4/1/98

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Honorable Newt Gingrich has accepted Ohio University's invitation to speak at one of two undergraduate commencement ceremonies June 13.

President Robert Glidden joined the Senior Class Council in inviting Gingrich to speak at the 2 p.m. commencement. "I am pleased that our graduates will have the opportunity to hear one of our nation's leaders -- a person who concerns himself with the highest levels of public policy every day and who we can expect to bring an important and timely message."

Now serving his 10th term in Congress, Gingrich is the first Republican to be re-elected speaker of the House of Representatives since 1928. Gingrich served as House Republican whip from 1989 to 1994. He represents the 6th Congressional District of Georgia.

Acknowledged as the chief architect of the Republican "Contract with America," he served as chairman of the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego. Gingrich was called the "Hottest Entrepreneur in America" by Peter Drucker in Inc. Magazine. Drucker noted, "The most visible innovator and entrepreneur in this country today is neither in business nor the social sector. He's in government. It's Newt Gingrich. If I've ever seen a real entrepreneur, he's one. An entrepreneur is someone who gets something new done."

Time magazine, in naming Gingrich "Man of the Year" for 1995, said, "Newt Gingrich belongs in the category of the exceptional....Today, because of Newt Gingrich, the question is not whether a balanced budget plan will come to pass, but when." Forbes magazine said, "Never in American history has a speaker of the House pushed through so much sweeping, substantive legislation as Newt Gingrich is doing."

Gingrich received his bachelor's degree from Emory University and a master's and doctorate in modern European history from Tulane University. He taught history and environmental studies at West Georgia College for eight years before being elected to Congress in 1978.

Two undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be held in the 13,000-seat Convocation Center June 13. As in past years, the 10 a.m. commencement will be for the colleges of business, communication, fine arts and health and human services. The morning commencement speaker is expected to be announced within the week. The afternoon commencement will be for Honors Tutorial College, University College, and the colleges of arts and sciences, education, and engineering and technology.