And it is practically impossible that anyone who led a country through 12 years of war can win a democratic election.

I have led you through many productive years, but now the rules have shifted.

Although the former Communists had led the country through four years of economic growth, the revamped Solidarity appealed to the anti-Communist feelings of many voters.

The presidency was tailored with him in mind, and he led the nation through eight critical years during which the machinery of government was literally invented.

Mr. Bailar led the fledgling program through 10 years of steady growth and increasing recognition before retiring in 1997.

He led the band through many difficult years in the late nineteenth century, when they were being encroached on by European-American settlers.

Wearing No. 7, he led the team through 14 years of the greatest success any baseball team has known before he endured four more years of decline.

Before that, he had led the Gap through 17 years of rising revenues and rapidly advancing stock valuations.

Mr. Smithburg, who is 58, has led Quaker through 16 years of frequent strategic upheaval.

Mr. Del Castillo led the 3,700-officer department through three very difficult years, beginning with the fallout from accusations that its decoy unit was making dubious arrests.