrace after being disciplined by the House for ethics violations.
Before his political career, Gingrich earned both a Master's and a Ph.D. in education from Tulane University in New Orleans. He first attempted to represent Georgia's 6th congressional district in 1974, but was unsuccessful.
During his tenure as House Speaker, Gingrich oversaw several significant legislative achievements. The House enacted welfare reform, passed a capital gains tax cut in 1997, and achieved the first balanced budget since 1969 in 1998.
Gingrich's personal life has also been subject to public scrutiny. He has been married three times, with his current wife being Callista Gingrich. He has two daughters, Jackie Gingrich Cushman and Kathy Lubbers. Interestingly, his half-sister, Candace Gingrich-Jones, is a prominent LGBT activist.
In 2012, Gingrich ran an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for President. During his campaign, he gained attention for his ambitious proposal to establish a colony on the moon. He ultimately lost the nomination to Mitt Romney.
Gingrich's political career has been marked by both successes and controversies. Despite his contributions to legislation during his time as House Speaker, his ethics violations ultimately tainted his reputation. However, his impact on American politics cannot be denied.
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