As we continue through the eighties into the nineties, this is when Republican politics started to change. Knowing that the American people were not as intelligent as we’d hope, Republicans found a way to benefit from holding up government. Newt Gingrich was a young up-and-comer, who had his eyes on the prize.

As Goldwater did with bringing in the “kooks” of the Republican party to the center, Gingrich did for obstructionists. He knew that in order to win elections, you need to not be nice. Being nice is for “boy scouts, not for politics”.

This episode focuses on how believing your own hype can undercut you. Gingrich rose during the eighties and became powerful in the nineties. However, his own hubris caused to not make it to the end of the decade. And the president he tried to take down became more powerful than he imagined.

Shownotes for “Rise of Newt”

Articles:

The Man Who Broke Politics – The Atlantic

The Epochs of Goldwater and Reagan Conservatism Must End – Emory Wheel

Videos:

Ronald Reagan: Let’s Make America Great Again – 1980 – Joseph Hewes

NBC News Decision 1980 Reagan Wins – NBC News

Clip 9 – 7:02-7:27 Trump’s Twitter Video

Johnson Beats Goldwater (Public Domain Footage) – Clip 17 – 0:49-1:34

Gingrich Decries Negativity in Campaign – Associated Press

Vincent Foster suicide 1993 – ABC News

Newt Gingrich Files ethics charges against Jim Wright 1988 – Archival Video

1994, Gingrich’s ‘Contract with America’ – CNN

Next week, we dive into the Clinton years. All the scandals surrounding them and what Republicans went through for a conviction. When they couldn’t find anything to stick, they started looking anywhere they could. This led to the first impeachment hearings since Andrew Jackson since 1868. Enjoy, Great American Sh*t Show: Rise of Newt. We’ll see you next week.