A series of controversies , including the debate over gays in the military , contentious confirmation battles , and " Travelgate , " sunk Clinton 's approval ratings to just 37 percent in mid-1993 . Further setbacks related to health care and foreign policy left Clinton in a weak position in the lead-up to the 1994 elections . Led by Newt Gingrich , House Republicans created the Contract with America , which promised an overhaul of the federal welfare system and passage of a balanced budget amendment , term limits , and deregulation . Republican won control of both chambers of Congress , picking up 54 seats in the House of Representatives and 9 Senate seats . As the victory gave Republicans unified control of Congress for the first time since 1955 , some commentators referred to the 1994 elections as the " Republican Revolution . " Clinton 's handling of the budget and the Bosnian War improved his approval ratings , and his own polling showed him consistently leading Republican challengers throughout 1996 . Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole defeated Pat Buchanan and publisher Steve Forbes in the 1996 Republican primaries , and Dole was formally nominated at the August 1996 Republican National Convention . At the convention , Dole selected conservative former Congressman Jack Kemp and announced that he favored a 15 % across-the-board income tax cut . Perot ran for president again , this time as a member of the Reform Party
1996 Republican National Convention
1996 Republican National Convention
Presidency of Bill Clinton