Didn't he serve as speaker for a short time during Clinton's impeachment after Livingston stepped down? I could be thinking of someone else.
The Speaker throughout the House impeachment proceedings and the late-1998 vote was Newt Gingrich. Livingston was Speaker-designate, and would not have become Speaker until January 3, 1999 (at which time Newt's speakership would end). What Livingston announced on the day of the impeachment vote was that he would not stand for Speaker on Jan. 3, and within 24 hours Dennis Hastert had the votes to become Speaker-designate. I do not believe that Congressman Norwood was ever mentioned as a candidate to replace Newt as Speaker.