Unrelated. He resigned in 1999, the shutdowns were in 95 and 96.
It is undeniable that after that showdown the growth of government spending slowed considerably, particularly compared to the periods before and after his role as Speaker of the House.
I'm not a Newt fanboy, but despite the media spin on the shutdown he did prevail in substance.
Post #12 is correct. Newt lost his speakership because he couldn't control his zipper. Not from fallout over the government shutdown.
FWIW, I think Newt was and is an ass. If he had gotten out of the presidential primary race after winning only two states (including Georgia), then it is possible we could be looking at president-elect Rick Santorum. Not likely, given the abject stupidity of this country, but possible.
That being said, the government shutdown was the right thing to do at the time. Were it not for Timothy McVeigh and Bob Let's Make a Deal Dole, it is entirely possible that Newt's communication skills might have been heard over the enemedia at the time. We were a smarter country back then.
McVeigh, even more than Dole, was the man most responsible for getting Clinton re-elected.