The Presidency of Newt Gingrich

[Progressive]

November 2000: The Victory

Newt-mania swept the country! In President-elect Gingrich's victory speech, he declared that "Americans from all corners rose up as glorious executioners of a toxic Washington-driven criminal machine, and chosen to embrace a future of prosperity, limited government, and liberty." A bizarre speech aside, Gingrich and Vice President-elect Romney were expected to begin work immediately on putting together a new administration.

The Concession

Al Gore's concession speech was equally bizarre. Joe Lieberman and his family did not appear with the vice president, stoking speculation that the Connecticut senator was posturing for a position in the White House.

The Transition

The Gingrich-Romney Administration transition team was in full swing by the day after the election. Vice President-elect Romney met with potential senior aides to fill chief of staff and other vital roles for the President and his team.

The Transition Team is expected to announce hiring for chief of staff, counselor to the president, senior advisor, and press secretary, and various high-level positions in the coming weeks. Former New Hampshire Governor and Bush Chief of Staff John Sununu has been named chair of the Transition and the Presidential Inauguration, and is expected to play an integral role. He is considered a frontrunner for the chief of staff role.

The Gingrich-Romney campaign has been told that all paid, salaried staff (i.e. excluding hourly suppliers or field staff paid by the hour) will be offered a role in the Administration.

NEXT: Future White House aides announced, speculation swirls around economic team

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

But Newt Gingrich was already dead

[Jaguar4life]

George W Bush for Secretary of State, Jack Kemp for Secretary of Treasury and Joe Lieberman for UN Ambassador

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

The Concession

Al Gore's concession speech was equally bizarre. Joe Lieberman and his family did not appear with the vice president, stoking speculation that the Connecticut senator was posturing for a position in the White House.
[/b]

What did Al Gore say?

[DPKdebator]

Pennsylvania
Newt Gingrich  49.2%
Al Gore 48.2%

Looks like you made an error on the map.

[Progressive]

Pennsylvania
Newt Gingrich  49.2%
Al Gore 48.2%

Looks like you made an error on the map.

Whoops you're right. Gingrich won. The map is wrong. Previous map had it right!

[Stm85]

George W Bush for Secretary of State, Jack Kemp for Secretary of Treasury and Joe Lieberman for UN Ambassador

Good choices. I'd add J.C. Watts for Secretary of HUD and Mitch Daniels for OMB Director.

[Progressive]

GINGRICH TEAM ANNOUNCES SENIOR AIDES

Late November 2000

Chief of Staff

The Office of President-elect Gingrich announced that former New Hampshire Governor and Bush Chief of Staff John Sununu will serve as the White House Chief of Staff. Sununu is said to be committed to the entirety of the Gingrich-Romney White House agenda, and is a true believer in the economic and political restructuring necessary to put America on the right path.

Sununu has suggested that his son, a member of the U.S. House, will serve as an "informal liaison" between newer members of Congress and the White House. This move, highly unusual, suggests that President-elect Gingrich and senior White House aides will be looking to move swiftly on passing legislation, possibly bypassing the cautious nature of House GOP leadership.

Deputy Chief of Staff

Counselor to former President George H.W. Bush Karen Hughes will serve in this capacity and will focus largely on intergovernmental relations and staffing agencies with appropriate Gingrich appointees.

Counselor to the President

Atlanta super lawyer and former Gingrich legal counsel Patrick Millsaps will be named to this senior role. Millsaps has a very strong personal relationship with the President-elect and future First Lady Callista Gingrich, but is considered a Washington outsider.

Senior Adviser to the President

Longtime political strategist and Gingrich campaign manager, Scott Reed, who also managed Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign, will serve as senior adviser in an unsurprising move.

White House Counsel

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Rudy Giuliani has been chosen for this position. Rumors swirled that Giuliani was considering a NYC mayoral bid in 2001. But given likely anti-Republican backlash in post-2000 elections, Giuliani opted to work for the White House instead.
 
White House Press Secretary

In a surprise move, the Gingrich team has selected Gov. Jeb Bush Press Secretary Nicolle Wallace to serve as White House Press Secretary. The move suggests that the Gingrich team is concerned about overall image and appealability to the American public, including the press-friendly moderate wing of the Republican Party.

NEXT: Gingrich will announce Economic team, including Treasury Secretary where real estate mogul Donald Trump is thought to be a top contender for the post.

[Progressive]

I have come down with the flu (only me in July ugh), so it will be another few days before I post. Keeping things very light because I feel like only a semi-human. In the meantime, would love to hear what you all think.

[NewYorkExpress]

GINGRICH TEAM ANNOUNCES SENIOR AIDES

Late November 2000

Chief of Staff

The Office of President-elect Gingrich announced that former New Hampshire Governor and Bush Chief of Staff John Sununu will serve as the White House Chief of Staff. Sununu is said to be committed to the entirety of the Gingrich-Romney White House agenda, and is a true believer in the economic and political restructuring necessary to put America on the right path.

Sununu has suggested that his son, a member of the U.S. House, will serve as an "informal liaison" between newer members of Congress and the White House. This move, highly unusual, suggests that President-elect Gingrich and senior White House aides will be looking to move swiftly on passing legislation, possibly bypassing the cautious nature of House GOP leadership.

Deputy Chief of Staff

Counselor to former President George H.W. Bush Karen Hughes will serve in this capacity and will focus largely on intergovernmental relations and staffing agencies with appropriate Gingrich appointees.

