Newt Gingrich flunks as a historian when discussing Sarah Palin

Newt Gingrich, even as he joined the chorus of Republican conservative leaders lauding John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate, still must have been somewhat rattled by the pick. At least, that's the only way we can explain an uncharacteristic lapse in the history department. Gingrich is known for his command of history (anyone doubting that should just ask him).

Gingrich, a trained historian who taught the subject at the University of West Georgia before taking the leap into politics, was listing Palin's various attributes during a weekend appearance on Fox News when he added this: "She's the first journalist ever to be named to a national ticket."

Wrong.

In fact, not even close to being right.

At least three fellows who worked as ink-stained wretches have appeared at the top of major-party tickets (and we would not be surprised if there were others among the cast of often-obscure vice presidential candidates in the distant past).

The 1920 presidential election (the first in which women could vote) featured two journalists-turned-politicians squaring off for the White House.

Republican Warren G. Harding worked for a couple of small newspapers in Ohio before serving for many years as editor and publisher of the Marion Daily Star in the state. He ran against -- and defeated in a landslide -- fellow Ohioan James Cox, a reporter who rose to become editor and owner of several papers, including the Dayton Daily News. From that perch, he established Cox Enterprises, a large media company now headquartered in Atlanta.

More recently, Al Gore (Newt MUST remember him) includes on his resume a lengthy stint as a reporter at the Nashville Tennessean.

All of Gingrich's commentary can be viewed below.

Perhaps the point Gingrich meant to make was that Palin, a journalism major at the University of Idaho, is the first one-time sportscaster on a national ticket. Here's a clip of one of her broadcasts from 20 years ago:

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[LZ]

Minor correction for you-- Newt taught at West Georgia College, which has since been renamed the State University of West Georgia. But while he was there, it was West Georgia College. My dad was a fellow professor of his, and I had his ex-wife Jackie Gingrich as my high school math teacher. She was awesome. Newt, not so much. (Jackie's the wife he dumped while she was recovering from cancer treatments)

[k h]

Here's another: Horace Greeley

Pretty important figure in journalism [to put it lightly] and candidate for President.

[Eph]

Ronald Reagan was a sportscaster.

[zam]

You found a minor mistake by a guy you obviously don't like. WHOA STOP THE PRESSES! THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!!

[Mojo51]

You missed this in your history:
GINGRICH: It's stronger than Barack Obama's. I don't know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She's been a real mayor. He hasn't. She's been a real governor. He hasn't. She's been in charge of the Alaska National Guard. He hasn't. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She's a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I've never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don't know of a single thing Obama has done except talk and write, and I'd like you to tell me one thing you think Senator Obama's done.