FIVE Republican controlled 104th Congress which began in battles with the White House and the Democrats has ended with both sides claiming victory. But President Clinton has succeeded in forcing valuable concessions from his opponents which will boost his reelection chances.
The Republicans had taken control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1994 for the first time in more than 40 years promising a "revolution" which included ending payments for school lunches. But they are now heading for the hustings with many unsure of reelection and fearing a Democratic landslide.
One of the biggest losers is the leader of the House, Speaker Newt Gingrich, who had promised to implement a "Contract with America" which would radically cut back the role of government. But following an ill judged battle with President Clinton over budget cuts which closed down government services for a time, the Republicans had to back off and Mr Gingrich's popularity plummeted.
Mr Gingrich is also facing an embarrassing House committee investigation into his tax affairs.
Democrats who were demoralised at losing 70 seats and control of both Houses took heart from the Republican blunders and worked with the President to push through amendments which softened the impact of many Bills drafted by the majority.
In addition, to the anger of Mr Dole and the Republicans now fighting for re election, President Clinton has been claiming the credit for legislation which he initially opposed.
The outgoing Congress adjourned last night as the Senate voted on a budget package negotiated with the White House and the Democrats in all night sessions to allow funding for the 1997 fiscal year beginning today. The package provides for about $356 billion for domestic programmes and $244 billion for defence.
But President Clinton has manoeuvred the Republican majority into increasing spending by $6.5 billion in education and other social projects which had been threatened with cuts. In the last minute bargaining, the President also used his veto power to get the removal of harsh measures in the Immigration Bill such as not allowing the children of illegal immigrants access to free education.
The Republican majority has also failed over the past two years to implement various pledges. These include a constitutional amendment to balance the budget; term limits of 12 years for House and Senate members; major tax cuts for individuals; the roll back of affirmative action policies to help women and minorities.
The Democratic minority, on the other hand, with the help of the President's veto, succeeded in forcing through an increase in the minimum wage and the transfer of health insurance when changing jobs. The President also blocked proposed cuts in the rate of increase of Medicare expenditure by 2002.
Republicans and Democrats cooperated, however, in passing a raft of measures, especially in the closing months, which amount to one of the most productive Congresses of recent years, according to commentators.
These include a welfare reform Bill which ends federal guarantees and makes states responsible; tougher crime measures and restrictions on appeals against death sentences; increased border patrols to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking; an end to traditional farm subsidies; stronger anti terrorism measures; better food safety and water purity laws; tougher sanctions against Cuba, Libya and Iran and on foreign investors there.
Republicans left Capitol Hill waving empty ice buckets symbolising how they forced through cuts in federal spending. One of the cuts had been in the daily ice service to Congressional offices at a cost of $400,000 a year. So much for the "revolution".