105th Congress (1997 - 1999)

House of Representatives

House Majority: Republican

House Majority Seats: 226 out of 435

House Speaker: Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

Senate

Senate Majority: Republican

Senate Majority Seats: 55 out of 100

Senate Majority Leader: Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS)

Executive

President: William Jefferson 'Bill' Clinton (D-AR)

Vice President: Al Gore (D-TN)

portrait

Member Spotlight

Featured: Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), the Senate Majority Leader, was a significant figure in late-20th century American politics. Born on October 9, 1941, in Grenada, Mississippi, Lott began his political career in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1973 to 1989. He then represented Mississippi in the Senate from 1989 to 2007. Lott's leadership was marked by his tenure as Senate Majority Leader from 1996 to 2001, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the Republican legislative agenda, including welfare reform and tax cuts. Known for his organizational skills and ability to forge bipartisan coalitions, Lott was instrumental in navigating the Senate through significant events such as the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton and the response to the September 11 attacks. His leadership left a lasting impact on Senate operations and Republican strategy during his time in office.

Enactments