Callista Gingrich

Callista Louise Bisek, known as "Cally Lou" to her family, was born to Alphonse Emil Bisek and Bernita (Krause) Bisek, in Whitehall, Wisconsin. Her father worked in a packing plant and her mother was a secretary. She was raised as a devout Catholic.

She is of paternal Polish and maternal Swiss descent.{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholicadvocate.com/2011/03/newts-catholicism/ |title=Catholic Advocate {{pipe}} Newt's Catholicism |access-date=October 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215206/http://www.catholicadvocate.com/2011/03/newts-catholicism/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news| url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/a-look-at-nine-days-that-changed-the-world/ | work=Fox News | title=A Look at 'Nine Days That Changed the World' | date=April 13, 2010}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/newt-gingrichs-communications-director-polished-c|title=Newt Gingrich's Communications Director Polished Callista's Wikipedia Page 23 Times|first=Andrew|last=Kaczynski|publisher=BuzzFeed News}}

She graduated as valedictorian from Whitehall Memorial High School in 1984.Whitehall Times, May 16, 1984 A music student from childhood, Callista attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, majoring in music and becoming a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. She graduated cum laude in 1988.{{cite news|url=https://www.state.gov/m/dghr/coc/271425.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606021251/https://www.state.gov/m/dghr/coc/271425.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-06-06 |publisher=United States Department of State |title=Certificates of Competency for Nominees to Be Chief of Mission |date=May 2017}}

File:President Trump, Newt Gingrich, and Callista Gingrich 2017.jpg, 24 October 2017]]

In 1988, just out of college, Gingrich accepted an internship in Washington, D.C., in the office of Republican Congressman Steve Gunderson. At the end of the internship she joined Gunderson's congressional staff where she worked until 1995. In 1995, she moved to the House Committee on Agriculture where she worked as chief clerk until 2007.[http://www.legistorm.com/person/Callista_Louise_Gingrich/18850.html Callista Louise Gingrich, Congressional Staffer – Salary Data] at legistorm.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012.

File:Callista Gingrich arrives in Rome.jpg

After leaving the House Committee on Agriculture in 2007, Gingrich served as president of Gingrich Productions, a multimedia production company which she founded with her husband. They produce historical and public policy documentary films, publish books and newsletters, and make speeches, television, and radio appearances.

Together, they hosted ten documentaries, including Journey to America, The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days that Changed the World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power. The films have sold several thousand copies.

Gingrich authored seven children's books featuring Ellis the Elephant, including Sweet Land of Liberty, about American exceptionalism, and Land of the Pilgrims' Pride, about colonial America. Both were on The New York Times Best Seller list of Children's Picture Books. Yankee Doodle Dandy, about the American Revolution, was released in 2013. From Sea to Shining Sea, about the expedition of Lewis and Clark and the early years of the United States, was released in October 2014. Christmas in America, about the history of Christmas in the United States, was released in October 2015. Hail to the Chief, about United States presidents, was released in October 2016. Remember the Ladies, about United States first ladies, was released in October 2017.{{Cite book|title=Remember the Ladies|first=Callista|last=Gingrich|year=2017|publisher=Regnery Publishing|isbn=9781621574804}}

Gingrich co-authored Rediscovering God in America with her husband, Newt Gingrich. She also co-authored a photobook, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, with Newt Gingrich and Dave Bossie. Gingrich is the voice for several of her husband's audiobooks.

President Donald Trump nominated Gingrich to be the United States Ambassador to the Holy See in May 2017, and the United States Senate confirmed the nomination on October 16, 2017.{{cite web| url = https://www.npr.org/2017/05/20/529276806/callista-gingrich-nominated-as-ambassador-to-the-vatican| title = Callista Gingrich Nominated As Ambassador To The Vatican| last = Gjelten | first = Tom | date = May 20, 2017 | website = npr.org | publisher = NPR | access-date = 2017-05-21}}{{cite web| url=http://www.c-span.org|title=Callista Gingrich Ambassador to Vatican nomination}} On December 22, 2017, Gingrich presented her credentials to Pope Francis and officially assumed the duties of United States Ambassador to the Holy See.{{cite web| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-usa-gingrich/callista-gingrich-becomes-trumps-envoy-to-pope-as-differences-mount-idUSKBN1EG18J| title = Callista Gingrich Becomes Trump's Envoy As Differences Mount| date = December 22, 2017 | website = reuters.com | publisher = Reuters}} She was the 11th U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See since formal relations were established in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan.{{cite web| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/callista-gingrich-named-ambassador-vatican/story?id=47417887| title = Callista Gingrich likely to be named ambassador to Vatican| date = May 15, 2017 | work = ABC News}}

