SALEM — A former U.S. House speaker considered a possible presidential candidate and one of the country's leading authors will headline Salem State University's speaker series for 2011.
Newt Gingrich, who led a Republican Revolution in the House of Representatives and headed the chamber from 1995-99, will appear Wednesday, March 30.
Novelist John Irving, who won an Academy Award for "The Cider House Rules," has been booked for Tuesday, Sept. 13. Both are speaking at the O'Keefe Sports Center.
Gingrich joins a long list of former presidents, world leaders and influential politicians who have spoken at the college.
"A lot of times, we select newsmakers, and certainly Newt Gingrich has been in the news of late," said Salem State spokeswoman Karen Cady. "I think there's a lot of speculation he might be running for president."
There have been reports that Gingrich will announce his decision in about a month, or about the time he is scheduled to speak at the college.
The former Republican speaker from Georgia and college professor is a Fox News commentator. In 1995, Time magazine named him "Person of the Year." Last week, he was one of the featured speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
Irving has been an internationally known author since 1978 and the success of "The World According to Garp," which was turned into a successful movie starring Robin Williams and Glenn Close. Irving won the Academy Award for the script of his novel "The Cider House Rules."
He also wrote "The Hotel New Hampshire" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany." His latest novel is "Last Night in Twisted River."
Both Gingrich and Irving were recommended in an audience poll.
"We try to respond to people in our audience," Cady said, "and we try to present a balance."
Tickets, which range from $10 to $65, may be purchased online at salemstate.edu/series.
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
