Representative Newt Gingrich had just been re-elected to his eleventh term when he announced his intention not to seek the Speaker of the House and would resign his seat.

He had served as House Republican Whip from 1989-1994 and became Speaker of the House of Representatives on Jan. 4, 1995. He also served as dean of the Georgia House delegation. He represents the Sixth District of Georgia, including parts of Cobb, Cherokee, North Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties north of Atlanta.

Gingrich has been profiled by Newsweek as a "revolutionary centrist," and the New York Times described him as, "a thoughtful analyst ... who gushes with ideas." The Wall Street Journal's Al Hunt called him "the most pivotal Republican in the land today." Columnist and TV commentator Robert Novak said of Gingrich, "more than any other politician, he has had the courage to challenge the political system in Washington."

Gingrich co-founded the Congressional Military Reform Caucus, the Conservative Opportunity Society and the Congressional Space Caucus and had served as co-chairman of the House Republican Task Force on Health since the 102nd Congress. He chaired GOPAC, one of the four major national Republican political action committees from 1986 to 1994. Along with his wife, Marianne, and David Drake, Gingrich authored Window of Opportunity. He has studied "Quality" under Dr. Edwards Deming and is an honorary member of the advisory board at the Center for Quality Excellence at the Southern Institute of Technology in Marietta.

Gingrich is the son of a career soldier. He received his Bachelor's degree from Emory University and a Masters and Doctorate from Tulane University in Modern European History. He taught History and Environmental Studies at West Georgia College for eight years before being elected to Congress in 1978.

Gingrich returned to the classroom part-time beginning in September, 1993, teching an annual course entitled "Renewing American Civilization" in the School of Business at Kennesaw State College. In January 1994, he moved the course to Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga. He hosts a weekly interview/talk show, "The Progress Report," on National Empowerment Television, a conservative satellite network.

He lives in Marietta and is married to the former Marianne Ginther. He has two married daughters, Kathy and Jackie.