Newt’s World – Episode 923: Founding Fathers – Benjamin Franklin
Host: Newt Gingrich (Gingrich 360)
Date: December 26, 2025
Overview
In this special installment of the "Founding Fathers" series, Newt Gingrich dives deep into the life, legacy, and achievements of Benjamin Franklin—portraying him as one of the most influential and dynamic founders of the United States, second only to George Washington. Gingrich explores Franklin’s exceptional versatility as an inventor, writer, philosopher, statesman, and key driver of American independence, while highlighting Franklin’s self-starting spirit, enormous curiosity, wit, and enduring commitment to public good.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Why Benjamin Franklin is an American Immortal
- Extraordinary Achievements: Franklin’s contributions spanned inventions (bifocals, lightning rod, Franklin stove), science (electricity), civic institutions (libraries, fire companies, hospitals), literature (Poor Richard’s Almanac), and crucial diplomatic and political roles (Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris).
- Self-Made Man: Unlike many founders, Franklin “rose by his own efforts, not because he was an aristocrat...but just because he worked really hard and he was really smart...constantly tinkering, constantly learning.” (03:44)
2. Early Life, Curiosity, and Ambition
- Childhood: Born in Boston, 1706, the 10th son in a large family. Stopped schooling at age 10; worked in his father’s candle shop before apprenticing at age 12 at his brother’s print shop. (05:24)
- Early Writing and Wit: Published satirical essays as “Silence Dogood,” revealing early talent for imaginative, humorous, and insightful prose. Created swim fins as a child, showing early inventiveness. (10:06)
3. Journey to Philadelphia and Personal Struggles
- Seeking Opportunity: Left Boston after conflicts with his brother; eventually settled in Philadelphia, finding work, influential mentors, and eventually a path to independence.
- Lessons from Adversity: Stranded in London after being sent by a fickle governor who didn’t pay for his return, Franklin learned “the hard way that politicians don’t always keep their word.” (13:33)
- Growing Up Through Hard Knocks: Published radical work there questioning free will, but later reaffirmed his belief in agency as key to American success. (14:59)
4. Building a Career and Family
- Rise as a Printer and Entrepreneur: Opened his own print shop, bought the Pennsylvania Gazette, and “becomes the most successful printer in town.” Partnered with Hugh Meredith, then bought him out. (19:36)
- Marriage and Family Life: Married Deborah Read, who was instrumental to his achievements—managing business while Franklin took on civic and scientific activities. (21:56)
- “Franklin got to play at being Ben Franklin in large part because he had a wife who was willing to tolerate him, willing to support him, and was smart enough and hard working enough that she could make a bunch of money while he was doing other things.” (23:47)
5. Civic Engagement and Early Innovations
- Founding Institutions: Established the Library Company of Philadelphia (first lending library), Union Fire Company, American Philosophical Society, and initiated the first hospital in America.
- Defending Free Press: Wrote “An Apology for Printers,” defending a free press; published newspapers in English and German, understanding both ideals and opportunity. (27:27)
- Entrepreneurial Mindset: His failed German-language paper is cited as an example of resilience: "entrepreneurs don’t always succeed...have to get back up." (29:53)
6. Poor Richard’s Almanack and the Power of Common Sense
- Massive Bestseller: “A vehicle of instruction for common people...it was literature for the masses.” (25:48)
- Maxims and Sayings: Franklin’s wisdom made its way into the American ethos—“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead,” “Lost time is never found again,” and the famous “Fish and visitors stink in three days.” (26:33-28:44)
7. Major Inventions and their Impact
- Franklin Stove (1742): “A very intelligent contribution...used wood to generate heat with greater efficiency. He didn’t patent it—his idea was, ‘if it works for me...your life can be better.’” (32:42)
- Bifocal Glasses, Lightning Rod: Continually sought practical solutions, “thinking, is there a way to do it better? Is there a way to do it differently?” (35:23)
- Glass Harmonica: Musical invention used by Beethoven and Mozart. (39:37)
- Insurance, Hospitals: Founded the first fire insurance (Philadelphia Contributionship) and first hospital in America.
