Callista Discusses Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride on the Don Wade and Roma Show
Don Wade and Roma Show
October 11, 2012
Bruce Wolf: Bruce Wolf and Don Proft in for Dan Wade and Roma. Callista Gingrich is among other things the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. She is also a children’s book author, and she has a new book out called Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride. Welcome to the show, Callista Gingrich.
Callista Gingrich: Thank you for having me.
Wolf: So tell us a little bit about this book. I had to have it read to me by Dan a little earlier and didn’t understand it all.
Gingrich: Well, I’ve written two books. My first book is called Sweet Land of Liberty and this book is called Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride. Both of these books feature Ellis the Elephant who discovers the pivotal moments of our nation’s history to begin to understand the greatness of America. I write these books because I love our country, and I believe America is an exceptional nation. I think it’s more important now than ever what makes this country so special.
Wolf: In Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride, I assume there is some reference to Native Americans as well, so is Elizabeth Warren’s family covered in that as well?
(Laughter)
Gingrich: Not specifically, but in Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride, Ellis the Elephant learns how America began. He discovers Colonial America and Colonial America is a major and often unknown part of our history. I think it’s vitally important that our kids understand how our country began and how our characteristics and traits as Americans were shaped in the colonial period. However, if you look at a recent study put out by the Department of Education, we see that a majority of fourth graders can’t identify Jamestown as our first English settlement. Most fourth graders don’t know why the pilgrims left England and fewer than a third of eighth graders know why we fought England during the Revolutionary War. So we have a little catching up to do. And it’s really important that we help our children understand what it means to be American.
Wolf: Next thing you know Columbia University won’t be celebrating Columbus Day anymore. Oh wait, they don’t apparently. Can we ask you this? We’ve seen Newt on TV, he’s very supportive of presumptive President Romney, as I like to call him. How’s Newt doing?
Gingrich: Newt’s doing great. He is out in Denver this morning, and I will see him tomorrow in New York. He is working hard, doing a lot of traveling. We’re very supportive of Governor Romney. When I think of the possibility of a second Obama term, it’s very easy to support Governor Romney.
Wolf: Well thank you very much, Callista Gingrich. The book is Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride. What’s the next book going to be about?
Gingrich: Ellis is very curious to learn about the American Revolution, so I think that’s the direction we’re going.
Wolf: There you go. It’s going to be a series of books all the way up to the present.
Proft: How many volumes are there going to be?
Wolf: Well, she has to do what our school systems are not doing. Thank you very much, Callista Gingrich.
Gingrich: Thank you.
