Citizen Newt: the Making of a Reagan Conservative

Citizen Newt:  the Making of a Reagan Conservative details Gingrich's career path from college professor to Speaker of the House.  It's an authorised biography that pretty much leaves out every detail of his personal life and focuses solely on the man's politics, his influence and his advocacy for the constituents of his district in ethnically diverse Georgia.

Here you'll find a reminder that politicians from a given party and time aren't all carbon copies of one another.  Newt Gingrich has always adamantly supported civil rights and was one of the few Republicans favouring a national holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr.  He's championed so-called "green" causes and is a staunch conservationist.  Back in the day when quite a number of people were seriously bandying about the idea of quarantining AIDS patients, Gingrich stated that the cases ought be reported but not quarantined, and that treatment ought be available.

At the same time, here's a fellow who supports food stamp work requirements and generally opposes tax increases.  But he's not always in line with his own party.

The one criticism I'd have of this book is that, while it's very detailed on many of the political infights and deals through Gingrich's career, the book ends as he becomes speaker.  It's certainly very detailed and well-researched and is likely to become a go-to book for any political writer wishing to gain insight into this time period in American national politics. 

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