>> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD
WITH EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED
IN PART BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY, AND ITS GLOBAL
HEALTH CARE CONSULTING
BUSINESS UNIT, HILLCO
HEALTH.
AND BY THE MATTSSON MCHALE
FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF
PUBLIC TELEVISION.
AND ALSO BY MFI FOUNDATION,
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF
LIFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO BY THE ALICE
KLEBERG REYNOLDS FOUNDATION,
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M EVAN SMITH.
HE'S A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE
U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, A CANDIDATE
FOR THE REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN
2012, AND THE AUTHOR OR
CO-AUTHOR OF 18 NON-FICTION
BOOKS AND 10 NOVELS,
INCLUDING THE JUST PUBLISHED
VICTORY AT YORKTOWN.
HE'S THE HONORABLE NEWT
GINGRICH.
THIS IS OVERHEARD.
ยง
>> MR. SPEAKER, WELCOME.
VERY NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANKS FOR COMING.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.
>> THANK YOU AM.
>> THIS IS THE THIRD NOVEL
IN A SERIES ABOUT WASHINGTON
AND THAT ERA OF OUR
COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY YOU
WROTE IT AND WHERE YOU ARE
IN THE SERIES RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
DEPENDING UPON WHETHER OR
NOT WE CAN CONVINCE OUR
PUBLISHER, I WANT TO GO BACK
AND WRITE WASHINGTON THE
WILDERNESS WHICH COVERS HIM
AS A VERY YOUNG MAN DURING
THE FRENCH-INDIAN WAR, WHICH
IS A PERIOD ALMOST NOBODY
HAS WRITTEN ABOUT IN A
SERIOUS WAY.
WE STARTED TO TRY MEN'S
SOULS, WHICH IS WASHINGTON
CROSSING THE DELAWARE ON
CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN AN ICE
STORM WITH SNOW -- WITH
ENORMOUS SNOWSTORM WITH ICE
IN THE RIVER, MARCHING NINE
MILES AT NIGHT TO SURPRISE A
GERMAN PROFESSIONAL UNIT AND
CAPTURE 800 MEN AT THE LOSS
OF ONE AMERICAN DEAD.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
EXTRAORDINARY GAMBLES IN
AMERICAN HISTORY AND SAVED
THE REVOLUTION FROM
COLLAPSE.
THEN WE WROTE VALLEY FORGE
WHICH CAPTURES THE WHOLE
TRAUMA OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
IN THE WINTER AND THE
EMERGENCE OF THE ARMY UNDER
THE TRAINING OF BARREN VON
STEUBEN UNDER A MODERN
SYSTEM CAPABLE OF FIGHTING
THE BRITISH.
NOW WE FINALLY HAVE
WASHINGTON AND VICTORY AT
YORKTOWN TAKING AN ENORMOUS
STRATEGIC GAMBLE.
HE CANNOT CAPTURE NEW YORK
BECAUSE OF THE ROYAL NAVY.
THE COUNTRY IS GETTING VERY
TIRED OF THE WAR.
THEY'VE BEEN AT IT SIX
YEARS.
THE FRENCH TROOPS ARE
SITTING IN RHODE ISLAND WITH
A VERY SMALL NAVY.
WASHINGTON HAS TAKEN A THIRD
OF HIS ARMY AND SENT IT DOWN
TO SOUTH UNDER GENERAL GREEN
AND THEY ARE SLOWLY CHEWING
UP GENERAL CORNWALLIS'
BRITISH ARMY WHO FIGHTS THEM
IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH
CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA AND
ENDS UP RETREATING TO THE
PENINSULA AT YORKTOWN.
WASHINGTON DECIDES HE WILL
MARCH -- HE WILL BRING THE
FRENCH FROM RHODE ISLAND TO
NEW YORK, MASK THE BRITISH
THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
ON, TAKE A THREE OR FOUR DAY
HA LEAD, MARCH TO VIRGINIA
AND HOPE THAT THE FRENCH
NAVY WILL ARRIVE TO SEAL OFF
YORKTOWN.
THIS IS AN ENORMOUS MORAL
AND STRATEGIC GAMBLE AND
HE'S DOING IT BECAUSE HE
THINKS THE COUNTRY HAS ABOUT
RUN OUT OF ENERGY AND IF
THEY DON'T WIN A VICTORY THE
COUNTRY WILL COLLAPSE AND
NEGOTIATE WITH THE BRITISH.
>> PRETTY EXCITING.
>> WELL, GREAT MOMENT.
THE ONLY TIME IN THE ENTIRE
WAR THAT YOU SEE WASHINGTON
LOSE SELF CONTROL IS WHEN HE
SEES THE FRENCH FLEET.