Gingrich assumed the role of Ambassador after several instances of high-profile criticism of Donald Trump and his policies by Pope Francis and his allies.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-35607538/ | work=BBC News | title=Donald Trump's Christianity questioned by Pope Francis |date=February 18, 2016}}{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-pope-francis-catholics-alliance-hate-la-civilta-cattolica-steve-bannon-a7875651.html | work=Independent | title= Pope Francis' allies accuses US Catholics of forming an 'alliance of hate' to back Trump |date=August 3, 2017}} During her tenure, Gingrich focused on advancing areas of common ground between Washington and the Vatican, including defending religious freedom{{cite news |url= https://thedialog.org/national-news/gingrich-securing-religious-liberty-top-priority-for-u-s-vatican/ | work=The Dialog | title= Gingrich: 'Securing' religious liberty top priority for U.S., Vatican | date=July 26, 2018}} and combatting human trafficking.{{cite news |url= https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/gingrich-has-farewell-meeting-with-pope-francis/72048| work=Independent | title= Vatican Ambassador Callista Gingrich Has Farewell Meeting with Pope Francis |date=January 16, 2021}} In June 2018, Gingrich helped return a letter written by Christopher Columbus that had been stolen from the Vatican Archives.{{cite news |date=June 15, 2018 |title=The journey of a stolen Christopher Columbus letter recounting his voyage to the Americas |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/06/15/the-journey-of-a-hijacked-christopher-columbus-letter-recounting-his-voyage-to-america/}} She also highlighted the role of women religious on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and in conflict zones{{cite news |url=https://osvnews.com/2020/06/23/women-religious-honored-for-work-on-pandemics-front-lines/ | work=Our Sunday Visitor | title=Women religious honored for work on pandemic's front lines |date=June 23, 2020}} and helped Samaritan's Purse bring an emergency field hospital, doctors and nurses to an area of northern Italy hit hard by COVID-19.

In December 2024, Trump nominated her to be United States Ambassador to Switzerland.{{Cite news |date=2024-12-23 |title=Trump Picks Callista Gingrich for Ambassador to Switzerland |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/us/politics/trump-callista-gingrich-ambassador-switzerland.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241223031138/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/us/politics/trump-callista-gingrich-ambassador-switzerland.html |archive-date=2024-12-23 |access-date=2024-12-23 |language=en}}

In February 2018, Gingrich was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Ave Maria School of Law.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8asJFYqFlB0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/8asJFYqFlB0 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=Ave Maria School of Law |title=Dean's Newsletter February 2018 |date=February 28, 2018}}{{cbignore}}

In 2019, she received the Sue M. Cobb Award, one of the highest recognitions at the U.S. Department of State for exemplary diplomatic service.

In June 2020, Gingrich was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX by Pope Francis, the highest distinction conferred by the Holy See on laypersons, in recognition of her contributions to the Church and society.

In 2023, she received a Luther College Distinguished Service Award for admirable service to society.

And in 2024, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for distinguished service.

File:Callista Gingrich by Gage Skidmore.jpg

As part of her husband's bid to become the Republican nominee in the 2012 presidential election, Gingrich often appeared by his side at rallies. In early 2012, Gingrich began to take a more active role in the campaign, and undertook her first campaign speaking appearances without her husband.[http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/02/15/callista-gingrich-makes-her-debut-as-a-solo-campaigner/ Callista Gingrich makes her debut as a solo campaigner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222184147/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/02/15/callista-gingrich-makes-her-debut-as-a-solo-campaigner/ |date=February 22, 2012 }} Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 15, 2012 On February 10, she appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference, giving an introduction to her husband prior to his speech.[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cpac-callista-gingrich-makes-rare-speaking-appearance/ CPAC: Callista Gingrich makes rare speaking appearance] CBS News, February 10, 2012[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/callista-gingrich-talks-up-newt-at-cpac/2012/02/10/gIQAHRGd6Q_blog.html Callista Gingrich talks up Newt at CPAC] The Washington Post, February 11, 2012 In addition, she supported his campaign through speaking appearances at Republican women's groups,[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/callista-gingrich-tests-herself-in-public-speaking-role/2012/02/14/gIQA82P2DR_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop Callista Gingrich tests herself in public speaking role] The Washington Post, February 14, 2012[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73357.html Newt Gingrich courts Tennessee voters] Politico, February 27, 2012 meetings of Gingrich supporters,[http://cumming.patch.com/articles/callista-gingrich-rallies-newt-s-supporters-9517176e Callista Gingrich Rallies Newt's Supporters] Patch.com, February 18, 2012 and various rallies.[http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120225/NEWS01/702259913 At Everett rally, Newt Gingrich says his energy policies would push gas down to $2.50 a gallon] The Herald (Everett, Washington), February 25, 2012

