I used to know this guy in college who was majoring in history, and every time someone asked what he planned to do with his degree, he'd say:
I'm going to open a history store.
Dude was onto something. Now comes the news that Newt Gingrich made a bundle in his work as a "historian" for Freddie Mac.
Newt Gingrich made between $1.6 million and $1.8 million in consulting fees from two contracts with mortgage company Freddie Mac, according to two people familiar with the arrangement.The total amount is significantly larger than the $300,000 payment from Freddie Mac that Gingrich was asked about during a Republican presidential debate on Nov. 9 sponsored by CNBC, and more than was disclosed in the middle of congressional investigations into the housing industry collapse.
It's no wonder counting Mr. Gingrich's profits from historian-izing takes a while. Just look at his schedule -- he's very busy running for president, his second job after selling his history books and documentaries. Dream big, he told the students in Iowa yesterday, as in $1.6 million plus an empire big.
P.S. For everyone who guessed this explanation for Mr. Gingrich saying he's been at this tough-guy thing for 53 years, bingo.
(Photo: Ingrid Taylar/Flickr)