Paul Ryan is the youngest speaker of the House in 100 years, former Speaker Newt Gingrich noted Thursday, and he believes Ryan's tenure will mark a shift in the House that will be quickly noticed.
"Last night, you had two 44-year-old candidates for president, and the other party, in their debate, had five really old people," Gingrich told
Fox News' "Outnumbered" program. "Think about how the shift is occurring, and how different it is."
He told the program that "Ryan is the best policy developer" among House Republicans, and has been working since 2008 to create a pro-growth legislature.
"He wants a pro-growth, balanced budget, entitlement reform future so his children and grandchildren have a better future," said Gingrich. Further, Ryan did not seek the job, but "the job sought him," and he believes Ryan is the one lawmaker who can pull the party together, but "he'll have to work seven days a week to do that."
But as Ryan has said he does not want the job to overly interfere with family time, Gingrich said he hopes the new speaker can do many of his job duties from home.
"[John] Boehner was on the road a lot because he raised money at golf courses, because he likes to golf and big donors like to be with him," Gingrich said. "Ryan starts with a nationwide fundraising base that grew out of his vice-presidential campaign."
And with social media, Ryan has the potential to be everywhere. Gingrich said he hopes the new speaker will open an office in his hometown of Jamestown, Wis., where he can do a great deal of work but still have family time with his three children.
Meanwhile, Gingrich said the House is "in transition" and reflects the politics of outsiders like GOP candidates Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz.
"This whole turmoil in the long run will lead to a much more open House with a much younger leadership that is really trying to solve problems," said Gingrich. "The Senate is going to be interesting to watch because the Senate, as it should be under our Constitution, is a much slower institution with many more blocks against change."
But the change won't happen overnight, he emphasized, and Ryan will have to play catch-up to build his team.
"He is so smart and so engaging that I have zero doubt over the next six or eight weeks you will see a totally new tone in the House, a much more open House," said Gingrich.
"The Ryan speakership, I think, will be very historic."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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