“I think every religious person should have a deep sense of respect for other people's religious documents and religious symbols just as we were deeply opposed to the Taliban destroying the two historic buddhas which they blew up. So I think we ought to all oppose burning the Koran.”

American politician, speaker of the House

Newt Gingrich is an American politician who served from 1995 to 1999 as the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A Republican, he represented Georgia's 6th congressional district, including north Atlanta and nearby areas, from 1979 until his resignation in 1999. He is known for his long congressional career and for his role in national Republican politics. In 2012, he ran for the Republican presidential nomination but did not win it.