THE Republicans who control both Houses of Congress are willing to let President Clinton set the national agenda, Mr Trent Lott, the Majority Leader in the Senate, and Mr Newt Gingrich, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, declared in the aftermath of elections that divided the government of the US between the White House and Capitol Hill.
"We ought to work with him and give him a chance to lead in the direction he campaigned on," the Speaker said. "And if he sticks to the things he campaigned on, we should be able to find some common ground."
Senator Lott, a more softspoken conservative than Mr Gingrich, outlined the programme congressional Republicans will follow when the 105th Congress opens in January. It will include an amendment to the Constitution for a balanced budget, which must then be adopted state by state.
"It looks like we might have the votes to pass it in the Senate," Mr Lott said. The Republicans gained a seat in the 100 member Senate, possibly two - the Oregon vote is still being counted. As matters stand their majority is 54 to 45 for the Democrats.
In the House of Representatives the Republicans also enjoy a majority, though a smaller one than before the elections: 223 to 204 for the Democrats and two independents. Six seats are undecided.
Representatives involved in the Irish question were all re elected, and Mr Jim McGovern of Boston a former staff aide to Mr Joe Moakley, was added to their number. New York Republicans Mr Peter King and Mr James Walsh, chairman of the Friends of Ireland in Congress, defeated their opponents 56 per cent to 42 per cent, and 55 per cent to 45 per cent respectively.
Mr Clinton proved in the last two years he can work successfully with a hostile Congress. Nevertheless, his position vis a vis the Congress may be weaker than it was before the election.
The President has demonstrated his political mastery. Mr Gingrich, in looking for "common ground", is obviously seeking compromise with one of the great compromisers of our time. He is willing to work with the new White House which also got a message from the voters: "Work together."
Senator Lott will be tougher to convince. While saying "the voters gave us all another opportunity to work together", he added that hearings will have to be held "on what happened in the campaign".
He is talking about foreign funds for the Democratic Party organised by an Asian, Mr John Huang, who first worked in the Commerce Department under the late Ron Brown, and then transferred to the Democratic Party headquarters as a fund raiser. At the moment he seems to be avoiding subpenas.
The Democratic National Committee has returned a $325,000 contribution from Mr Yokesh Gandhi because "Mr Gandhi could not or would not substantiate that the money was his own," a spokeswoman said, "so we didn't feel comfortable keeping it."
Two other inquiries are under way into the financial affairs of the former Housing Secretary, Mr Henry Cisneros, and the former Agriculture Secretary, Mr Mike Espy.
In the new year the Supreme Court must render a judgment about the claim of sexual harassment against the President - when he was governor of Arkansas - by Ms Paula Jones.
Meanwhile an independent counsel, Mr Kenneth Starr, is investigating the Clinton McDougal land purchase matter (Whitewater) in which Mrs Hillary Clinton, as the lawyer, had an interest. Mr Starr, a dogged Republican prosecutor, is said to be seeking the indictment of Mrs Clinton.
Senator Al d'Amato, the New York Republican, has had hearings on issues connected with Whitewater. He now says he will drop it, or turn it over to an independent counsel.
There may be investigative trouble for the White House in the House of Representatives. Mr Dan Burton, a California Republican, is the new chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. He promises "not to engage in witch hunts", but will be "thorough and uncompromising" in his committee's investigations.