AND HE LITERALLY IS
DESCRIBED BY SEVERAL
WITNESSES AS SEEMING AS
THOUGH HE WERE CRAZY BECAUSE
HE'S DANCING AROUND AND HE'S
YELLING AND HE HAS TEARS
COMING DOWN BECAUSE THE
MORAL COST OF CARRYING A
COUNTRY TO FREEDOM SIX YEARS
OF -- HE ONLY SPENDS ONE
WEEK IN MOUNT VERNON, HIS
HOME, IN SIX YEARS.
SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
>> IT IS.
SO THE LOGICAL QUESTION IS
WHAT CAN YOUR PARTY AFTER
THIS ELECTION LEARN FROM
GEORGE WASHINGTON?
[LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK CHEERFUL
PERSISTENCE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IS THAT IT?
I LIKE THAT ANSWER.
THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.
>> BUT ALSO THE WILLINGNESS
TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES.
PEOPLE SAID WASHINGTON OFTEN
MADE A MISTAKE ONCE.
THEY DIDN'T MAKE A MISTAKE
TWICE.
AND I SAY SOME VERY OBVIOUS
THINGS.
I ACTUALLY WROTE A PIECE AND
SAID THAT THE FIRST THING
REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO IS
STOP AND THINK.
ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE RUNNING
AROUND BABBLING.
THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT
HAPPENED.
THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE
DATA, THEY HAVEN'T ANALYZED
THE CAMPAIGN.
THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT
IT.
I WILL SPEND FOUR TO SIX
MONTHS RESEARCHING WHAT
HAPPENED AND THEN WRITE A
GINGRICH REPORT ON THE
FUTURE OF CONSERVATISM IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
PROBABLY BY NEXT MAY OR
JUNE.
>> SO YOU DON'T SHARE THE
ANGST AND THE TEETH GNASHING
AND THE PESSIMISM THAT SOME
OF YOUR PARTY HAVE EXHIBITED
OVER LAST 10 DAYS IN THE
RESULT.
>> WELL, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH
THE RESULT.
BUT I SURVIVED GOLDWATER'S
COLLAPSE, I SURVIVED
WATERGATE.
I GOT BEATEN TWICE IN 74 AND
76.
THIS IS A TOUGH BUSINESS.
THE PRESIDENT RAN A
BRILLIANT CAMPAIGN.
WHATEVER --
>> YOU CREDIT HIM WITH THAT?
>> LOOK, I'M STRONGLY
OPPOSED TO OBAMA'S POLICIES,
BUT I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT
THAT THEY PUT A TEAM
TOGETHER THAT RAN A
CAMPAIGN.
YOU HAVE BASICALLY AN
OBSOLETE REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTION COMPETING WITH A
MODERN DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTION, AND YOU GET THE
SAME RESULTS YOU WOULD GET
IN WARFARE.
IMAGINE YOU SENT SOMEBODY
OUT WITH NO AIRCRAFT, NO
COMPUTERS, NO SATELLITES, NO
DRONES, AND YOU SAID HERE,
WHY DON'T YOU GO COMPETE.
OBAMA SIMPLY AND THE
DEMOCRATS -- I GIVE THEM A
LOT OF CREDIT.
YOU HAVE TO RESPECT YOUR
OPPONENTS WHEN THEY BEAT YOU
DECISIVELY.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED
IN THIS CASE.
>> WELL, IF YOU HAD TOLD ME
TWO WEEKS AGO THAT ROMNEY
WOULD GET FEWER VOTES THAN
JOHN MCCAIN, I WOULDN'T HAVE
BELIEVED YOU.
>> OR THAT OBAMA WOULD GET
MORE VOTES THAN GEORGE W.
BUSH DID IN 2004.
SO GOVERNOR ROMNEY SAID
YESTERDAY, NOW SOMEWHAT
FAMOUSLY, THAT THE REASON
THAT THE PRESIDENT WON IS
BECAUSE HE GAVE GIFTS TO
MINORITIES IN THE FORM OF
HEALTH CARE OR TO YOUNG
PEOPLE IN THE FORM OF
PREFERABLE COLLEGE LOANS.
>> I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED.
>> WITH GOVERNOR ROMNEY FOR
SAYING THAT.
>> WITH GOVERNOR ROMNEY'S
ANALYSIS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS
INSULTING AND PROFOUNDLY
WRONG.
>> YEAH.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
WHY IS THAT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WE DIDN'T
LOSE A ASIAN AMERICANS
BECAUSE WE GIVE GIFTS.
>> 73% OF ASIAN AMERICANS,
71% OF LATINOS.
>> THIS IS THE HARDEST
WORKING AND MOST SUCCESSFUL
ETHNIC GROUP IN AMERICA.
THEY AIN'T INTO GIFTS.
[LAUGHTER]
SECOND, IT'S AN INSULT TO
ALL AMERICANS.
IT REDUCES US TO ECONOMIC
ENTITIES WHO HAVE NO
PASSION, NO IDEALISM, NO
DREAMS, NO PHILOSOPHY AND
IT -- IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THAT SIMPLE, MY QUESTION
WOULD BE WHY DIDN'T YOU OUT
BID HIM?
