Gingrich responds: An exchange

To the Editor:

CNN has posted on its Web site an advance of Fortune Magazine Washington bureau chief Nina Easton's longer piece on former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

The headline, "Gingrich '08: The stealth candidate" leads the reader to believe that Gingrich is a candidate for the presidency in 2008. While there has been a lot of speculation by the media and others, Gingrich has been consistent and clear. He has no plans to run for president and will not even make a consideration about running until later next year.

In the piece in which he agreed to be interviewed earlier this year, the former Speaker was once again unequivocal. He is quoted as saying, "I am not running for president. I am seeking to create a movement to win the future by offering a series of solutions so compelling that if the American people say I have to be president, it will happen."

From that Easton, who Gingrich said would not get it, misleadingly concludes, "So he's running, only without yet formally saying so." But even as recently as this past Sunday, Newt Gingrich repeated his plans in response to Chris Wallace's question whether he would set up an exploratory committee. Gingrich said, "No. We have a program called American Solutions we're working on. And in September of next year, I'll be glad to come back and talk with you about running for president, but not until September."

He went on to explain that he thinks that it is important for us to focus on solving very big, very real problems and that real issues need real solutions. It would be hard to conclude from anything Newt Gingrich has said or done that there is any plan for a presidential campaign. It is unfortunate that the media cannot accept that there are citizen leaders who are working to find solutions to America's challenges, and accept them without being accused of having a personal ambition agenda.

Best regards,

Rick Tyler

Communications Director and Spokesperson Gingrich Communications Speaker Newt Gingrich

Fortune responds: The story is based on Gingrich's own words - Fortune stands by the story.

Gingrich '08: The stealth candidate