University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Undergraduate Humanities Forum 2008-09: Penn Humanities Forum Undergraduate Change Research Fellows 4-2009 THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION? THE TRANSFORMATION AND MATURATION OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1980-1995 Noah M. Weiss University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2009 Weiss, Noah M., "THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION? THE TRANSFORMATION AND MATURATION OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1980-1995" (2009). Undergraduate Humanities Forum 2008-09: Change. 3. https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2009/3 2008-2009 Penn Humanities Forum on Change Undergraduate Mellon Research Fellows http://humanities.sas.upenn.edu/08-09/fellows_uhf.shtml This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2009/3 For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION? THE TRANSFORMATION AND MATURATION OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1980-1995 Abstract Noah M. Weiss, College '09, History "A campaign promise is one thing, a signed pledge is quite another": A Political History of the 1994 Republican Revolution January 4, 1995, signaled a momentous change in American politics as Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO) handed the gavel of the House of Representatives to the newly elected Speaker of the House, Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA). For the first time in four decades, Republicans constituted a majority of the House. This research will examine the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, the so-called Republican Revolution, in which 54 seats changed hands. Was the Republican landslide truly a revolution? And, was it fundamentally a triumph of ideas or of partisan politics? To answer these questions, I will examine Republican strategy, the formulation of the “Contract with America,” the Democratic Party’s response, the Contract’s legislative implementation, and finally the stalling of the Revolution with the government shutdowns of 1995–1996. Comments 2008-2009 Penn Humanities Forum on Change Undergraduate Mellon Research Fellows http://humanities.sas.upenn.edu/08-09/fellows_uhf.shtml This presentation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2009/3 THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION? THE TRANSFORMATION AND MATURATION OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1980-1995 NOAH M. WEISS SENIOR HONORS THESIS DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA APRIL 2009 –––––––––––––––––––––– 2008–2009 PENN HUMANITIES FORUM UNDERGRADUATE MELLON RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP To My Family, Friends, and All Those Who Inspire Me Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | ii CONTENTS Acknowledgments iv Introduction: A Revolution? 1 Chapter 1: Transforming an Attitude 12 Chapter 2: Developing an Identity 46 Chapter 3: Putting their Names on the Line 78 Chapter 4: Attempting a Revolution 126 Conclusion: A Mixed Legacy 181 Bibliography 211 Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is fair to say that I had no idea what I was getting into when I applied for the History Honors Program from my dorm room in Barcelona. Perchance taken by the freedom that one feels in such a magical place, I sent in my proposal and was accepted. I have never looked back. The process has been filled with its ups and downs; yet, its vicissitudes have only driven me to work harder. I could always see the light at the end of the tunnel, though at many points it seemed the tunnel would never end. In an odd way, my thesis took me on an adventure—traveling to interviews and archives, meeting new friends, and pushing myself harder than ever before. In that, perhaps, the spirit of Barcelona still lives. There are several people without whom I would have never been able to finish, and whom I would therefore like to acknowledge here. First, I would like to thank Professor Sarah Igo. Without her trust in me, I might have abandoned my topic months ago. Second, I am grateful to Professor Kristin Stromberg-Childers for her care, understanding, and perspective. Although, by her own admittance, she didn‘t know much about my topic, her detached point of view and her ability to keep me grounded was enormously helpful. Finally, I would like to thank my primary advisor, Professor Bruce Kuklick for his cutting wit, big- picture thinking, and incredible speed in reviewing my work. Each step of the way, his comments and criticisms have pushed me to think about the larger implications, or what he termed ―conscience questions.‖ My thesis would not be the same without them. I would also like to thank my interview subjects for sharing their time and experiences with me. Even in an election year, they fit me into their schedules and for that I Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | iv am very grateful. One of the big draws of this topic was the opportunity to interview some of the era‘s characters, and their experiences and stories never disappointed my expectations. One of the great joys of the last year has been working on my thesis with such an amazing group of people, my fellow American history honors students. Whether it was bouncing ideas off of each other, keeping each other motivated, or just getting to know them as people, they have been an incredible network of friends. I wish them all the best. I know we will keep in touch. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unyielding support throughout the past year. Many read and edited parts of my draft, provided suggestions, and gave me encouragement. Their support has meant the world. Noah M. Weiss Philadelphia, PA April 28, 2009 Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | v INTRODUCTION: A REVOLUTION? On January 4, 1995, as Rep. Richard Gephardt, Democrat of Missouri, handed the gavel of the House of Representatives to the newly elected Speaker of the House, Rep. Newt Gingrich, Republican of Georgia, it was clear that a momentous change had occurred in American politics. For the first time in four decades, Republicans comprised a majority of the House of Representatives after winning a sweeping victory in the 1994 elections in which fifty-four seats changed party hands from the Democrats to the Republicans. In fact, not a single member of the GOP had ever seen a Republican majority, save Congressman Bill Emerson of Missouri who had been a sixteen year old page during the 83rd Congress in 1954. Just two years prior, this sea change would have been inconceivable. After twelve years of Republican presidents, Democratic Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas had captured the White House. Democrats had held onto control of both houses of Congress yet again. The Republican Party was fractured; by the thousands, registered Republicans bolted the party in 1992 to support third party candidates like Ross Perot or just decided to stay at home on Election Day, disillusioned by a party that they felt no longer represented their interests and ideas. Nevertheless, following the 1994 elections, Republicans would control both chambers of Congress for the next twelve years, instituting policies that departed considerably from the norms set during four decades of Democratic rule. Undeniably, many of the issues that the Clinton Administration had introduced—welfare reform, for example—were still on the table, but after the 104th Congress took office, the emphasis shifted in a decidedly Republican Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | 1 direction. Even Democrats recognized this fundamental shift. In his 1996 State of the Union Address, President Clinton famously declared, ―The era of big government is over,‖ paying homage to a central theme in the Republican ideology—reducing the size and scope of the federal government. The Republicans came to Congress in 1995 intending to consummate a revolution. In the words of their Contract with America, they meant ―to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives‖ and to end ―government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public‘s money.‖ Their success was mixed, and their claim of a full revolution is overstated, but nevertheless in a sense the Republicans truly shifted the national debate and revolutionized the way campaigns are run and majorities govern. The Republican Revolution may just be catchy alliteration, but, as we will see, the Republican Party was genuinely able to make decisive change in Washington, both good and bad. The Republicans did not become a majority overnight. Indeed, the story of how the GOP came to capture their first majority in the House of Representatives in four decades is certainly not limited to the two years between 1992 and 1994. Rather, the success of the Republicans would have never been possible without the dramatic transformation that occurred within the House Republican Party in the 1980s and early 1990s. The party matured during this era, changing its attitude from passive to active, and adopted a style of partisan politics aimed at forcibly making themselves a majority. The internal transformation of the House Republicans was essential to put themselves in a position to win the majority in 1994. As such, this thesis aims to examine the developments behind the so-called Republican Revolution of 1994 with specific emphasis on the long-term maturation of the Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Final Paper April 2009 Noah Weiss, College ‘09 WEISS | 2 Republican Party in the House of Representatives from a passive minority to an ambitious majority. I have chosen this focus because the House was where almost all of the important action took place; it was the driving force in campaign strategy and legislative goal setting.