>> YOU HAD THE MONEY.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU COULD BE IN
THE GIFT GIVING BUSINESS.
>> HE HAD ENOUGH BILLIONAIRE
SUPPORTER.
IF BUYING THE ELECTORATE WAS
THE KEY HE COULD HAVE DON'T
HIS SUPER PAC FRIENDS
TOGETHER AND SAID GIVE
GIFTS.
BE LIKE THE NORTHWEST INDIAN
WHOSE HAVE GIFT GIVING
CEREMONIES AND HE COULD HAVE
GONE DOWN BY TOWN AND SAID
COME HERE AND LET ME GIVE
YOU GIFTS.
HERE ARE REPUBLICAN GIFTS.
YOU COULD HAVE AN ELEPHANT
COMING IN WITH GIFTS ON IT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> YOU'RE VERY GRACIOUS
SPEAKER TO GIVE THE
PRESIDENT CREDIT, BUT YOU
KNOW THE FACT IS THERE ARE A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THINK
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA DIDN'T
WIN THIS ELECTION SO MUCH AS
GOVERNOR ROMNEY LOST IT.
I WONDER IF YOU HAVE A POINT
OF VIEW ABOUT THE QUALITY OF
GOVERNOR ROMNEY'S CANDIDACY.
>> WELL, LET ME GO BACK TO
THE FIRST HALF OF THAT.
YOU DON'T GET 87 AND A HALF%
TURNOUT IN MILWAUKEE BY
ACCIDENT.
>> BY NOT WINNING THE
ELECTION.
>> THIS PRESIDENT -- I
DIDN'T THINK -- I SAID
PUBLICLY WE BEAT HIM 53-47
AND GET 53 ELECTORAL VOTES.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
POSSIBLE TO TAKE EIGHT AND A
HALF PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT,
TWO DOLLARS EXTRA FOR
GASOLINE, GIGANTIC DEFICITS,
THE BENGHAZI MESS, RADICAL
POLICIES AND GET REELECTED.
I THOUGHT SOMEWHERE IN THERE
WAS TILT.
>> SO WOULD NOMINEE GINGRICH
HAVE DONE BETTER IN THE END
THAN NOMINEE ROMNEY?
>> I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING
THAT.
I DO THINK THE ONE WAY WHERE
EITHER RICK PERRY OR I WOULD
HAVE DONE BETTER IS
APPEALING TO LATINO AMERICANS.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THAT.
>> BUT GOVERNOR ROMNEY IS A
VERY GOOD ORGANIZER.
HE'S A VERY CAPABLE
FUND-RAISER.
HE DID BRILLIANTLY IN THE
FIRST DEBATE.
IT IS THE MOST ONE SIDED
DEBATE IN THE HISTORY OF
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM A FAIR
AMOUNT OF CREDIT.
BUT I DO THINK IF YOU START
OFF BY SEALING OFF THE
LATINO AMERICANS AND ASIAN
AMERICANS YOU MAKE IT ALMOST
MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN.
AND IF YOU THEN RUN A
PERSONALITY RACE, YOU MAKE
IT HARDER TO TURN OUT YOUR
OWN BASE.
SO YOU HAVE A DUALITY THERE.
I THINK THIS FACT THAT HE
RAN A MILLION VOTES OR A
MILLION AND A HALF VOTES
BEHIND MCCAIN HAS TO BE
TROUBLING, BUT I THINK IT'S
A HUGE MISTAKE FOR
REPUBLICANS TO BLAME ROMNEY.
WE LOST NORTH DAKOTA FOR THE SENATE.
WE LOST MONTANA FOR THE SENATE.
WE LOST GOVERNORS RACES IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, MONTANA AND
WASHINGTON STATE.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND
SAY THERE ARE SOME SYSTEMIC
THINGS HERE THAT ROMNEY MAY
OR MAY NOT HAVE SOLVED, BUT
YOU CAN'T BLAME MITT ROMNEY
FOR THIS OUTCOME.
>> SO THOSE WHO SAY WE LOST
YOU LAST TIME WHEN YOU
NOMINATED JOHN MCCAIN AND
THIS TIME WITH MITT ROMNEY,
WHEN YOU NOMINATE SOMEONE
WHO IS INSUFFICIENTLY
CONSERVATIVE, YOU WILL LOSE.
NEXT TIME THE MESSAGE IS
NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO IS
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
CONSERVATIVE THAN ANY OF
THOSE TWO, WHERE DO YOU COME
DOWN ON THAT?
>> I SAID ALL SPRING THAT I
THOUGHT THERE WERE OTHER
CANDIDATES WHO WOULD HAVE
BEEN BETTER IN ROMNEY.
I HAVE ONE IN MIND.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT IT'S NOT
ABOUT BEING MORE
CONSERVATIVE OR LESS.
