Newt Gingrich: Marriages, Divorces, Affairs Timeline

On Wednesday, Newt Gingrich is expected to formally announce he'll be running for President in the 2012 election. The former Speaker of the House, whose past infidelities and messy divorces have long been fixtures in the press, is hardly the only politician with a complicated marital history (there's also potential running-mates Buddy Roemer, Donald Trump, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels). Still, framing his past to appeal to conservative voters will be a challenge. Here, a primer on Gingrich's relationship history.

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Newt Gingrich met his first wife, Jackie Battley, while he was still in high school. Battley was his geometry teacher, and seven years his senior. (According to Gingrich's second wife Marianne Ginther, the age difference was actually nine years--Gingrich was 16 when the student-teacher courtship began). Their secret relationship included nighttime dalliances in the back of a car. The pair married in 1962, and had two children before splitting in February 1980. According to Esquire, Gingrich served Battley with divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from uterine cancer.

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Newt Gingrich met his first wife, Jackie Battley, while he was still in high school. Battley was his geometry teacher, and seven years his senior. (According to Gingrich's second wife Marianne Ginther, the age difference was actually nine years--Gingrich was 16 when the student-teacher courtship began). Their secret relationship included nighttime dalliances in the back of a car. The pair married in 1962, and had two children before splitting in February 1980. According to Esquire, Gingrich served Battley with divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from uterine cancer.

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[Hitchslap2]

12:39 PM on 06/15/2011

Waiting patiently for this guy to disappear. The sooner, the better.

[cmaffia]

09:52 AM on 06/15/2011

I love in depth looks of our politicians... let me ask you.. can the media now do what they SHOULD have done 4 years ago and go in depth into Obama's life since he is up for re-election?

[yadayer]

11:08 PM on 06/11/2011

This dude is cold. WOW

[luzmorales]

09:44 PM on 06/07/2011

Gimmie a "T".. gimmee a "U"... gimmee an "R".... gimmee a "D"..... what's that spell?? NEWT!!

[Anonani]

07:31 PM on 05/24/2011

Sickening...and that is a value judgment about someone who would like for us to believe that he represents core American values and should therefore be President....I can't even write the descriptive word that is aching to be typed here.

[riverhouse]

07:38 PM on 05/21/2011

Once a cheater, always a cheater. If he can't maintain his marriage vows why would we allow him to take a vow to the nation as president?

[brooksjohnson9]

10:52 AM on 05/20/2011

and this clown wants to be president? Nah, I don't think so!

[REMEMBER2050]

07:03 PM on 05/19/2011

I am so glad they did this on a timeline. I had been finding it impossible to keep track.

[Hitchslap2]

12:40 PM on 06/15/2011

LOL

[msexodus]

09:13 PM on 05/17/2011

Annulment is given to some rare cases,inside Catholic marriages couple.. Outside ritual are not consider" Sacred" by the Church.. Since "Jesus" was question about authority,same with the Apostles and down to the successors,who set in the thrown of St. Peter. Others put them self as fallower of Jesus/God. Facts how many church'es domination stand by now. Seeking for a "True Church". Jesus forgive a repentance sinner with humility,same power given to the Apostles and successor of St. Peter throne... Why not a repentance Newt Gingrich? Who find "God" in his life and born again in Christ.. Beside we don't know what faith bring him, in his candidacy. Only "God's Will". We have no right to condemn a sinner,for no one is clean in the eyes of God. We vote for the right person, because we believe of their capability to run our nation.

[hapycookr]

10:52 AM on 05/18/2011

Uh... hate to break your bubble, but annulments are NOT just given to some 'rare' cases as you mentioned. (Maybe 60 years ago, but not now.) There is a very good chance that if you have enough money, ANY Catholic marriage may get an annulment and I personally know that to be true.

You said, "We vote for the right person, because we believe of their capability to run our nation." Well, I say... If he can't run his personal life correctly, then why would I vote for him to run OUR country??? He's a LOSER. I wouldn't wast my time having a drink with that guy, let alone have ANY contact with him. He has no morals and no respect or love for any of the women he married.

