In an appearance on “Balancing Act with John Katko,” former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich said that the United States is too complicated to be run by a dictator. The Founding Fathers designed a machine so inefficient that no dictator could make it work. It’s a brilliant design. The Senate is elected for six years, the House for two years, the President for four years. The Supreme Court is off to one side. It is very, very hard to make it work. And that is how it was designed.”
In a wide-ranging conversation, Gingrich reflected on the 30th anniversary of the Contract with America, an agenda advocated by the Republican Party during the 1994 congressional election campaign.
The contract is credited with helping to flip the House and Senate to Republican control in 1994, and for catalyzing a realignment in U.S. politics that remains relevant on the eve of the 2024 presidential election. Gingrich addressed both those views on “Balancing Act,” answering questions from the host, former Congressman John Katko, on a show aimed at finding common ground on challenging issues.
“The biggest accomplishment of the Contract with America was the fact that this was the only time in 100 years that we had four consecutive balanced budgets. It was a huge achievement, enormous change, and an example of a team working together to achieve a large goal,” Gingrich said. I constantly maneuvered Clinton on issues where if he wanted to get reelected, he had to go along with us.
Exclusive Interview on WCNY’s ‘Balancing Act with John Katko,’ Former Speaker Newt Gingrich Says a Dictator Can’t Run America
