In 1994, the Republican party rose up and shocked the political establishment by winning majority control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years.  Led by Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA), who went on to become the Speaker of the House, the GOP united under a campaign platform entitled the “Contract with America.”  The 10-point legislative plan included promises to reduce federal taxes, balance the budget, and reform social welfare programs established during six decades of mostly Democratic rule in Congress.  The “Republican Revolution” made good on its promises by passing every bill incorporated in the Contract with America–with the exception of a term-limits constitutional amendment–within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress.

The 1994 Republican Revolution was the most significant phenomenon in the conservative movement post-Reagan until the rise of the Tea Party.  How might another revolution be planned, executed, and pulled off?  Was this a fluke?  What was behind it?  In this experience, Kerry Knott will lead this in-depth look at the 1994 Republican Revolution, the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and the rise of the Tea Party.

The Presenter

Kerry Knott has been president of the C.S. Lewis Institute since 2010.  Knott has a long history of senior level government and corporate experience, working as Chief of Staff in Congress for fourteen years for Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX) and later as a senior executive at Comcast and Microsoft.  He is a 1982 graduate of Auburn University.  Knott and his wife Michelle have three children and live in Arlington, VA.

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