1.   Ambitious politicians have acted as desk-bound warlords, building political clout by accumulating legions of underlings while they climbed the ranks of state and federal ministries.

2.   Combining firebrand conservatism and polished tactical skills, Trent Lott, the majority leader in the Senate, has climbed the ranks of the Republican Party.

3.   He has climbed the ranks to major general without conspicuous favoritism.

4.   John is a criminal attorney yearning to climb the ranks of corporate life, held back only by color.

5.   Klein climbed the ranks at Newsweek, becoming foreign editor and then assistant managing editor.

6.   Riche noted that the dropoff probably occurred because women climbing the ranks of management at that age were most likely to begin raising children.

7.   They climbed the ranks independently, he said, and when the board named him to lead Hughes, his brother declined to vote.

8.   Ebony McElroy, of San Diego, Calif., who entered VMI with Claunch, said she was surprised a woman climbed the ranks so quickly.

9.   Kordic has been described as a determined figure who quickly climbed the ranks of the political structure at the onset of Croatian independence.