Gingrich serves as president of the Gingrich Foundation. She also serves as a Member of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Board of Trustees, a Member of the Ave Maria School of Law Board of Governors, a Member of the Richard Nixon Foundation Board of Directors, and a Member of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds Catholic Advisory Board.

Callista Bisek met Newt Gingrich in 1993 when he was House Minority Whip and she was working in the office of Congressman Steve Gunderson.Jones, Meg (March 11, 2012). [http://m.jsonline.com/topstories/142273235.htm "Callista Gingrich still has ties to Whitehall"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224922/http://m.jsonline.com/topstories/142273235.htm |date=March 3, 2016 }} Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (m.jsonline.com). Retrieved March 16, 2012. Callista testified in 1999 as part of Gingrich's divorce proceedings that the couple began a six-year affair in 1993 while Newt was married to his second wife, Marianne.{{cite news |title=Gingrich Friend Dates Affair To '93 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/11/11/gingrich-friend-dates-affair-to-93/ |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 11, 1999 |access-date=July 12, 2011}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/04/nyregion/public-lives.html|title=PUBLIC LIVES| last=Barron| first=James|author2=David Rohde |author3=Adam Nagourney |date=May 4, 2000|work=The New York Times|page=2|access-date=January 31, 2012}} Newt divorced Marianne in December 1999, and on August 18, 2000, Callista and Newt were married in a private ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2002, Newt Gingrich asked the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta to annul his 19-year marriage to Marianne on the basis that she had been previously married.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=20020512&id=_PAyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6711,3257251 |title=Newt Gingrich Requests Annulment in Atlanta|agency=Associated Press|date=May 12, 2002|work=The Free Lance-Star|page=D4| access-date=February 7, 2012}} Callista, a lifelong Catholic, was instrumental in her husband's conversion to that faith in 2009. The Gingriches live in McLean, Virginia.

{{portal-inline|Conservatism}}

{{reflist|30em|refs=

[https://books.google.com/books?id=QOFZXkZ8X9YC&q=callista+bisek&pg=PA131 Buffalo County Biographical History: Celebrating 150 Years, 1853–2003] from Google Books

{{Cite web | url=https://www.gingrich360.com/about/gingrich-360-team/ambassador-callista-l-gingrich/ | title=Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich}}

{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2011/10/30/picture-books/|title=Children's Picture Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 30, 2011 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}

{{cite news |title=National News Briefs; Gingrich Is Married in Alexandria Ceremony |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/20/us/national-news-briefs-gingrich-is-married-in-alexandria-ceremony.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 20, 2000 |access-date=August 14, 2010}}

{{cite magazine |first=Amy |last=Sullivan |title=Why Newt Gingrich Converted to Catholicism |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1916297,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817121328/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1916297,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |magazine=Time |date=August 24, 2009 |access-date=October 10, 2010}}

{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Ariel |title=The Good Wife |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/23/120123fa_fact_levy?currentPage=all |magazine=The New Yorker |date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=January 28, 2012}}

{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/callista-gingrich-to-be-nominated-as-ambassador-to-the-vatican-white-house/ | title=Callista Gingrich to be nominated as ambassador to the vatican, White House says| work=CBS News | date=May 19, 2017}}

{{cite press release |title=Newt Gingrich and Callista Gingrich honor the legacy of President Ronald Reagan with Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/02/prweb5031284.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125175643/http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/02/prweb5031284.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |publisher=PRWEB |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=2011-02-03}}