YOU NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS
ARTICULATE, WHO IS ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE A VISION OF
AMERICA'S FUTURE, BUT IT
ALSO STARTS WITH A VERY
SIMPLE PROMISE.
I WANT TO REPRESENT 100% OF AMERICA.
I WANT TO FIND WHAT IS THE
COMMON GROUND THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.
WHAT'S THE VISION OF A
BETTER FUTURE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER?
IF YOU BELIEVE AS I DO THAT
THE LEFT DOESN'T WORK, THAT
AS MARGARET MATCHER ONCE
SAID, THE PROBLEM WITH
SOCIALISM IS IT RUNS OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY TO
SPEND, AT SOME POINT PEOPLE
WILL LOOK UP AND SAY GIVE ME
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.
WHOEVER WE CAN NOMINATE WHO
CAN ARTICULATE A BETTER
ALTERNATIVE AND WHO CAN
WITHSTAND THE MEDIA AND
WITHSTAND THE DEBATES IS THE
RIGHT PERSON TO PICK.
BUT I THINK IT'S DEEPER THAN THAT.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO
FOCUS ON ROMNEY.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS AN
INSTITUTION IS TODAY NOT
COMPETITIVE IN A NUMBER OF
KEY WAYS AND THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, LONG BEFORE IT WORRY
ABOUT WHO IT'S GOING TO
NOMINATE, HAS TO THINK ABOUT
BECOMING A COMPETITIVE INSTITUTION.
>> AND YET PEOPLE SAY OFTEN
THIS IS AN INHERENTLY SMALL
SEAT CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY.
WE HEARD THAT A LOT.
HOW DO YOU HAVE A CENTER
RIGHT COUNTRY, BUT A PARTY
THAT CAN CAPITALIZE ON IT
THAT'S ABOUT EXECUTION.
>> I THINK YOU STARTED TO
SAY IT, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
OVERPERFORMS ON ITS IDEOLOGY
AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
UNDERPERFORMS ON ITS IDEOLOGY.
>> LET ME COME BACK TO THE
QUESTION OF LATINOS BECAUSE
MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION
SINCE THE ELECTION IS WHERE
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WENT
WRONG ON LATINOS.
ON FOX ON THE NIGHT OF THE
ELECTION ONE SAID THAT WHERE
GOVERNOR ROMNEY WENT WRONG
IS WHEN HE GOT TO THE RIGHT
OF RICK PERRY ON INSTATE
TUITION DURING THAT DEBATE
IN ORLANDO AND THAT THE
TAKEAWAY FROM THAT IS YOU'RE
TRYING TO ATTRACT A GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE SOMEHOW
INSULTING OR SEEMING TO
INSULT WITH THE LEGISLATION
THAT YOU PROPOSE, THE WORDS
AND DEEDS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE MEDIA
IN PARTICULAR HAS MADE TOO
MUCH OF THE RIFT BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND LATINOS AND
HOW DO YOU BRING THE LATINO
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS SO FAST
GROWING IN SO MANY PLACES IN
THE COUNTRY, BACK INTO THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOLD?
>> LET ME START AND SAY IF
YOU HAVE AN INTELLIGENT
OPPONENT AND YOU MAKE A
SUBSTANTIAL MISTAKE, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE
MEDIA BECAUSE YOUR OPPONENT
WILL COMMUNICATE IT.
THE OBAMA PEOPLE BEGAN
ADVERTISING ON UNIVISION AND
TELEMUNDO IN MAY.
NOW, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT
THE BIGGER MISTAKE WAS WHEN
I SAID WE'RE GOING TO DEPORT GRANDMOTHER.
AND ROMNEY SAID WELL, SHE'LL SELF-DEPORT.
BECAUSE THAT BECAME A COMMERCIAL.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE
MEMORABLE PHRASES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
>> AND YOU GO TO A COMMUNITY
AND GO HI, I'VE GOT THIS
REALLY GREAT ECONOMIC
ARGUMENTS AND YOUR
GRANDMOTHER WON'T BE HERE
DURING THE PROSPERITY, BUT I
DON'T WANT YOU TO WORRY
ABOUT THAT PART OF IT
BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE A LOT BETTER JOB.
WELL, IF YOU'RE A PRO FAMILY
CONSERVATIVE AND YOU'RE
SUGGESTING WE'RE GOING TO
KICK OUT GRANDMA, YOU'RE
CREATING A KIND OF EMOTIONAL TENSION.
AND THE COMMUNITY KIND OF
GOES, LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
I CAN HAVE IMAGE NATIONALLY
HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT
GRANDMA WILL BE HERE ON SUNDAY.
OR I COULD KICK GRANDMA OUT,
BUT I'LL GET A BETTER JOB.
WELL, LUCKILY FOR ALL OF US
THIS IS NOT A COUNTRY THAT
KICKS OUT GRANDMA FOR THE JOB.
