The Clinton Presidency

Clinton’s Mission Goals Balance the federal budget Reform welfare Reduce crime Promote economic growth Ensure a strong national defense Significant Priorities Reduce the size of the federal government Promote free markets worldwide

Traditional Stereotypes Democrats/Liberals Republicans/Conservatives “Tax and Spend”“Favor the rich” government action government is the problem can be the solution government spending cut government spending is necessary taxes are necessary cut taxes government regulation cut government regulation is necessary

Democratic Party Changes 1960s-1980s 1.Loss of South 2.Reagan shifts the electorate to right 3.Crushing loss in Deficit 5.Tax Revolts 6.Perceived failure of Great Society and Reaganomics

Democratic Party Changes New Democrats Socially liberal Fiscally Conservative Pro-Business Government has limited, but important role Democratic Leadership Council (DLC)(DLC)

Clinton as the “New Democrat” 1.NAFTA, GATT WTO Many supporters and critics….what arguments did each side provide? maquiladoras; $20 billion US bailout to Mexico 3.Family and Medical Leave Act, Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit 5.Brady Bill

Domestic Policy Disaster! Health-care Reform 1.Costs were soaring: - $200 billion in $800 billion in 1992 (1/7 of the entire domestic economy!) 2.Hillary Clinton tasked with guiding the reform effort. She was confronted with significant resistance. 3.“Hillarycare”

The Result… Republicans dominated the 1994 mid-term election – Republican victories leads to control of the House and Senate – the first time in 40 years!

Newt Gingrich and the “Contract with America” 1.Tax cuts 2.Increase in military spending 3.Cutbacks of federal regulatory power in the environment and workplace 4.Anticrime bill 5.Decrease in federal welfare spending

1995 – Budget Showdown 1.Clinton veto v. Republican Congress 2.To the victor…Clinton adopts the Republican positions as his own and mutes some of his critics State of the Union Address – Clinton announces that “the era of big government is over” 4.Passes the Welfare Reform Act – abolishes legislation that is over 60 years old. - Short-term aid provided recipients find work Election – Bob Dole mismatched is defeated.

The 1996 Election

Foreign Policy Clinton – U.S. foreign policy should reflect “the morals and principles most Americans share.” 1.Shift from “containment” to humanitarian goals 2.Most Favored Nation status and China 3.Korea – U.S. to assist with energy needs if Korea agrees not to pursue its planned creation of a nuclear arsenal. 4.Bosnia – ethnic and religious rivalry between Serbs, Croats, and Muslims

Bosnia 1.Bush did not pursue military aid as Bosnia did not pose a threat to the U.S. – no intervention. 2.“Ethnic cleanings” was revealed – the forced removal and murder of the Croats and Muslims by the Bosnia Serbs. Refugees increase in numbers. 3.NATO air strikes of Serbian forces in Bosnia 4.Clinton brokers deal with Slobodan Milosevic – peace accord creates a federalized, multiethnic state of Bosnia 5.International Protection Force (Peacekeepers) are sent, but violence persists even after one year.

Kosovo 1.Serbians clash with the ethnic Albanians 2.UN and US forces are dispatched to protect the Albanians from the Serbs 3.Clinton attempts to negotiate to no avail 4.NATO Air Strikes, Round 2. 5.Serbs are driven from Kosovo. 6.“International Protection Force (Peacekeepers) are sent in once again.

Clinton and the Economy 1.20 million new jobs and a 4% or less unemployment rate – the lowest in over 30 years. 2.Government spending decreases 3.Tax revenue increases 4.¼ trillion dollar deficit becomes and almost ¼ trillion dollar surplus by the end of Clinton’s presidency 5.“tech stocks” fuel the market with more than 60% of the American public owning stock 6.White collar jobs increase 200x over blue collar jobs

Clinton and the Economy, cont. 7.The “.com” BOOM 8.The “Silicon Valley” of the 70s and the development and application of the semiconductor transforms modern life. 9.VCR, MTV, Cable, DVD 10.The Internet – from ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) to the World Wide Web

High Crimes and Misdemeanors 1992 Election Avoiding the draft Smoking, but “not inhaling” marijuana “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military Gennifer Flowers

High Crimes and Misdemeanors 1996 Election…. Whitewater Paula Jones Monica Lewinsky Kenneth Starr Paula Jones

Final Notes… 1.Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House for perjury and obstruction of justice, but was subsequently acquitted by the United States Senate and completed his term. 2.Polls of the electorate at this time show up to 70% were against pursuing the allegations. 3.Clinton left office with an approval rating at 65%, the highest end of office rating of any President since World War II.

Articles of Impeachment Article One: Perjury before Grand Jury –Passed House; rejected by Senate Article Two: Perjury in Civil Suit –Rejected by House Article Three: Obstruction of Justice –Passed House; rejected by Senate Article Four: Perjury in Questions to Judiciary Committee –Rejected by House

1990s Timeline Iraq invades Kuwait leading to 1991 Gulf War Gulf War Oakland Hills firestorm kills 25 and destroys 3469 homes and apartments U.S. presidential election, Bill Clinton becomes President The World Trade Center is bombed Branch Davidians standoff and fire in Waco, Texas Cruise missile attack on Baghdad North American Free Trade Agreement goes into effect Oklahoma City Bombing Following the 1994 elections, Republicans gain control of both the House and Senate for the first time since TWA flight 800 explodes off Long Island killing all 230 aboard Khobar Towers bombing leaves 19 U.S. servicemen dead in Saudi Arabia Centennial Olympic Park bombing at Summer Olympics in Atlanta kills 1 and injures U.S. presidential election, 1996 (Bill Clinton is re-elected) President Clinton bars federal funding for any research on human cloning killed in 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 216 on board Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado President Clinton is acquitted in impeachment trial by U.S. Senate USS Cole bombing in Yemen