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Gingrich's decision: How it happenedBy John King/CNNWASHINGTON (November 6) -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich called his office in Washington from Georgia about 5 p.m. ET Friday, and told his top aide he had decided not to run for another term as speaker, sources told CNN. In Gingrich's office at the time were former congressman Bob Walker, a close friend, and former chief of staff Dave Meyer. They did a conference call, first to Gingrich's staffs in Georgia and Washington. A second conference call was made to the Republican leadership, committee chairmen and a handful of members with whom Gingrich is close. A third call followed, for all Republican members of the House to call in on if they wanted. Gingrich said on the call his decision was not prompted by the decision of House Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston to run for the Speaker's post, nor the decision by Rep. Steve Largent to run for Majority Leader, the No. 2 post in the GOP leadership. It was no particular event, he told them. He was confident he would have won if he had run for speaker, but felt it was not in the best interest of the party for him to run again, sources indicated. On the call Gingrich also said it was most unlikely he would come back at all, and sources say he is telling friends he is going to resign from Congress, although he has not picked a date. |
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MORE STORIES:Friday, November 6, 1998
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