>> SO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE
SENSE WHERE DOES YOUR PARTY
NOW GO TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE LATINO
COMMUNITY THAT IS PRODUCTIVE
WHERE LATINOS MAY THINK WE
HAVE TWO OPTIONS?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO START
WITH RICK PERRY AND JEB BUSH
AND MARCO RUBEIO AND NEWT
GINGRICH, AND WE NEED TO
HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH
REPUBLICANS BECAUSE WE NEED
TO GET OUR OWN PARTY TO
UNDERSTAND THAT UNLESS WE
ARE AWARE OF THE REALITIES,
THERE'S NO POINT IN GOING
OVER HERE AND CREATING SOME
FANCY CLEVER PROGRAM WHICH
IS DESTROYED THE FIRST TIME
YOU SEE A REPUBLICAN DEBATE
OR DESTROYED THE FIRST TIME
YOU SEE THE HOUSE AND SENATE
REPUBLICANS DO SOMETHING.
>> RIGHT.
>> BY THE WAY, I THINK MOST
GOVERNORS WHO ARE
PRACTICAL -- WE HAVE 30
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS.
I THINK MOST OF THEM WANT
COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.
>> AND YOU'RE EXPECTING THAT
THE REPUBLICANS WILL FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS.
IN FACT, SENATOR GRAHAM AND
SENATOR SHUMER ARE ALREADY
WORKING TOGETHER ON SOME
KIND OF COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
YOU THINK THAT THE QUESTION
OF IMMIGRATION REFORM WILL
BE RESOLVED REASONABLY SOON --
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE
PRESIDENT 'S TO KEEP IT AS AN ISSUE.
>> DO YOU THINK THE
PRESIDENT WOULD KEEP IT AS
AN ISSUE RATHER THAN KEEP IT
AS POLICY?
>> I SAID I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE A
VERY SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT BY
REPUBLICANS TO GET TO AN
IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT IS
EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL THAT
DOES INCLUDE BORDER CONTROL,
BUT THAT ALSO RECOGNIZES
THAT YOU'VE GOT TO FIND SOME
METHOD FOR RESIDENCY IF NOT
FOR THE CITY 17 SHIP.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
HEALTH CARE, ANOTHER ISSUE
THAT CAME UP AT VARIOUS
POINTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HEALTH
CARE AS MUCH AS SOME OF US
EXPECTED TO.
YOU CERTAINLY TALKED ABOUT
IT A LOT.
WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT A
REELECTED, WE HAVE THE
ROBERTS COURT AFFIRMING THE
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE
HEALTH CARE ACT.
SO ONWARD WE GO.
IF YOU WERE ADVISING YOUR
PARTY, WHAT SHOULD THE
PARTY'S POSITION IN CONGRESS
BE AND HOW SHOULD GOVERNORS
REGARD THE NEW WORLD THAT WE
SEE AFTER THE ELECTION?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE
THREE TRACKS ON HEALTH CARE,
STARTING WITH THE
RECOGNITION THAT OBAMA CARE
IS NOT GOING TO GET
REPEALED.
THEY GAINED SEATS IN THE
SENATE AND OBAMA IS STILL
PRESIDENT.
>> CAN'T DO IT.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO IN THE CONTEXT OF OBAMA
CARE IMPLEMENTATION, I THINK
THERE ARE THREE ZONES TO
LOOK AT.
THE FIRST IS TO HOLD
HEARINGS ON THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES
THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO PART
TIME EMPLOYMENT IN ORDER TO
AVOID THE MANDATES IS GOING
TO BE JUST BREATHTAKING.
THE PROBLEM THE STATES ARE
GOING TO RUN INTO.
THERE WILL BE A WHOLE ZONE
HERE OF WHAT DOES
APPLICATION MEAN?
MOVING A BILL TO ELIMINATE
THE CONCEPT OF A DEATH
COMMITTEE AND TO REALLY
TRULY SHIFT THOSE DECISIONS
BACK TO THE DOCTORS WOULD BE
IN FACT A POWERFUL EXAMPLE.
SO YOU COULD DO MODIFICATIONS.
SECOND, I THINK, IS STARTING
WITH THE GOVERNORS HOW DO
YOU MAXIMIZE FREEDOM AND HOW
DO YOU MAXIMIZE DOCTORS
CONTINUING TO PRACTICE MEDICINE?
THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS WHO
NOW SAY TO ME THEY'RE GOING
TO QUIT IS REALLY A PROBLEM.
AND YOU COULD HAVE A VERY
BIG DOCTOR SHORTAGE IN THE
NOT DISTANT FUTURE.
THE THIRD THING, WHERE I
FAILED AND I REALLY FEEL
BADLY ABOUT THIS, ONE OF THE
REASON I'M RUNNING IS THAT
THERE ARE ENORMOUS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING THE
HEALTH SYSTEM.
