Civic Register
| 10.16.17

Senate to Confirm Callista Gingrich as Vatican Ambassador

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The Senate’s first order of business this week will be a Monday evening vote to confirm Callista Gingrich as Ambassador to the Vatican, which is likely to result in her becoming the 13th ambassador to be confirmed during the Trump administration.

Who is Callista Gingrich?

Gingrich, a lifelong Catholic, began working as a congressional aide in 1988 after graduating from college with honors. She worked for former Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI) before working for the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 until 2007. In 1993, she met then-House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and began a six-year affair before they married in 2000.

Since leaving the Capitol, Callista Gingrich has served as the president of the Gingrich Foundation overseeing its charitable pursuits and is a member of the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Will she be confirmed?

Yes. Although Gingrich is unlikely to be confirmed unanimously like seven other Trump administration picks for ambassadorships were, her odds got a significant boost when the Senate voted 75-20 to end debate on her nomination on October 5th. The administration’s most contentious ambassador nomination so far, Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, was confirmed on 52-46 vote.

If confirmed, Callista Gingrich will join the following notable names in serving as current U.S. ambassadors:

  • Terry Branstad: Ambassador to China — former Iowa governor.

  • Scott Brown: Ambassador to New Zealand — former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and U.S. Senate candidate for New Hampshire.

  • Nikki Haley: Ambassador to the United Nations — former South Carolina governor.

  • Jon Huntsman: Ambassador to Russia — former Utah governor, ambassador to China, and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

  • Woody Johnson: Ambassador to the United Kingdom — owner of the New York Jets.

Tell your senators what you think of Trump’s nominees or what legislation you’d like them to take up using the Take Action button.

— Eric Revell

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(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore.jpg) / Creative Commons)