Not since 1954 has the Republican Party controlled the House, the Senate and the presidency, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the White House, Rep. Joseph W. Martin of Massachusetts was Speaker of the House and California Sen. William F. Knowland was Senate Majority Leader.

It is a little easier for the Democrats to recall the trifecta--they need only look back to 1994.

But whether it be six or 46 years, both parties have the legitimate opportunity to seize control and hold a full house by winning the House, Senate and White House.

For the Republicans, they will have to hold onto slim majorities in the House and Senate and hope Texas Gov. George W. Bush can pull out a tight race against Vice President Al Gore '69.

But the Democrats have been plotting to win back the House since the Gingrich revolution, and hope that a strong turnout from the Democratic base will carry Gore and Congressional candidates to victory.

While chances are that neither party will complete a full sweep, early predictions have only come to one concrete consensus--today will likely mark the closest election in nearly half a century.

Supreme Court Roulette

At the presidential level, the 2000 elections run much deeper than mere party lines. The future of the Supreme Court, foreign policy and federal power also hinge on today's winner.