Counselor to the President

Atlanta super lawyer and former Gingrich legal counsel Patrick Millsaps will be named to this senior role. Millsaps has a very strong personal relationship with the President-elect and future First Lady Callista Gingrich, but is considered a Washington outsider.

Senior Adviser to the President

Longtime political strategist and Gingrich campaign manager, Scott Reed, who also managed Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign, will serve as senior adviser in an unsurprising move.

White House Counsel

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Rudy Giuliani has been chosen for this position. Rumors swirled that Giuliani was considering a NYC mayoral bid in 2001. But given likely anti-Republican backlash in post-2000 elections, Giuliani opted to work for the White House instead.
 
White House Press Secretary

In a surprise move, the Gingrich team has selected Gov. Jeb Bush Press Secretary Nicolle Wallace to serve as White House Press Secretary. The move suggests that the Gingrich team is concerned about overall image and appealability to the American public, including the press-friendly moderate wing of the Republican Party.

NEXT: Gingrich will announce Economic team, including Treasury Secretary where real estate mogul Donald Trump is thought to be a top contender for the post.

Giuliani is already NYC Mayor in 2000, and would be term-limited.

[NewYorkExpress]

I have come down with the flu (only me in July ugh), so it will be another few days before I post. Keeping things very light because I feel like only a semi-human. In the meantime, would love to hear what you all think.

If you want a token Democrat/Independent, how about Mike Bloomberg for Treasury Secretary?

[Progressive]

GINGRICH TEAM ANNOUNCES SENIOR AIDES

Late November 2000

Chief of Staff

The Office of President-elect Gingrich announced that former New Hampshire Governor and Bush Chief of Staff John Sununu will serve as the White House Chief of Staff. Sununu is said to be committed to the entirety of the Gingrich-Romney White House agenda, and is a true believer in the economic and political restructuring necessary to put America on the right path.

Sununu has suggested that his son, a member of the U.S. House, will serve as an "informal liaison" between newer members of Congress and the White House. This move, highly unusual, suggests that President-elect Gingrich and senior White House aides will be looking to move swiftly on passing legislation, possibly bypassing the cautious nature of House GOP leadership.

Deputy Chief of Staff

Counselor to former President George H.W. Bush Karen Hughes will serve in this capacity and will focus largely on intergovernmental relations and staffing agencies with appropriate Gingrich appointees.

Counselor to the President

Atlanta super lawyer and former Gingrich legal counsel Patrick Millsaps will be named to this senior role. Millsaps has a very strong personal relationship with the President-elect and future First Lady Callista Gingrich, but is considered a Washington outsider.

Senior Adviser to the President

Longtime political strategist and Gingrich campaign manager, Scott Reed, who also managed Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign, will serve as senior adviser in an unsurprising move.

White House Counsel

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Rudy Giuliani has been chosen for this position. Rumors swirled that Giuliani was considering a NYC mayoral bid in 2001. But given likely anti-Republican backlash in post-2000 elections, Giuliani opted to work for the White House instead.
 
White House Press Secretary

In a surprise move, the Gingrich team has selected Gov. Jeb Bush Press Secretary Nicolle Wallace to serve as White House Press Secretary. The move suggests that the Gingrich team is concerned about overall image and appealability to the American public, including the press-friendly moderate wing of the Republican Party.

NEXT: Gingrich will announce Economic team, including Treasury Secretary where real estate mogul Donald Trump is thought to be a top contender for the post.

Giuliani is already NYC Mayor in 2000, and would be term-limited.

Sorry, I didn't do a good job of explaining that in this scenario Giuliani did not run for mayor.

[Progressive]

SHOCK PICKS: GINGRICH SIGNALS DRASTIC ECONOMIC CHANGE

December 2000

Treasury Secretary

Gingrich confirmed rumors by selecting businessman Donald Trump as the nominee for Treasury Secretary. Already, Democratic senators are crying foul over Trump's finances and business record, insisting that Trump has a "history of shady practices and deals." Still, Gingrich has said that he will push the Senate GOP to "upend Congress" to push forward his economic nominees.

Commerce Secretary

E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman has become the first woman Gingrich announced in a cabinet-level position. Whitman is a relative neophyte to politics but is expected to be confirmed quickly.

Labor Secretary

In a controversial move, President-elect Gingrich named Stan Kroenke, a professional sports and vacation spot tycoon, married to a WalMart heiress Ann Walton. Vice President-elect Romney hailed the nomination as the "final step in freeing American workers from the imprisonment of hostile labor unions."

OMB Director

President-elect Gingrich has named former Deputy Treasury Secretary Richard Darman to the post, snubbing Congressmembers John Kasich and Rob Portman of Ohio who were told they were frontrunners for the nomination.

Trade Representative

In a shock, Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, a staunch NAFTA and international trade deal opponent, has been nominated to the post.

NEXT: GINGRICH ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT FILL CERTAIN CABINET POSITIONS AND WILL INSTEAD WORK TO DISMANTLE VARIOUS AGENCIES!

[Mike Thick]

You've captured Gingrich very, very well in these pics. Color me impressed.

[Progressive]

You've captured Gingrich very, very well in these pics. Color me impressed.

Thanks! More posts soon. Getting over the flu.

[Progressive]

GINGRICH WILL NOT NOMINATE EDUCATION SECRETARY

President-elect Gingrich has decided that he will not nominate a cabinet secretary to lead the Department of Education. "It's high time that the federal government stop acting as the cash cow for teacher unions. It's unfair to American students and their families that the federal government gets in the way of education. Instead, I will offer tax breaks to home schooled students and education law enforcement will be left up to the best arbiters of justice--local school districts and state governments."