Burning Down the House

Discover how the rhetoric and tactics of Newt Gingrich and his allies launched an era of brutal partisan politics that still haunts America today. In Burning Down the House, author Julian Zelizer traces the story of how Gingrich's calculated campaign of attacks against his political opponents set the stage for decades of ruthless Republican tactics. From weaponizing good government reforms to plotting the destruction of the political career of Speaker Wright, Gingrich introduced the methods that shaped modern Congress and the Republican Party. His legacy extended beyond his own tenure in office, creating a new normal in Washington that is still felt today.