'Citizen Newt' Could Boost Gingrich's Image In 2012

A new book about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich could provide a last-minute boost to his chances heading into the primaries if he seeks the GOP nomination for president.

The book, "Citizen Newt," is being authored by the respected Reagan biographer Craig Shirley (who has been interviewing Gingrich one day a week) and is set to land on bookshelves just one month before the Iowa caucuses next January.

"Citizen Newt" will focus on Gingrich's professional life from 1973-1994, ending with the Republican revolution. It will portray Gingrich as an energetic leader who hit the ground running and never stopped driving the debate and national discussion.

"[Gingrich] burst onto the scene in 1978," says Shirley. "A lot of his ideas gave inspiration to the Reagan administration during those eight years [including] the 'opportunity society' that Reagan adopted and started using in his speeches."

Shirley adds,

"The first thing [Gingrich] does -- even before he's sworn-in -- after he's elected -- is he starts going after Congressman Charles Diggs, calling for his expulsion on ethics violations because he was taking kickbacks from his staff. He was paying them high salaries and then they were kicking back cash to him ... and he succeeded. He got Diggs to ... he was first censured -- and then he resigned from Congress."

Shirley implied his book will be a positive portrayal of Gingrich, telling me: "Most historians -- like Edmund Morris -- think that to be accepted by the historical mafia, you have to trash conservatives ... I decided to take a different look at [Reagan and Gingrich], and find a lot of the positive things they did, without glossing over their mistakes."

Shirley is the author of two previous books on Ronald Reagan: "Reagan's Revolution" and "Rendezvous with Destiny." In December, Shirley plans to release another book, "December, 1941: The 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World."

Note: Shirley's publisher is Thomas Nelson. I am currently working with them on editing a book due out this summer, titled, "The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin In Her Own Words."