after the election of democratic president bill clinton in 1992, the republican party, led by house republican minority whip newt gingrich campaigning on a "contract with america", were elected to majorities to both houses of congress in the republican revolution of 1994. it was the first time since 1952 that the republicans secured control of both houses of u.s. congress, which with the exception of the senate during 2001–2002 was retained through 2006. this capture and subsequent holding of congress represented a major legislative turnaround, as democrats controlled both houses of congress for the forty years preceding 1995, with the exception of the 1981–1987 congress in which republicans controlled the senate.