I'LL GIVE YOU THREE EXAMPLES.
>> YOU SAID I AM RUNNING --
>> NO, I WAS RUNNING.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU
ACTUALLY MADE NEWS HERE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
>> NO.
>> THE LAST THING I WANT ON
THE NEWS TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THE -- I WANT TO GET
ACROSS THE NOTION THAT THERE
ARE THESE MARVELOUS FUTURES
AND THAT YOU DON'T -- I
COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO
PENETRATE THE POLITICAL
PRESS WHICH FINDS IT HARD TO
COVER OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE THINGS.
BUT THERE WERE THREE AREAS.
ONE IS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
WHERE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO
SEE AN EXPLOSIVE
OPPORTUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
TAKE YOUR SKIN, YOUR TISSUES
TO GROW YOUR KIDNEY, TO HAVE
A TRANSPLANT WHERE YOU HAVE
NO REJECTION BECAUSE WE'RE
PUTTING YOU BACK IN YOU.
THE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THAT ZONE ARE
JUST BREATHTAKING AND IT
REQUIRES FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION REFORM AND A
FEW OTHER STEPS TO GET IT TO
ACCELERATE, BUT YOU COULD
SEE A REVOLUTION IN THE NEXT
20 YEARS IN HOW WE TAKE CARE
OF OURSELVES THAT EXTENDS
OUR LIVES, EXTENDS OUR
INDEPENDENT LIVING, EXTENDS
OUR HEALTH AND LOWERS COST.
THE SECOND AREA IS BRAIN
RESEARCH, WHICH GETS YOU
INTO ALZHEIMER'S, AUTISM,
PARKINSON'S, MENTAL HEALTH,
ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITIES.
IN ALZHEIMER'S ALONE WE WILL
SPEND $20 TRILLION BETWEEN
NOW AND 2050, 20 TRILLION.
ONE AND A HALF FEDERAL DEBTS.
SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
HUGE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION IS VERY BADLY
DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH IT.
THE THIRD IS IN TERMS OF
INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
IF YOU HAD AN AMERICAN
EXPRESS VISA OR MASTERCARD
MODEL OF ANTI-FRAUD EXPERT
SYSTEMS YOU SAVE BETWEEN 60
AND $110 BILLION IN MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID FRAUD, A YEAR, ANNUALLY.
IT'S A TRILLION DOLLARS OVER A DECADE.
SO I THINK YOU COULD SEE A
POSITIVE MODERNIZATION OF
THE HEALTH SYSTEM EVEN
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF
OBAMA CARE.
>> WHO IS OPPOSED TO IT?
>> INERTIA.
IT'S HARD TO LEARN.
IT'S COMPLICATED.
THE CONGRESS DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND IT.
>> SO IT'S NOT PARTISAN.
>> IT'S NOT PARTISAN. NO.
I HAD AS MUCH TROUBLE
CONVINCING THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION AS I DID
CONVINCING THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
BUT THE BIPARTISAN
UNWILLINGNESS TO THINK ABOUT
NEW IDEAS.
>> SPEAKING OF PARTISANSHIP,
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE
ASPECT OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS OUGHT TO BE TOWARDS
ONE ANOTHER.
WE HEAR ABOUT THE TOXICITY
OF POLITICS AND HOW WE'RE
MORE POLARIZED THAN EVER.
IS THERE A WAY TO CRACK THAT?
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK INTO
ANOTHER SESSION OF CONGRESS.
WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN LED
HOUSE, WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC
SENATE, SLIGHTLY LARGER
MARGIN, BUT EFFECTIVELY THE
SAME AS BEFORE.
WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.
HOW DO WE NOT REPEAT THE
GRIDLOCK AND TOXICITY OF THE
LAST FOUR YEARS?
>> I THINK FIRST OF ALL, I
WOULD ENCOURAGE -- I CAN'T
SPEAK FOR THE SENATE BECAUSE
I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT
HARRY REID WOULD BE LIKE.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE
SPEAKER BOEHNER TO FIND
BILLS THAT THE DEMOCRATS
INTRODUCED THAT ARE GOOD,
SMALL IDEAS AND BRING THEM UP.
YOU CAN -- I TRIED LAST YEAR
AND FAILED TO GET THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS TO PASS A BILL
THAT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED BY
TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS THAT
WOULD -- BY WEBB AND WARNER
OF VIRGINIA TO ALLOW
DRILLING OFFSHORE FOR VIRGINIA.
HERE YOU HAD TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS DOING SOMETHING
REPUBLICANS BELIEVE IN IDEOLOGICALLY.
IF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAD
PASSED IT, SENT IT TO THE
SENATE AND SAID TO HARRY
REID, HEY, WE'RE PASSING
YOUR TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS' BILL, DON'T YOU
THINK YOU OUGHT TO BRING UP
THEIR TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR'S BILL.
