Newt claims he helped to lead the congressional effort to fight communism and victory in the Cold War

Cold War Heroes: Freedom fighters

By: Times-Dispatch Staff
Published: December 07, 2011

Newt Gingrich apparently deserves the Medal of Honor. The candidate for the GOP presidential nomination and the former speaker of the House and 2012 GOP presidential candidate claims he helped to lead the congressional effort to fight communism.

He may have. He was not a five-star general, either.

References to congressional contributors to victory in the Cold War seem more likely to summon other names. No one surpassed Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson, D-Wash., as an opponent of communism. Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., stood with the stalwarts as well.

Walter Judd's name may be lost to the collective memory but during his years as a Republican congressman from Minnesota, Judd defended Taiwan and relentlessly drew attention to Red China's enormities. The Center for International Relations and the Fund for American Studies honor him with the Walter Judd Freedom Award, which recognizes individuals who have advanced the cause of freedom in the United States and abroad.

Laureates include Ronald Reagan, Charles Krauthammer, Jack Kemp, Jeane Kirkpatrick, William F. Buckley, former Rep. Phil Crane, R-Ill., and Frank Wolf, the Republican congressman from Virginia's 10th District who is known as the conscience of the House.

The award's website does not feature Gingrich on its list.

--
Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
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