Since the departure of RR I don't know of one President who could stand up and say his foreign policy has been a success.
Newt's personality doesn't seem conducive to take anyone’s advise other than his own. There have been reports that he has a terrible, sometimes uncontrollable temper, when it comes to folks disagreeing with the Professor.
I have read some of these reports also. He's quite an actor too. He attacked Chris Wallace after being asked a question about Gingrich's staff resigning when Gingrich went on a cruise. This was a question any good newsman would have asked, but Gingrich tried to make Chris look bad. He gave Chris a hateful look, and said, "Chris, I wish you would stop the gotcha questioning." This was no "gotcha" question and Gingrich knew it, but he didn't care if he embarrassed Chris Wallace! He intended to use that statement at the first opportunity. After the debate, while talking to another reporter, he boasted that when Brett Baier told the candidates to keep their answers brief because of time restraints, he jotted down "gotcha questions", and was going to use it at the first opportunity. His demeanor was one of pure hatefulness, and I decided then and there, he was not getting my vote. He may be "brilliant" to some people, but to me he represents a brash, contemptible person who does not care who he hurts as long as he gets what he wants. He seems to think he is the most intellectual person on the stage and he plays to that, but when a person thinks more of themself than they deserve; they aren't as smart as they think they are. Frankly, some of our best presidents have been those who didn't have the label of "brilliant" attached to them. Reagan, Bush, Truman, are a few who weren't considered brilliant, and then you have those we were told were brilliant, but weren't...Wilson, Kennedy, Carter, Clinton, and Obama! According to Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. on Meet the Press when Lawrence Spivak was the moderator, 'Wilson and Kennedy became brilliant after they left the Conservative ranks and became Progressives.' Even then, the media was telling the public what they wanted them to believe.
Carter's, Clinton's, and Obama's actions prove they aren't brilliant. Clinton had 'the gift of gab', but he disgraced himself with his behavior and lies, plus, they trashed the WH when they left. You can have so-called brilliant people, but for me, I'll take someone who is honest, sincere, with moderate smarts and lots of common sense!