And as far as Newt converting to Catholicism, that shows me how the Roman Catholic Church is hurting for members. What a joke. And the Church wonders why they are losing so many of us??? (I won't even start on the Priests!)

[brooksjohnson9]

10:54 AM on 05/20/2011

Amen hapy!

[msexodus]

02:39 AM on 05/29/2011

If you have doubt of our annulments guidelines,have to ask pastor of your church,not friend that you know. Beside Mr. Newt Gingrich cannot apply for annulment for his 2 marriages is outside Catholic Church. Seeking for annulment is not the amount,but the honesty and truth of the relationship,that end into false pretention.

Your vote is your right! nor I judge anybody for their mistake or sin,for that power belong to GOD alone. As his convertion to Catholicism, that's his right as anybody who choice to find the true meaning of your faith.. All are welcome! sinner or saint. As Catholic, we are not called members,but fallowers..Being a Catholic is not a joke,hard for fallow all the church teaching,unless you study your faith..for we don't base on Bible reading alone. We go to church because we want to be in the house of God and hear Holy Mass and God's words. Not because of the priest, for they too are subject to temptation, like us. (2 St. Peter 2:4) "Jesus" knew, some will leave..some will stay and more will join. (St. John 10:14,16) And for priest that are true to their vocation there is reward waiting for them. St. Jude 1:14,15, and complainers V-16. and I thank you for your response,peace be with you.

[REMEMBER2050]

07:03 PM on 05/19/2011

My husband's first wife got an annulment from him in the 1970s after they'd been married for more than a year. Cost $500. All she had to say was that she was immature, which did sound absolutely ridiculous coming from a 23-year-old working on her master's. In other words, anybody can get an annulment for any ridiculous reason, and the only determining factor as to whether you'll be eligible is your pocketbook."Rare" is hardly the word I'd use to describe annulments.

[Hunnie Gunnie]

11:13 AM on 05/17/2011

Wonders where his LOVE child lives? I know one will be poppin up down the lane. Me wouldnt vote this man in if you gave me hundreds of begs and happy promises.I BET Arnold is on his red tele.I VOTE ELLEN DEGEN for pres!!! write IN girls

[norepublicanleftbehind]

10:25 AM on 05/17/2011

Wow..if he cheated on his wife could you imagine what he would do to the country?

The guy seems to have no sticking power or loyalty, wht would we want him as a president? Maybe he should just be a fulltime lobbyist so he can cut himself the best deal wherever he is.

[gortiz5150]

10:24 AM on 05/17/2011

Newt is pulling a "Trump". He will stay in the race for debate and publicity but the real goal is to write the next book and make his millions. He has many flaws: 1. appealling to tea baggers, 2. living in the past, 3. his many infidelities. 4. his flip flopping. And, that is just a start.

[Mary Sue Mc Cormick]

10:15 AM on 05/17/2011

Dear Calista... You know that Newt cheated on his 1st wife, don't you, many times? And you know for a fact that he cheated on his second wife because YOU were one of the 'other women' that he did it with> Why, for pete's sake, do you believe that he is faithful to you? I cannot say one way or the other, but do you?
If he cheated on women that he professed to love, honor, and cherish.... then why should we believe that he wouldn't cheat on the American people? He has already done that...as Speaker of the House when he tried to impeach Clinton for having an affair and ying about it.. while HE was doing the exact same thing!!! Trust him! NO, thanks!!!

[Xylem44]

08:40 AM on 05/17/2011

The downside for his current wife is that she can never go to the doctor for ANYTHING. The upside is that if she ever wants to get rid of him all she has to do is say she is sick with something like Gingrichitis (that sounds like a real ilness).

[Xylem44]

08:32 AM on 05/17/2011

"partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard"

That's what she said!!! Or in his case: "they said"

[brooksjohnson9]

10:59 AM on 05/20/2011

Yeah, and what does that even mean?????? Loved this country too much wtf!

[riverhouse]

07:41 PM on 05/21/2011

Go ahead. Try that on your wife and see how much the baseball bat upside the head hurts.