1. The Clinton Presidency
Third youngest president ever elected

2. Bill Clinton - Democrat
Arkansas governor , – second youngest
Pushed for middle class tax cuts and a national health care system
Strong alliance with his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, when dealing with politics

3. 1992 Election Running mate, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee
Three way race – Clinton (D), George H.W. Bush (R), H. Ross Perot (I)
Clinton presented himself as protector of the middle class
Clinton Wins Election

4. Foreign Policy
Oslo Accords (1993) - Peace agreement between Israelis (Rabin) and Palestinians (Arafat)
Somalia (1993) – Clinton Removes American troops in Somalia after many American casualties, troops had been sent by President Bush to help UN distribute food to victims of the Civil War
This prevents the U.S. from sending aid to Rawanda
1993 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) – passed
1993 Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy regarding gay military members
law prohibited qualified gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the armed forces
Effort to cut down discrimination on closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants
Haiti (1994) – American forces led a UN effort to remove military dictators (Lieut. Gen. Raoul Cedras and Brig. Gen. Philippe Biamby) Operation Uphold Democracy

5. 1996 Presidential Election
Clinton is elected to a second term in office
Defeats Republican Bob Dole & Reform Party Candidate Ross Perot
Bob Dole
Ross Perot

6. Scandals
Whitewater - Kenneth Starr led investigation into a failed real estate investment of Clintons in 1970s – no formal charges on Clintons
Paula Jones Sexual Harassment case – claimed to have taken place while Clinton was governor and she a state employee – case thrown out
Monica Lewinsky case (1998) – Clinton accused of lying under oath about his relationship with Lewinsky while he was president and she a White House intern
House approved 2 articles of impeachment
Senate did not have 2/3 majority to remove Clinton from office

7. Domestic Policy – Budget Deficit
Increased taxes (went against campaign promise to middle class) to deal with budget deficit
Critics felt tax increase would hurt economy – did not
Presidency longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history

8. Domestic Policy – Health Care
Costs rising, millions had no health insurance
Hillary Clinton headed special task force proposing a government-sponsored program of health care
The plan was defeated after much debate