 Complete the following phrase:  From 1997 to 2001 McConnell was chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the body charged with securing electoral victories for Republicans. On February 12, 1999, he was one of fifty senators to vote to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office. He was first elected as Majority Whip in the 108th Congress and was uimously re-elected on November 17, 2004. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, did not seek re-election in the 