8. Political Leadership and the Road to Revolution
- Join or Die (1754): Franklin publishes America’s first political cartoon, urging colonial cooperation—a precursor to American unity. (41:17)
- Diplomatic Service: Went to England, initially loyal, but realizing “he’d never be accepted as an aristocrat,” began to side with American interests. (42:51)
9. From American Negotiator to Revolutionary Leader
- Stamp Act and Advocacy: Testified to the House of Commons for its repeal, cementing his loyalty to the colonies. (44:22)
- Satire as Resistance: Used powerful satirical articles (“Rules by which a Great Empire may be Reduced to a Small One,” “Edict by the King of Prussia”) to challenge British policy and ridicule tyranny. (48:44)
- Personal Loss and Steadfastness: His wife Deborah passed while he was abroad: “I every day become more sensible of the greatness of that loss, which cannot now be repaired.” (49:54)
10. The Path to Independence and Diplomacy
- Committee of Five: Appointed to help draft the Declaration of Independence, worked closely with Jefferson and Adams. (52:27)
- Ambassador to France: Used his wit and reputation to secure critical French support for the American Revolution. (53:28)
- Negotiator for Peace: Led negotiations for the peace treaty after Yorktown—uncompromising on the issue of recompense for British loyalists. (54:44)
11. Final Years and Enduring Legacy
- Return to Invention: Proposed Daylight Savings Time (1784), invented bifocals, and wrote on “diminishing the cost of light.” (56:10)
- Role at the Constitutional Convention: Oldest delegate; called for prayer to resolve deadlock. Famously remarked, “We have created a republic, if you can keep it.” (58:35)
- Abolitionist: In the last years of his life, became president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting Abolition of Slavery and submitted first anti-slavery petition in US Congress. (59:53)
- Death and Bequest: Died in 1790, leaving wealth to his daughter and an “astonishing” legacy that shaped American opportunity and ingenuity.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Franklin’s Range:
“For sheer scale of achievement, for range of ideas, for the number of different kinds of contributions, Benjamin Franklin literally is an immortal.” (03:14) -
On Humble Origins:
“He was someone who rose by his own efforts...just because he worked really hard and he was really smart.” (03:44) -
On Practical Experimentation:
“People across the planet were stunned that this American had undertaken what, if you think about it, is a very common sense, non theoretical experiment.” (04:54) -
On Wealth and Politics:
“Franklin thought it was good to acquire wealth, that if you acquired wealth, it liberated you...his goal was to be rich enough by 40 to be able to go into politics.” (08:54) -
On Writing and Wit:
“Franklin doesn't just look at facts. He has a very deep sense of humor...he was quite willing to write about it.” (10:55) -
On Entrepreneurial Failure:
“Entrepreneurs don’t always succeed...entrepreneurs have to be able to get back up, go back and try it again and see what they can get done and what they can learn.” (29:53) -
On Maxim-writing:
“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.” (26:33) “Fish and visitors stink in three days.” (28:34) -
On Intellectual and Civic Contribution:
“He helps organize the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia...he also becomes the postmaster of Philadelphia—which...makes money.” (31:04) -
On Importance of Free Inquiry:
“Aggressively defends the freedom of the press and would clearly be on the side of those who favor the First Amendment rights of the press.” (27:27) -
On Negotiation and Principle:
“Franklin, by the way, is the toughest, most hard nosed person on the question of whether or not there should be any compensation for Tories...These people were traitors, they should not get a penny.” (54:44) -
On the Republic’s Fragility:
“We have created a republic, if you can keep it.” (58:35) -
On Human Freedom:
“If you believe in a declaration that says we're all created equal, it's simply wrong...he was actively in favor of the abolition of slavery.” (59:53)
Key Timestamps for Major Topics
- Franklin as an Immortal, unique among founders: 03:05–04:30
- Childhood, early curiosity, self-education, and humor: 05:24–11:55
- Apprenticeship, “Silence Dogood” & split with brother: 11:00–12:50
- Move to Philadelphia, London setback, perseverance: 12:50–15:40
- Career breakthrough, Gazette, marriage, role of Deborah: 17:50–22:30
- Civic institutions, Library/Fire Company/Press Defense: 23:30–27:30
- Poor Richard’s Almanack, famous maxims: 25:33–28:44
- Franklin stove & inventions, no patents: 32:42–35:01
- Scientific recognition & ‘Join or Die’ cartoon: 39:37–41:55
- Diplomacy, English rejection, move towards American identity: 42:51–44:58
- Stamp Act, shift to active Revolution leadership: 44:22–53:28
- Declaration of Independence, France mission, Treaty of Paris: 52:27–56:10
- Daylight Savings Time, bifocals, Constitution, abolition: 56:10–60:10
- Final reflections on Franklin’s legacy: 60:25–61:00
Conclusion
Newt Gingrich’s portrait of Benjamin Franklin is rich, humanizing, and admiring—capturing the restless intellect, boundless curiosity, and moral courage that made him both the “Johnny Appleseed of a better life” and a pillar of American civilization. Franklin’s legacy lives on not just in the inventions and institutions he left behind, but in the enduring spirit of ingenuity, resilience, and civic-mindedness he pioneered. As Gingrich reminds us, “We have created a republic, if you can keep it.”
(58:35)