Richard Keith Armey (R-Texas) came to Congress in 1985 as a supporter of President Ronald Reagan's economic policy. An economist, he quickly gained recognition in Congress as a leader of the conservative forces when he opposed President George Bush's tax compromise with the Democrats in 1990. In 1995, as the Republicans took control of the House for the first time in forty years, Armey sought and won the post of House Majority Leader. Upon taking office he delivered the line repeated often since, "The American people didn't give us power, they gave us responsibility." Armey continued as majority leader, even after the resignation of Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich (R-Georgia) as Speaker in 1998 and the election of John Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) to succeed him.

Bill Bradley (D-New Jersey) retired from the U.S. Senate in 1996 after eighteen years of service. The ex-New York Knicks basketball star...