WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 1996 (UPI) -- President Clinton's recurring theme in the heated days of his campaign dealt with building a bridge to the 21st century and after most of the votes were tallied, it appeared that a majority of Americans decided to cross that bridge with him.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 1996 (UPI) - Bob Dole conceded defeat late Tuesday after a long, hard-fought battle to oust President Clinton, but wished the winner well and told a rowdy crowd of supporters he remained the most optimistic man in America.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 1996 (UPI) - It was the most expensive congressional election in history, with more than $500 million spent by the candidates and millions more by independent groups, but voters seemed to draw the line at letting candidates buy elections with their own money.

President Clinton clinched re-election handily, becoming the first Democrat in more than 50 years to win a second term and claiming a mandate from Americans early Wednesday, declaring that voters ''told us to go forward.''

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 9, 1996 (UPI) - President Clinton will always be known as ''The Comeback Kid'' after resurrecting a foundering primary election campaign in 1992 and now coming back to score a decisive re-election victory after having suffered a stunning mid-term setback when Republicans took over Congress.