But Lott is in no mood to play nice. He knows that Democrats in Congress set the debacle in motion by pushing all summer for a vote on the treaty, fully expecting that the Republicans would never oblige. When Lott decided to call their bluff, Democrats had no time to turn the sizable but less than urgent public sentiment in favor of the treatyÐit ran as high as 80% in some pollsÐinto an irresistible public demand that would force more Republican SeNATOrs to vote with the Democrats. In the end just four Republicans defected. Lott also knew that he had to placate his conservative wing, still angry over his willingness two years ago to bring to the Senate floor the treaty banning chemical weapons.

In a final effort, Senator Tom Daschle and Lott agreed that the test-ban treaty could be withdrawn if Democrats promised not to introduce it again during Clinton's presidency except under "extraordinary circumstances." Republicans, who feel they always lose when they cut a deal with Clinton, wouldn't go for it. As White House press secretary Joe Lockhart said, "They act as if they're afraid to get in the same room with us because they'll get taken." In the year to come they won't be taking much. Or giving it.

Questions

1. What is the purpose of the test ban treaty?
2. What does the vote on the treaty reveal about the relationship between Congress and the President?