In a compelling entreaty to presidential candidates of both parties, Speaker Gingrich, along with Governor Cuomo,?has created?a forum to create?a “bipartisan national dialogue”?beginning February 28 in New York’s famous Cooper Union.

I blush to tell you I was unaware of the historical significance of Abraham Lincoln’s famous Cooper Union address until it was explained to me by Lincoln enthusiast and political columnist Barry Casselman over lunch 2 weeks ago.? (As an aside, Casselman had much to do with the forthcoming Cooper Union event but that is his story to tell.)

The Speaker writes thusly:

Let’s take Senators Obama and Clinton at their word. We need a new way of working in Washington, one that focuses on solutions over politics. But change doesn’t have to wait until the presidential race is decided. It can begin now, during the campaign season. All Americans should challenge Sen. Obama, Sen. Clinton and all the men and women running for President to not only talk the talk but also walk the walk. Unless we focus on solutions during the campaign, we’ll never get solutions when the new President takes office.

Former New York Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo and I are participating in a bipartisan dialogue that we hope will offer a model that the candidates will adopt. On February 28, we will launch it as the first in a series of bipartisan national dialogues at Cooper Union in New York City.

Cooper Union is the place where, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln gave the speech that propelled him to the presidency. Gov. Cuomo and I are very ambitious. We hope to do one better than Lincoln. Not to propel either of us to the presidency, but to propel our political system toward a genuinely productive search for the solutions to the challenges that face us. If you plan on being in New York on February 28, please join us. I will have more about this for you in the coming weeks.

Gingrich?has an incredible sense of history and his attempt to muster candidates of both parties to?create a model for national dialogue?– and perhaps ignite a candidacy or two –?is an important and noble attempt to elevate the upcoming campaign.

And as someone who has a first edition copy of the Speaker’s Window of Opportunity and pines for a genuine conservative in the race, I would not be the least bit disappointed if the candidacy that is ignited as the result of the Cooper Union event?is the Speaker’s himself.?