Who did more to change the country in a positive direction? Barry Goldwater or Nelson Rockefeller? Jesse Helms or Bob Dole? Ronald Reagan or Gerald Ford?
Everybody remembers the former examples. Almost nobody remembers the later examples. Why do you suppose that is?
Among the first pieces of legislation passed by the new Congress under Gingrich was the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which subjected members of Congress to the same laws that apply to businesses and their employees.
In August 1996 he got time limits placed on welfare assistance, stricter conditions for food stamp eligibility, reductions in immigrant welfare assistance, and work requirements for recipients.
In 1997 he got the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which included the largest capital gains tax cut in U.S. history.
In 1999 he forced Clinton to submit a balanced budget, making it the first time the federal budget had been balanced since 1969.
He made Republicans promises and fought to keep them. Newt fought like a man. Sure it took a 28 day government shutdown, and a lot of bad press but there was a time Republicans weren't scared sh!tless by morons like Candy Crowly or Rachel Maddow.