At the beginning of each Congress, or within one week thereafter, a Republican Party Conference shall be held. At that Conference there should be elected the following officers...There was not a new Congress when Lott was elected floor leader. It was during the short, "lame duck" session of the old Congress. As I read it, this rule states that the election will follow the new Congress.
Somewhere, an exception or a new rule was made. It was, I suspect, to accomodate the new majority that followed the election of Sen. Talent. It would also seem unnecessary to have such an election, as the existing "minority" officers could have slid into their "majority" status. The caucus leaders are the same whether the party is in the majority or not.
Clearly, Lott moved quickly to consolidate his position with a special election. Nevertheless, I find no objections to it from the caucus or the White House in press reports from the time (Nov. 13).