Gingrich Declines to Gavel Debate

WASHINGTON — Outgoing House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Tuesday he will not preside over the floor debate on articles of impeachment against President Clinton.

But the man who will replace Gingrich after midterm election setbacks for Republicans, Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) isn’t expected to wield the gavel, either.

Gingrich told reporters at a holiday party he will “just cast my vote quietly” on the matter and will not sit in the speaker’s chair to oversee the debate. “I think the gavel passed when Bob got voted on in the conference,” he said.