President Clinton came into office vowing to link trade to human rights, but soon changed his position, arguing that isolation would make broad relations impossible.

The Bush administration took office vowing never to fall into that trap.

Mr. Williams came into office vowing to rid the city of his predecessor's cronyism and to replace it with a good-government model.

President Bush took office vowing to avoid high-stakes diplomacy in the Middle East.

Mr. Putin came to office vowing to rebuild the Kremlin's authority.

Budget Mr. Pataki came into office vowing to cut taxes, and on this he delivered.

This administration came into office vowing to avoid what one of its officials described to me at the time as "profligate intervention."

An Administration that came into office vowing to reduce the Federal role in education has, in effect, consolidated that very role.

The Clinton Administration came into office vowing to set a new ethical standard," he said.

Fox took office vowing to clear up several high-profile murders.