This inexperience produced serious consequences for the party and the American political system, including an accelerated loss of public confidence in Congress. Although the evidence pointed to voters' repudiation of the Democrats, the Republicans saw their victory as a mandate for wholesale change -- a Republican Revolution. Instead of trying to make careful, incremental changes, their aggressive tactics cost them their golden opportunity and cleared the way for the reelection of President Clinton.

This book provides a timely focus on the attitudes and agendas of the inexperienced Republican freshman class and its contribution to the problem-plagued attempts to use the election campaign Contract with America as a blueprint for governing.