[BlackElk]

I agree with your general point but, with respect, I believe you will find that Education was elevated to cabinet status by Eisenhower in 1953 as part of the reorganized Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Previously, there had been a short-lived Department of Education in the radical days after the War Between the States, several "offices of education" and finally, Carter saw to the legislative creation of the current separate cabinet-level Department of Education in 1979, effective May, 1980.

Newt was busy in Little League and grammar school when Eisenhower acted and was at most a freshman GOP Congressman without influence when the Department of Education as we now know it was created in 1979. We can rest assured that Tip O'Neill as Demonrat hack Speaker of the House of Representatives was not soliciting Newt's opinion or trying to accommodate him on education or anything else nor was spineless GOP "leader" and Gerald Ford/Tip O'Neill pal Bob Michel. Your main point is quite correct that Department of Education was not Newt's doing.

God bless you and yours.

[BlackElk]

I meant to ping you to my #105 response to soldier dad.

[SoldierDad]

Thank you BlackElk. While I've yet to finalize my decision on a candidate in the GOP Primary, I find it reprehensible when alleged conservatives here on FR falsely vilify any of the candidates.