PRETTY HARD TO BE PARTISAN.
>> WHY IS THAT -- YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKER?
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
BE SPEAKER AND YOU KNOW WHAT
THE MINDSET CAN BE IN A
HOUSE WITH A LOT OF
DIFFICULT TO HERD FOLKS,
WHICH WAS SOMETHING YOU
EXPERIENCED PROBABLY AFTER
THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
PERIOD IN 94.
A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE CAME IN,
THEY HAD IDEAS.
SO IS THE SPEAKER JUST
FAILING TO LIVE UP TO HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES AS SPEAKER
AND NOT DOING THIS?
>> NO, NO.
MOST POLITICIANS AREN'T
GIGANTIC RISK TAKERS.
I CAME OUT OF IT -- IF I CAN
USE A FOOTBALL ANALOGY.
I CAME OUT OF A BACKGROUND
BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN IN THE
MINORITY SO LONG, THAT I WAS
LIKE A ROLLOUT QUARTERBACK.
I WAS GOING TO TRY TO THROW
DEEP OVER PLAY.
I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I
COULD TO KEEP THE BALL MOVING.
I WAS GOING TO TAKE RISKS.
AND SO IT'S NATIONAL FOR ME
TO SAY WHAT CAN I PUT TOGETHER?
IT'S NOT NATURAL.
>> THAT MAY NOT BE HIS THING.
>> MOST POLITICIANS ARE RISK AVOIDING.
AND -- BECAUSE AS I PROVED,
I ONLY LASTED FOR FOUR YEARS
AS SPEAKER IN PART BECAUSE I
WORE OUT MY MEMBERS.
IT'S HARD WORK AND ITS
CONTROVERSIAL AND SOMETIMES
AS YOU SAY, INTERCEPTED.
AND I THINK PARTLY MY
MEMBERS JUST BURNED OUT.
THEY THOUGHT THIS IS A LOT OF TURMOIL.
WELL, YOU PASS WELFARE
REFORM, YOU BALANCE THE
BUDGET FOR FOUR YEARS, IT'S
A LOT OF TURMOIL.
>> SO I GUESS JOHN BOEHNER
WOULD BE SPEAKER AGAIN
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONE VOTE FOR YOU.
DID YOU SEE THAT?
REPRESENTATIVE LARRY GOMERT
WHO OFTEN FLIES BY HIS OWN
SET OF COORDINATES.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU
DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE HOUSE TO BE SPEAKER.
[LAUGHTER]
SO YOU GOT ONE VOTE.
>> WHICH MAKES ME A FOOTNOTE
IN SOME UNUSUAL HISTORY OF
THE HOUSE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> HOW SHERMANESQUE WOULD
YOUR RESPONSE HAD BEEN IF
THERE HAD BEEN A MOVE TO
HAVE YOU COME BACK IN AND
LEAD THEM?
I WILL NOT SERVE.
DON'T NOMINATE.
WHAT WOULD HAVE YOU DONE?
>> IF THERE HAD BEEN A MOVE
I WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS IMPRACTICAL.
IF THERE WAS A MAJORITY VOTE
I WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFUSED.
>> AND YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A NEW JOB.
WE HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT.
WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE YOU
GIVEN THE SCHEDULE YOU KEEP
UP, THE BOOKS YOU WRITE, THE
SPEECHES, IT SEEMS TO BE COMPULSIVE,
THE COMPULSIVENESS OF YOUR
THINKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES
AND YOUR PROS THEY LATIZING
ON VARIOUS THINGS THAT YOU
BELIEVE IN.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE DONE.
>> WHY WOULD YOU DO?
>> WELL, I'M ASKING.
ARE YOU DONE?
WILL YOU RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN?
>> I DON'T KNOW AM I'M A CITIZEN.
I'M VERY FORTUNATE.
I GET TO GO BE A CITIZEN ALL
DAY EVERYDAY.
I HAD HUGE FUN YESTERDAY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.
I HAD GREAT FUN TODAY WITH
TIM ROWELL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
>> BUT YOU LIKED BEING IN
OFFICE AND LIKED BEING IN A
POSITION OF ELECTIVE OFFICE
THAT GAVE YOU A PLATFORM
FROM WHICH TO SPEAK AND DO.
>> BUT I HAD 11 YEARS
BETWEEN LEAVING THE
SPEAKERSHIP AND RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT AND I WAS REALLY
BUSY FOR ALL 11 YEARS.
>> SO YOU DON'T INTEND TO
RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN?
>> IT'S NOT MY INTENTION,
BUT I'M NOT RULING IT O.
>> WOULD YOU RUN FOR
ANYTHING ELSE POTENTIALLY?
>> NO.
I DON'T THINK SO.
>> ON SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO
ENJOY YOU ON THE TRAIL.
>> I'LL TRY TO LEARN AND
I'LL TRY TO THINK AND I'M
GOING TO TRY TO HAVE IDEAS.
