GINGRICH VS. O'NEILL: 1984

(Photo from The Pittsburgh Press, May 16, 1984)

The Albany Herald, May 16, 1984
Speaker Reprimanded After Shouting Match
By SCOTT SHEPARD
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP)--Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill drew a rare reprimand from the House of Representatives on Tuesday for acting improperly during a shouting match with Republicans over the foreign policy records of Democrats.O'Neill took the floor to respond to charges by Gingrich that Democrats have a "pessimistic, defeatist and skeptical view toward America's role in the world" and their foreign policy record "violates every U.S. tradition since Truman's time and ignores basic lessons about how the world works."

Gingrich also charged that 10 House Democrats, including Majority Leader Jim Wright of Texas, have undermined U.S. foreign policy with their "Dear
Commandante" letter March 20 to Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega.
O'Neill, angered by Republicans' repeated use of televised "special orders" sessions of the House to criticize Democrats not present to defend their records, leveled a verbal blast at Gingrich in response.
"You deliberately stood in the well before an empty House and challenged these people and you challenged their Americanism," he said, addressing Gingrich.

"It's the lowest thing I've seen in my 32 years in Congress." Rep Trent Lott, the House Republican whip, moved immediately to strike O'Neill's words from the record as inappropriately personal in nature, a move viewed as a mild form of reprimand.Rep. Joe Moakley, D-Mass., presiding over the House at the time, ruled the speaker's comments stricken, after which Lott moved that the comments be reinserted to allow O'Neill to state his position "in a more proper manner."

With unanimous consent of the House, the speaker's remarks were recorded.
Gingrich, whose speech Tuesday lasted more than an hour, charged that the 10 Democrats had acted unconstitutionally in sending the "Dear Commandante" letter expressing disagreement with the Reagan administration's policies in Central America. The letter commended Ortega and his colleagues on the ruling junta in Nicaragua
for "taking steps to open up the political process in your country" and urged further steps to "guarantee a fully open and democratic electoral process."

The letter also expressed the signers' opposition to "U.S. support for military action directed against the people or government of Nicaragua."
Gingrich said it is improper for members of the legislative branch to attempt direct negotiations with foreign governments, a function he said was reserved by the Founding Fathers for the president.