Republicans Gain Ground in Congress.

In the Senate the Republicans took a four-seat majority and struck a balance with the Democrats in the House (with Vicepresident Nixon counting as the tie-breaking vote). The new Republican National Committee chairman, Leonard Hall, had begun to effect a long-term strategy of solidifying Republican gains by singing the praises of the Eisenhower administration; candidates running on the GOP platform pounded home the message that life was once again good. The Korean War had ended, the dollar was sound, and the administration had made significant strides toward balancing the budget. Republicans also reminded voters of the Democrats' soft record on communism.

Democrats on Defensive.

For the first time in many years, the Democratic political machine appeared to be in disarray as it tried to get out from under the financial and political debts chalked up by Stevenson's unsuccessful...