Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich and the Rise of the New Republican Party

“Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, The Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party” is the latest book of Princeton politics professor and historian Julian Zelizer. The book explores how the 50th House Speaker Newt Gingrich started an era where Republicans practiced a ruthless style of partisanship that ignored the conventional norms of Washington and continually tested how far politicians could go in bending government institutions to suit their partisan purposes. In this interview, Prof. Zelizer, Tiger, and G. Terrell Seabrooks discuss some of its most salient themes and explore the many thrilling stories in this book: such as Gingrich’s takedown of Democrat House Speaker Jim Wright – a pivotal moment when Gingrich “swept the old order aside;” or, in 1983, Gingrich crafted the message of his career – branding the Democratic Party as the symbol of Washington’s corruption in the post-Watergate era… Gingrich redefined partisanship by expanding the boundaries of what was permissible in the arena of congressional warfare, and he legitimated ruthless and destructive practices that had once been relegated to the margins. Steven Bannon said that when Republicans went for head wounds, Democrats were having pillow fights. Why didn’t the Democrats follow the Republicans’ strategy? Was it because of integrity or was it because of a fundamental lack of political will? We reflect on the history of partisanship and Congressional warfare tactics and hope to provide clarity on the near-term development of American politics. We also discuss Gingrich’s relationship with the media and President Trump. A historian by training and having received his PhD from Tulane, Gingrich understood the importance of narratives and good storytelling. We explore how Gingrich helped fuel the rise of TV politics, where the line between entertainment and serious policy discourse became increasingly blurred. As one of Trump’s most trusted advisors, Gingrich was considered for being Trump’s running mate in 2016. Both men are like “pirates,” as Gingrich himself explained: “[Trump] is outside the normal system, he gets things done, he’s bold, he’s actually like a figure out of a movie. In a lot of ways, my entire career has been a little bit like a pirate. I’ve taken on the establishment of both parties, [I’m] very prepared to fight in the media.” However, Trump eventually chose Pence over Gingrich as his running mate in 2016 because he didn’t want a “two-pirate” ticket. Pence was a much safer, composed vice presidential candidate who indeed helped Trump get elected – an outcome that Gingrich had always hoped for. From Gingrich and the “establishment,” to President Trump and modern legislative floor tactics, this interview delves into the strategy that has helped shape the Republican agenda for the last three decades. Is Gingrich responsible for the partisan divide we see today? How can democrats respond to the increased politicization of lawmaking in Washington? Is this polarization a permanent element of our political system? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this episode. “Burning Down the House” will be available for purchase beginning on July 7, 2020. We also encourage you to listen to Prof. Zelizer’s podcast, Politics and Polls, co-hosted by Princeton professor Sam Wang. Julian Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs, Princeton School of Public & International Affairs. He has been one of the pioneers in the revival of American political history and is now the author and editor of more than 20 books on American political history. Professor Zelizer is also the co-host of the popular podcast Politics and Polls and a frequent CNN Contributor.