The attempted coup against the Speaker

In the run up to the Florida primary, there were many references to the attempt to remove the then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in July 1997. Bob Cusack of The Hill explains the background in the video below.



The Hill article is available here. The Conspirators were an interesting bunch. A key player was Tom DeLay the Majority Whip. John Boehner, now the Speaker himself was involved (his role is the subject of some dispute). Others were Dick Armey (now they key player in the influential "Freedom Works"), but then House Majority Leader - Deputy to the Speaker; Bill Paxon; Steve Largent; Mark Souder; Lindsey Graham (now Senator for South Carolina). Armey is believed to have told his Chief of Staff to warn Gingrich.

An article by then Time Reporter, now White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney is accessible here.