Tom Block: Don’t underestimate Newt’s focus
or ability to surprise the political world

By Tom Block

KyForward contributor

In the 1970s I was a congressional aide working for two House Republicans; first as a legislative assistant and then chief of staff. Like everyone working on the Republican side in the ’70s I knew that we would always be in the minority. The Democrats had a lock on the House leadership that had begun in 1954 and would go on for generations.

Fast forward to 1994, and I was the head federal lobbyist for Chemical Bank in New York. Chemical Bank through mergers became JP Morgan Chase. In 1994 a friend was running for Congress as a Republican, and challenging a long-serving Democrat. This was the year of the Contract with America; but like many I was very skeptical that the long history of Democratic House control was going to end.

In the fall my friend called and said that House Republican Leader, Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich, had just contacted him to say that he was going to make a short refueling stop close to his Long Island Congressional district at McArthur airport. Newt suggested that my friend gather some supporters for a quick lunch. On just 24 hours notice, on a weekday, at a rather isolated location, my friend was desperate for some attendees and asked me to come. I did.

In the fall of 1994 Newt Gingrich was hardly a household name, and as I came into the airport room off a hanger there were about five people in attendance. Newt wasn’t deterred but said rather than give a speech to five people he would review exactly how the Republicans were going to surprise the political world and for the first time since Eisenhower was president, capture control of the House. He pulled out a loose-leaf binder and went district by district how they were going to win. My friend’s district was on the list of election night surprises. It was an amazing analysis and demonstrated the focus and strategic thinking of Newt.

He didn’t charm us, he didn’t glad-hand, and he just succinctly presented the facts. I was convinced. Indeed, I went back to my office on Park Avenue and wrote a memorandum to our senior management that election night 1994 was going to be historic. For the first time in two generations the Republicans would capture control of the House. And an obscure Georgia congressman would become speaker.

Lesson: Don’t underestimate Newt.

PS: My friend won.

Tom Block is a public policy consultant who had a 21-year career with JP Morgan Chase where he served as head of government relations in D.C. and created a Washington research product. A native Kentuckian, he also created the bank’s EU Government Relations program and developed a new position as U.S. Government Policy Strategist focusing on how U.S. government policy impacts capital markets. He has an extensive government and banking background, has worked on political campaigns and as a speech writer. He is a trustee of Bernheim Aboretum in Louisville and holds a B.A. degree in political science from American University. He and his wife now make their home in Kentucky. He is a regular contributor to KyForward. Contact him at columnist@kyforward.com.