Documentaries

Articles

Podcasts

Topics

Business and Economy

Climate and Environment

Criminal Justice

Health

Immigration

Journalism Under Threat

Social Issues

U.S. Politics

War and Conflict

World

View All Topics

More

Visual & Interactive Stories

Interviews

Local Journalism

Newsletter

Announcements

Schedule

About FRONTLINE

Documentaries

The Long March of Newt Gingrich

January 16, 1996

53m

One year into the Republican revolution, FRONTLINE presents an investigative biography of House Speaker Newt Gingrich. FRONTLINE correspondent Peter J. Boyer, the New Yorker writer, examines the childhood roots of Gingrich’s vaulting ambition, the evolution of his philosophy and political methods, his assault on the leadership of both parties in Congress, and how he developed […]

The Long March of Newt Gingrich

January 16, 1996

53m

One year into the Republican revolution, FRONTLINE presents an investigative biography of House Speaker Newt Gingrich. FRONTLINE correspondent Peter J. Boyer, the New Yorker writer, examines the childhood roots of Gingrich’s vaulting ambition, the evolution of his philosophy and political methods, his assault on the leadership of both parties in Congress, and how he developed and implemented his battle plans for a GOP takeover of Congress. [Explore more on the original website for The Long March of Newt Gingrich.]

Produced by

Stephen Talbot

Transcript

Credits

Journalistic Standards

U.S. Politics

Support provided by:

Learn More

Most Watched

Two police officers stand on a street at night with police tape behind them.

The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram

1h 24m

A composite of two photos. The one on the left shows a mural of Chinese President Xi Jinping behind a surveillance camera. The one on the right shows two Tibetan monks.

Battle for Tibet

54m

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump stand in front of a large American flag.

Trump’s Comeback

54m

A man's silhouette in front of a wall covered in photos and papers.

Antidote

1h 24m

A broken building and road destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning

54m

Kotzebue, an Inupiat town above the Arctic Circle.

Alaska’s Vanishing Native Villages

29m

The Resolute Desk in the Oval Office with President Trump's hands resting on a signed executive order.

Trump’s Power & the Rule of Law

1h 24m

Shadi Haroun wears a head lamp in a dark interior while looking behind bars.

Syria’s Detainee Files

1h 24m

Two people carrying firearms tear down a poster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria After Assad

54m

Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran

Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran

1h 55m

The FRONTLINE Newsletter

The Resolute Desk in the Oval Office with President Trump's hands resting on a signed executive order.

Trump’s Power & the Rule of Law

You’ll receive early alerts about our documentaries and investigations.

Thank you! Your subscription request has been received.

Related Stories

Live Chat 12 p.m. ET: Newt’s March to the White House?
Live Chat 12 p.m. ET: Newt’s March to the White House?
Read a transcript of our live chat on "The Long March of Newt Gingrich" with correspondent Peter Boyer and producer Stephen Talbot.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Six
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Six
In a remarkable political moment during the 1994 midterm elections, scores of Republican candidates bound themselves to Newt and his ideas, signing a Contract With America that promised congressional reform, welfare reform and a balanced budget.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Five
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Five
In 1986, Newt became the chair of GOPAC, the Republican political action committee, and he turned it into a potent instrument for his conservative vision.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Four
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Four
Newt arrived in Congress with two dreams: become speaker of the House and build a Republican majority.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Three
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Three
By the mid-1960s, Newt was living with his wife and two little girls in New Orleans, working on a PhD in history at Tulane.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Two
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Two
The Gingrich family moved to Columbus, Ga., after Newt's stepfather Bob was stationed at Fort Benning in 1960.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part One
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part One
In January 1996, as the country headed into a presidential election year, FRONTLINE aired "The Long March of Newt Gingrich," an investigative biography of the outspoken and controversial Speaker of the House.

Related Stories

Live Chat 12 p.m. ET: Newt’s March to the White House?
Live Chat 12 p.m. ET: Newt’s March to the White House?
Read a transcript of our live chat on "The Long March of Newt Gingrich" with correspondent Peter Boyer and producer Stephen Talbot.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Six
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Six
In a remarkable political moment during the 1994 midterm elections, scores of Republican candidates bound themselves to Newt and his ideas, signing a Contract With America that promised congressional reform, welfare reform and a balanced budget.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Five
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Five
In 1986, Newt became the chair of GOPAC, the Republican political action committee, and he turned it into a potent instrument for his conservative vision.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Four
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Four
Newt arrived in Congress with two dreams: become speaker of the House and build a Republican majority.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Three
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Three
By the mid-1960s, Newt was living with his wife and two little girls in New Orleans, working on a PhD in history at Tulane.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Two
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part Two
The Gingrich family moved to Columbus, Ga., after Newt's stepfather Bob was stationed at Fort Benning in 1960.
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part One
The Long March of Newt Gingrich: Part One
In January 1996, as the country headed into a presidential election year, FRONTLINE aired "The Long March of Newt Gingrich," an investigative biography of the outspoken and controversial Speaker of the House.

Get our Newsletter

Thank you! Your subscription request has been received.

Stay Connected

Explore

Home

Documentaries

Articles

Topics

Visual & Interactive

Interviews

Podcasts

Local Journalism

Info

About FRONTLINE

History

Awards

Our Funders

Donate

Announcements

Newsletter

Schedule

Our Team

Senior Team

Who We Are

Jobs / Internships

Contact Us

Policies

Editorial Standards and Ethics

Journalistic Guidelines

Privacy Policy

PBS Privacy Policy

PBS Terms of Use

Corporate Sponsorship

Teacher Center

PBS Learning Media

FRONTLINE Teacher Center

FRONTLINE Journalism Fund

Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation

Koo and Patricia Yuen

FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Web Site Copyright ©1995-2025 WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; Park Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Web Site Copyright ©1995-2025 WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

PBS logo
Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo
Abrams Foundation logo
PARK Foundation logo
MacArthur Foundation logo
Heising-Simons Foundation logo