{{cite magazine | url=https://swampland.time.com/2011/11/24/with-newt-back-in-the-spotlight-callista-gingrich-follows/ | title=With Newt Back in the Spotlight, Callista Gingrich Follows | magazine=Time | date=November 24, 2011 | access-date=January 26, 2012 | author=Mark Benjamin}}

{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-campgaign-gingrich-callista-idUSTRE7B609320111207 | title=Special report: Callista Gingrich – The ultimate running mate | work=Reuters | date=December 7, 2011 | access-date=December 12, 2012 | author=Kristina Cooke and Marcus Stern}}

{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3366161/ | title=Callista Gingrich | work=IMDb | access-date=December 12, 2012}}

{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2012/12/02/picture-books/|title=Children's Picture Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 2, 2012 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.luther.edu/giving/choices/scholarship/directory/music/ |title=Directory of Endowed Scholarships: Music |publisher=Luther College |year=2012 |access-date=January 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702003221/http://www.luther.edu/giving/choices/scholarship/directory/music/ |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/10/15/callista-gingrichs-ellis-the-elephant-turns-3 | title=Callista Gingrich's 'Ellis the Elephant' Turns 3 | work=U.S. News & World Report | date=October 15, 2013 | access-date=October 17, 2013 | author=Nikki Schwab}}

{{cite web | url= https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/220763-callista-gingrich-my-kids-books-arent-political/ | title= Callista Gingrich: My kids' books aren't political | work=The Hill | date=October 15, 2014 | access-date=October 23, 2014 | author=Judy Kurtz}}

{{cite web | url= http://legalinsurrection.com/2015/12/callista-gingrich-chats-with-us-about-her-new-book-christmas-in-america/ | title= Callista Gingrich Chats With Us About Her New Book Christmas in America | work=Legal Insurrection | date=December 23, 2015 | author=Kemberlee Kaye}}

{{cite web | url= http://video.foxnews.com/v/5166186372001/?#sp=show-clips | title= Newt, Callista Gingrich on 'Treason', 'Hail to the Chief' | work=FoxNews.com | date=October 11, 2016 }}

{{cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2021/01/as-callista-gingrich-departs-shes-the-new-coat-in-us-vatican-ties/ |title=As Callista Gingrich departs, she's the new "COAT" in US/Vatican ties | work=Crux | date=January 16, 2021 | author=John L. Allen Jr. }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.luther.edu/news/luther-college-announces-2023-distinguished-service-award-recipients |title=Luther College announces 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipients |work=Luther College |date=October 9, 2023 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.eihonors.org/2024eimoh |title=Announcing the 2024 Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients |access-date=May 28, 2024}}

{{cite web |url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202406120900BIZWIRE_USPRX____20240612_BW358820-1 |title=Callista Gingrich Joins Ave Maria Mutual Funds Catholic Advisory Board |access-date=June 13, 2024}}

}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikiquote|Callista Louise Gingrich}}

• [https://va.usembassy.gov/embassy/holy-see/ambassador/ Biography at U.S. Embassy to the Holy See] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814085848/https://va.usembassy.gov/embassy/holy-see/ambassador/ |date=August 14, 2020 }}
• [http://www.gingrichproductions.com/ Gingrich Productions website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520003703/http://www.gingrichproductions.com/ |date=May 20, 2017 }}
• {{C-SPAN|1015669}}
• {{IMDb name |3366161}}

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{{s-dip}}

{{s-bef|before=Ken Hackett}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to the Holy See|years=2017–2021}}

{{s-aft|after=Patrick Connell
Chargé d'Affaires}}

{{s-end}}

{{US Ambassadors to the Holy See}}

{{Newt Gingrich}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gingrich, Callista}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American diplomats

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:21st-century Roman Catholics

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the Holy See

Category:American people of Polish descent

Category:American Roman Catholic writers

Category:American women ambassadors

Category:American women non-fiction writers

Category:Catholics from Iowa

Category:Catholics from Virginia

Category:Catholics from Wisconsin

Category:Employees of the United States House of Representatives

Category:Luther College (Iowa) alumni

Category:Newt Gingrich

Category:People from McLean, Virginia

Category:People from Whitehall, Wisconsin

Category:Virginia Republicans

Category:Writers from Virginia

Category:Writers from Wisconsin