Callista Gingrich
Encyclopedia
Callista Louise Gingrich, née Bisek (born March 4, 1966) is the wife of former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Newt Gingrich
, and the President of Gingrich Productions, a multimedia production company based in Washington, DC.
, in 1984, and cum laude from Luther College
in Decorah, Iowa
, in 1988.
She worked in Washington, D.C., from 1988 until 2005 as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives, for the House Committee on Agriculture and in the office of Congressman Steve Gunderson
(R-WI).
, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
Gingrich is the voice for several audio books, including To Save America; Valley Forge; 5 Principles for a Successful Life; Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less; The Art of Transformation; Real Change; Contract with the Earth; and Rediscovering God in America.
Gingrich's photography has been published in The New York Times and Washington Post and is featured in a photobook
, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, which she co-authored with Newt Gingrich and Dave Bossie. Her photography is also featured in Rediscovering God in America and is regularly displayed on Newt.org and Gingrich Productions.com.
Gingrich has authored a children’s book about American exceptionalism
, entitled, Sweet Land of Liberty, featuring Ellis the Elephant. The book is a New York Times Bestseller.
in Decorah, Iowa
, which provides annual scholarships for instrumental music majors. She is a long-time member of the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C.and plays French horn
with the City of Fairfax Band in Fairfax, Virginia
.
.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
, and the President of Gingrich Productions, a multimedia production company based in Washington, DC.
Early life, education and early career
Gingrich was born Callista Louise Bisek to Alphonse Emil Bisek and Bernita (Krause) Bisek. She graduated as valedictorian from Whitehall Memorial High School in Whitehall, WisconsinWhitehall, Wisconsin
Whitehall is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Trempealeau River. The population was 1,651 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Trempealeau County....
, in 1984, and cum laude from Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
, in 1988.
She worked in Washington, D.C., from 1988 until 2005 as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives, for the House Committee on Agriculture and in the office of Congressman Steve Gunderson
Steve Gunderson
Steven Craig "Steve" Gunderson is the President and CEO of the Council on Foundations and a former Republican congressman from Wisconsin.-Early years:Gunderson grew up near Whitehall, Wisconsin...
(R-WI).
Multimedia productions
Gingrich and her husband host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include A City Upon a Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days that Changed the WorldNine Days that Changed the World
Nine Days that Changed the World is a 2010 documentary film produced by Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista that centers on the role played by Pope John Paul II in the fall of Communism in Europe and the rise of Solidarity....
, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
Gingrich is the voice for several audio books, including To Save America; Valley Forge; 5 Principles for a Successful Life; Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less; The Art of Transformation; Real Change; Contract with the Earth; and Rediscovering God in America.
Gingrich's photography has been published in The New York Times and Washington Post and is featured in a photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, which she co-authored with Newt Gingrich and Dave Bossie. Her photography is also featured in Rediscovering God in America and is regularly displayed on Newt.org and Gingrich Productions.com.
Gingrich has authored a children’s book about American exceptionalism
American exceptionalism
American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other countries. In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation," and developing a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty,...
, entitled, Sweet Land of Liberty, featuring Ellis the Elephant. The book is a New York Times Bestseller.
Charitable work and other activities
Gingrich is the president of the Gingrich Foundation, a charitable nonprofit corporation. Among its charitable contributions, the Gingrich Foundation has established the Newt L. and Callista L. Gingrich Scholarship at Luther CollegeLuther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
, which provides annual scholarships for instrumental music majors. She is a long-time member of the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington, D.C.and plays French horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
with the City of Fairfax Band in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
.
Personal life
Gingrich married former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on August 18, 2000. In 1999, Callista testified that the couple had begun a romantic relationship in 1993, while Newt was still married. Callista, who is a lifelong Catholic, was instrumental in her husband's conversion to Catholicism in 2009. The Gingriches currently live in McLean, VirginiaMcLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
.