Fall Of The House Of Newt

An election shock ignites a Republican revolt: Gingrich is only the first victim in the growing fight for the party's future

P.F.BENTLEY FOR TIME

Newt Gingrich was still a shaggy rebel in 1993 when he sat down with the new Democratic President to share a drink on the Truman balcony. Clinton worked him hard, oozing charm, grabbing his arm, locking and listening. Newt, the smaller man, had been startled by his size, his friendliness; he liked the guy in spite of himself. Then Clinton leaned forward, and whispered to Newt his big secret, the one that defined his whole life: "I'm a lot like Baby Huey," he told Newt. "I'm fat. I'm ugly. But if you push me down, I keep coming back. I just...

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