Connection: Match the president with their policy goal. EQ: To what extent did Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama fulfill their domestic policy goals? Connection: Match the president with their policy goal. Franklin D. Roosevelt landing a man on the moon John F. Kennedy deregulating business Abraham Lincoln ending the Great Depression Ronald Reagan preserving the environment Theodore Roosevelt freeing the slaves

Connection What factors shape the goals and priorities of a president’s agenda? How would you rate a presidential policy as a success or failure?

Resource – T-Chart Democrats Republicans

The Democratic Party - 2000 Generally support Generally appeals to Believe in government’s power to improve life for ordinary people Reform the welfare system Balance the budget Expand trade Take a tough stand on crime Generally appeals to Liberals minorities Immigrants Union members Moderates

The Republican Party - 2000 Generally supports a conservative agenda Reducing the size of government Lowering taxes Maintaining a strong military Promoting traditional social values Generally appeals to Evangelical Christians Rural communities Blue-collar workers Veterans businesspeople

Third Party Candidates About 30-35% of voters define themselves as independents. The presence of this group pressure candidates to take moderate views into account during campaigns. Ross Perot – 1992 – 19% of vote Ralph Nader – 2000 – 2.7% but accused of being a “spoiler”, costing Al Gore the election.

Bill Clinton – 1992 Election Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush Winning factors Economy was in recession since 1990 Ross Perot – conservative vote chipped “Leaner, not meaner government” No electoral mandate – only 43% of popular vote Democratic majority in both houses of Congress New Democrats more moderate – still promoting social programs, but with a smaller government

Bill Clinton – Reforms and Laws Family Medical Leave Act Allows workers to take time off for family emergencies without risking job Budget stimulus spending and tax increases on top 1.2% of earners “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Homosexuals in the military Americorps Domestic version of Peace Corps Brady Bill Waiting period and mandatory background checks Early attempts at Health Care Led by Hillary Clinton Failed to gain ground Welfare Reform AFDC > TANF Assistance for single mothers Limited time on assistance Recipients required to find work Balanced Budget Act Budget surplus in 1998. Began paying off debt Economy boomed, also due to internet bubble. Republicans argued that surplus should go back to people in tax cuts NAFTA Created free trade zone with Canada and Mexico

1994 – Republican Revolution Midterms elections Republicans gain ground due to scandals, tax increases, and failed support for health care. Newt Gingrich - Contract with America Republicans fight against Democratic changes to gain control of both Houses in Congress 10-point plan focused on balancing the budget, combating crime, reforming welfare, cutting taxes, creating jobs, and minimizing lawsuits.

Bill Clinton - Issues White Water Accusations of illegal profiting from an investment in Arkansas real estate. Investigation leads to scandals – Monica Lewinsky Accusations of sexual harassment and an affair with a White House intern. Impeachment Perjury/ obstruction of justice Remained in office after the vote.

Areas of Success? Challenging Areas?

Connection (part II) Which policies of the Clinton administration were the most successful? Which policies were the least successful?

Connection (part II) What were some of the best successes of these three presidents? What were some of the worst moments of their presidencies?

George W. Bush – 2000 Election 270 votes needed to win Gore – 266/ Bush-246 Needed to win Florida – too close to call Issues with recount Gore demanded recount Bush v. Gore Bush tried to stop recount. Florida SC ruled against him, but Supreme Court voted to stop recount. Florida went to Bush (under 2,000 votes)

George W. Bush – Reforming Education NCLB – No Child Left Behind Ushered in a new era of accountability. Required schools to test their students’ progress in reading and math

George W. Bush – Laws and Programs Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Assisted religious and community groups in getting federal funding to combat social problems Healthy Marriage Initiative Federal funds for programs aimed at encouraging low-income couples to marry Secure Fence Act Authorized construction of 700 miles of fencing along border Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Help to seniors and people with disabilities to pay for Rx Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban Limited federal funding of stem cell research to stop the use of human embryos in medical research

George W. Bush - Economics Summer 2001 - $1.35 trillion tax cut September 11th – economy suffers Federal budget falls from a surplus of $128 billion in 2001 – deficit of $158 billion in 2002 Cost of War on Terror Further tax cuts - $350 billion However, tax revenues up in 2005 as economy recovers

The Great Recession Economic expansion short-lived Housing bubble burst in 2006 Subprime mortgages/home values crash/foreclosures Slowed spending/ lay-offs Investment Firms and Banks go under Bailouts – TARP – troubled asset relief program $700 billion/ $17 billion to auto makers Institutions seen as “too big to fail”

George W. Bush - Issues Hurricane Katrina – 2005 Hurricane devastated New Orleans and other Gulf Towns Levy broke, flooding the town Response by FEMA seemed slow and disorganized

Areas of Success? Challenging Areas?

Barack Obama – 2008 Election Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin With 365 electoral votes to McCain’s 173, Obama became nation’s first African American president. Electoral mandate for change.

The Great Recession Continues Economy still unstable after Great Recession. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - $787 billion – stimulus package spending and tax cuts/ public works projects and tax credits for middle class families 2nd auto industry bailout - $60 billion to GM and Chrysler Economist agree that the recession officially ended in 2009 due to a combination of effects from Bush and Obama measures

Healthcare and Other Reforms Affordable Care Act Passed early in administration – leads to Republican backlash and rise of Tea Party “Race to the Top” Grants to states and school districts that made notable advances “Education to Innovate” Aimed at STEM programs New national fuel efficiency standards Aimed at raising average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025 Embryonic stem cell research Removed barriers

Gridlock Rise of the Tea Party Debt Crisis/Fiscal Cliff/Sequester Conservative, populist protest movement that has transformed into a political movement Condemn big government, taxes, bailout of Wall Street, and health care law Debt Crisis/Fiscal Cliff/Sequester Fight over budget and debt ceiling leads to standoff With no compromise, huge government cuts made

Areas of Success? Challenging Areas?

Process What would YOU consider the most successful policies of each president? The least successful?