>> WOULD YOU EVER ENTERTAIN
BEING BROUGHT INTO THE
ADMINISTRATION?
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
THAT MAYBE THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD EXTEND AN OLIVE
BRANCH TO MATTSSON MCHALE
AND SAY WOMAN -- TO MITT
ROMNEY AND SAY COME BE
TREASURY SECRETARY.
BUT TO USE GOVERNOR ROMNEY
OR USE A PROMINENT REPUBLICAN.
>> UNLESS THE PRESIDENT CAME
AND SAID HE WANTED A
TRILLION, SIX HUNDRED
BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW
TAXES, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
TURN TO GOVERNOR ROMNEY AND
SAY HI, ESPECIALLY THE
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
>> ALTHOUGH, LISTEN, BILL
CRYSTAL AND GLEN HUBBARD AND
A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH
GOVERNOR ROMNEY DURING THE
CAMPAIGN HAVE EXPRESSED A
LOT MORE OPENNESS TO TAX
INCREASES ON THE WEALTHY
THAN THEY DID IN THE CAMPAIGN.
>> BUT NONE OF THEM HOLD OFFICE.
>> SO YOU THINK THAT THAT
WOULD DISQUALIFY GOVERNOR
ROMNEY IN SOME RESPECTS.
>> I DON'T THINK HE HAS ANY
INTEREST IN BETRAYING HIS
CORE PRINCIPLES ON BEHALF OF BARACK OBAMA.
>> BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT
IT SEEMS LIKE DURING THE
CAMPAIGN HE WOULD CHANGE HIS
PRINCIPLES TO FIT THE MOMENT.
DIDN'T HE?
WASN'T THAT THE BIG
CRITICISM THAT HE DIDN'T
STAY WITH ONE SET OF IDEAS
FOR VERY LONG?
>> I THINK THAT HE CLEARLY
TRIMMED A LITTLE BIT, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY --
[LAUGHTER]
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO --
YOU COULD SAY THE SAME THING
ABOUT OBAMA.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO
SAY THAT HE SIGNIFICANTLY
SHIFTED.
>> SO IF THE PRESIDENT SAID
THE SECRETARY IS GOING TO
RETIRE AND RETURN TO KANSAS,
SPEAKER, WOULD YOU COME AND
BE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES SECRETARY,
BIPARTISAN.
>> AND HELP IMPLEMENT OBAMA CARE.
>> HELP FIX IT.
THINK OF IT AS HELP FIX IT.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST AT THAT
POINT THAT HE NEEDS TO
REALLY SIT DOWN WITH HIS
CLOSEST ADVISORS AND TALK
ABOUT THE PRESSURES, THE
DIFFICULTIES.
>> FORTUNATELY MENTAL HEALTH
IS COVERED UNDER OBAMA CARE.
ACTUALLY, HE WOULD HAVE A
WAY TO PAY FOR IT.
SPEAKER, YOU'RE VERY
GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.
THANK YOU FOR TALKING POLITICS.
SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU
JOIN US IN THE STUDIO.
VISIT YOUR WEBSITE AT
KLRU.ORG/OVERHEARD TO FIND
INVITATIONS TO INTERVIEWS, Q
AND A'S WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
AND GUEST AND AN ARCHIVE OF
PAST EPISODES.
>> PART OF WHAT'S DISGUSTING
ABOUT THE WAY THE SUPER PACS
HAVE OPERATED IS YOU GET
CONSULTANTS WHO COME IN WHO
HAVE NO INSTITUTIONAL
MEMORY, NO VESTED INTEREST.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
AROUND AFTER IT'S OVER.
THEY CAN RUN THE MOST
NEGATIVE, VICIOUS, NASTY AD
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
HALF THE ADS ABOUT ME WERE
JUST NOT TRUE.
>> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD
WITH EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED
IN PART BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY AND ITS GLOBAL
HEALTH CARE CONSULTING
BUSINESS UNIT, HILLCO HEALTH.
AND BY THE MATTSSON MCHALE
FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF
PUBLIC TELEVISION.
AND ALSO BY MFI FOUNDATION,
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF
LIFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO BY THE ALICE
KLEBERG REYNOLDS FOUNDATION,
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT TIME ON OVERHEARD...
>> I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO
OBAMA'S POLICIES, BUT I HAVE
GREAT RESPECT FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT THAT
THEY PUT A TEAM TOGETHER
THAT RAN A CAMPAIGN.
YOU HAVE BASICALLY AN
OBSOLETE REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTION COMPETING WITH A
MODERN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION.
MARGARET THATCHER ONCE SAID
THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIALISM
IS IT RUNS OUT OF OTHER
PEOPLE'S MONEY TO SPEND.
AT SOME POINT PEOPLE WILL
LOOK UP AND SAY GIVE ME A
BETTER ALTERNATIVE.