Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich (icon; born Newton Leroy McPherson; June 17, 1943) is a U.S. Republican Party

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 politician who served as the House Minority Whip

Party whips of the United States House of Representatives

A whip in the United States House of Representatives manages his party's legislative program on the House floor. The Whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon....

 from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

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...

 from 1995 to 1999.

An author and historian, Gingrich twice ran unsuccessfully for the House

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 in the 1970s during the eight years he was teaching history in college. On his third try, he won a seat (R-Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

) in the election of November 1978 and was subsequently re-elected ten times.