American Decades
Republican Renaissance?
Gingrich.
The congressional elections of 1994 resulted in a Republican landslide as voters across the country, angered by President Bill Clinton's liberal agenda and afraid of socialized medicine, turned en masse to the Republican candidates. Much of the credit for their success, however, must be attributed to Representative Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich (R-Georgia), who came to Congress in 1978 with the goal of becoming Speaker of the House. As far-fetched as the goal may have seemed, Gingrich continued in this pursuit until 1990, when he was elected Minority Whip by the Republican Caucus. That position put him second in line to Minority Leader Robert Henry Michel (R-Ilinois), a moderate, whose gentlemanly demeanor was at odds with the scrappy and antagonistic style of Gingrich. When Michel announced his retirement in 1994, Gingrich seized the opportunity for leadership by promoting a "Contract with America."
Republican...
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1990's Government and Politics
