As the new Congress settles in under Republican control, it can be easy to forget that Republican control of the House of Representatives is a relatively novel concept. Until Newt Gingrich’s revolution swept the party into power in 1994, the GOP was accustomed to permanent-minority status.

If you’ve forgotten that, then Newt Gingrich will happily remind you, most recently in his recent “Conversation with Bill Kristol,” produced by the Foundation for Constitutional Government. But for all of the interesting historical moments highlighted in their wide-ranging discussion, my particular favorite pertains to a moment in 1984 when Gingrich and then-Congressman Trent Lott sent the House’s Democratic leadership reeling.