ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
In a dramatic opening to the 105th Congress, Newt Gingrich overcame dissension in the GOP ranks Tuesday to become the first Republican re-elected House speaker in 68 years. ``I apologize to the House and the country'' for past errors, he said.
Gingrich sealed his victory in a tense, hour-long roll call less than three weeks after admitting he violated House rules in the long-running ethics case against him. His punishment, to be voted on by the full House, remains to be set.
Across the Capitol, the GOP-controlled Senate held a more serene opening day. Vice President Al Gore administered the oath of office to 15 newly elected senators as well as veterans who won new terms in November. Retired Majority Leader Bob Dole made a sentimental return to the chamber, escorting freshman Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback to be sworn in.
``The Senate is sort of an island of tranquility in a city that has a lot of problems,'' Majority Leader Trent Lott said with a smile.
That was a reference, in part, to the House, where Gingrich's campaign to hold power dominated the run-up to the new Congress.
In private, Gingrich has been quoted as sharply criticizing Democrats for pushing ethics charges against him. In nationally televised remarks after taking the speaker's gavel, he was contrite and conciliatory.
``Let me say to the entire House that two years ago, when I became the first Republican speaker in 40 years, to the degree I was too brash, too self-confident or too pushy, I apologize.
``To whatever degree, in any way that I brought controversy or inappropriate attention to the House, I apologize. It is my intention to do everything I can to work with every member of this Congress.''
With his wife, Marianne, and his mother watching from a packed visitors' gallery, he returned to the subject a few moments later when he thanked Republicans who had voted for him.
``Some of this difficulty, frankly, I brought on myself. We will deal with that in more detail later. And I apologize to the House and the country for having done so,'' he said.
Despite his victory, Gingrich is a diminished presence from two years ago. Then, he had led his party to power for the first time in 40 years on a platform of less government and lower taxes, and he marched the House through the ``Contract With America'' in 100 hectic days. Two years of controversy - including government shutdowns - have taken their toll, though. So much so that he is remarkably unpopular in public opinion polls. And with the ethics case still unresolved, some of his own rank and file decided not to support his re-election as speaker.
While some Democrats applauded Gingrich when he mounted the speaker's rostrum, others were far more combative.
``I'm afraid we've taken a tremendous step backward here today,'' said Democratic Whip David Bonior, Gingrich's most ardent critic. ``There's an ethical cloud hanging over this House that will only get darker in the days to come.''
After two years of steadfast denials of wrongdoing, Gingrich conceded Dec. 21 that ``in my name and over my signature, inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the [ethics] committee.''
In addition, he agreed to an ethics committee statement that he had failed to ``seek and follow'' legal advice that would have told him he was improperly using tax-exempt organizations to further political aims.
The ethics committee is expected to meet in the next several days to determine Gingrich's punishment; ultimately, the issue will reach the House floor.
And despite Gingrich's apology, the case continued to generate controversy. Democrats accused Republicans of maneuvering to have Gingrich's punishment voted on in the full House on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, when the event would likely be overshadowed. A package of House rules pushed through by Republicans set Jan. 21 as the date for the case to wrap up, despite a statement from special counsel James Cole that additional time will be required.
Gingrich lobbied to the very end, meeting privately with the Republican caucus for more than three hours Monday night, then again in the morning before the House convened. He conferred privately with some Republicans as the time for the roll call approached.
It wasn't until the roll call had been completed that smiles broke out among members of the GOP high command seated on the floor.
In the end, Gingrich regained re-election as speaker with 216 votes to 205 for Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri. Five Republicans voted ``present,'' including Virginia Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Fairfax County, while four more voted for alternative GOP candidates of their own choosing. By tradition, Democrats voted for Gephardt in a ritual show of solidarity they knew was doomed to defeat.
Democrats had earlier made one attempt to delay Gingrich's election, but were voted down, 222-210.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. House Speaker Newt Gingrich makes his way onto theby CNBHouse floor just before being re-elected speaker. color.