
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 14, 1995                   TAG: 9502140116
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SMYRNA, GA.                                LENGTH: Short

GINGRICH WON'T SEEK PRESIDENCY

House Speaker Newt Gingrich ruled out a 1996 presidential race Monday, saying he had decided it was more important to concentrate on the GOP congressional agenda.

``I think I should stay and focus on what I am doing and get things done,'' Gingrich told a business group in suburban Atlanta. ``I hardly need to run for president to get my message out.''

Few Republicans believed Gingrich would enter the race, given his longtime desire to be speaker, his often controversial views and pending ethics investigations.

But many activists had urged him to run, especially after other prominent conservatives including former Vice President Dan Quayle and former HUD Secretary Jack Kemp announced they would not. Gingrich never said he was interested, but he scheduled a summertime visit to New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary.

In recent weeks, some House Republicans grumbled privately that Gingrich's refusal to rule out a 1996 run was an unnecessary distraction to their legislative work. Several had pressed him recently to make a definitive statement, according to GOP sources who commented in Washington on condition of anonymity.

by CNB