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Article: The New Jacobin Majority
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 9, 1995
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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House Speaker Newt Gingrich got his doctorate in European history,
so it's surprising he hasn't mentioned the first time term limits
were employed. It was during the French Revolution.
In 1791 the Constituent Assembly, which had been meeting since
1789, created a new constitution for France. As part of that
constitution, no one who had already served was eligible for
reelection.
This was a terrible mistake. The newly elected assembly ...