THE CLINTON YEARS

CAMPAIGN ISSUES Get America Working again Reduce the size of government and make it more responsive Several scandals “The Comeback Kid”

The 1992 presidential campaign was a three way race Republican: President George Bush sought a second term Independent: Ross Perot Billionaire Texas businessman Frustrated over government policies dealing with the budget and economy Democrats: Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton THE 1992 ELECTION

The “Far Right” attacks Bush as being too liberal. He is attacked by Republican Leadership (Newt Gingrich), and a third party candidate promising low taxes and control of the national debt (Ross Perot)

1992 Presidential Election. Republicans are split with Ross Perot stealing votes away from Bush 41 Clinton wins, although no mandate…Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate

Bush’s budget compromise and Clinton’s election push the Republican party further to the right, and liberal or moderate Republicans become a rarity, as do conservative Democrats

Clinton believed that government was necessary At the same time he believed in the need to reduce the size of the government to make it more efficient Called himself a New Democrat Effort to shed the traditional stereotype of the tax and spend big government Democrat PRESIDENT CLINTON

CLINTON’S FIRST TERM Wanted to end the recession by raising spending or cutting taxes At the same time needed to reduce the budget deficit This meant cutting spending or raising taxes In the end his first budget got Congress approval It included both spending cuts and tax increases

BATTLE OVER HEALTHCARE When Clinton took office estimated 37 million Americans had no health insurance Many Americans were finding it increasingly difficult to afford medical care Proposed to Congress the creation of a government- supervised health insurance program that would guarantee affordable coverage to every American Republicans felt The program would be expensive for taxpayers Attacked it as an example of big government In the end Clinton’s plan for healthcare reform failed to gain the support it needed

WELFARE REFORM Eliminated federal guarantees of cash assistance Gave states authority to run their own welfare programs with grants of federal money Established a lifetime limit of five years of aid per family (could sill reapply) Required most adults to work within two years of receiving aid

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) removes tariff barriers between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Main purpose was to stimulate economic growth Many fear NAFTA will lower wages and encourage foreign job replacement.

FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES HAITI In 1990 Haitians brought James Bertrand Aristide to the Presidency Less than a year later a military coup overthrew him Thousands left the country In 1994 Clinton sent American troops to Haiti to restore Aristide to power American action improved the situation Within a decade Haiti faced a sinking economy and rising rates of disease

FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES Civil War in Somalia brings on a famine. Food is delivered, but stolen by various warlords The United States Responds In December of 1992 President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope Primary mission of restoring order in Somalia President Bill Clinton took office in January 1993 and continued the operation The coalition fell apart in 1994 when several countries including the United States suffered steep casualty rates and withdrew troops Civil war dragged on for several years

FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES In the Balkans the collapse of communism broke up the country of Yugoslavia (Violence raged between the new countries formed form the breakup) Long suppressed ethnic and religious hostilities came boiling to the surface Clinton helped broker The Dayton Accords to end fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina He urged NATO to act against Serbia The Serb army was forcing ethnic Albanians form the Serbian region of Kosovo

WHAT IS THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT? Guaranteed most full-time employees 12 workweeks of unpaid leave each year for the birth and care of a newborn child, to recover from a serious illness, or to care for immediate family member with one The Clinton administration also -Increased access to college loans -Expanded tax credits for higher education -Raised minimum wage

Named after James Brady, Press Secretary for President Ronald Reagan, shot in the head during assassination attempt on President Reagan. The gun used was a.22LR

“Domestic Terrorists”

CONTRACT WITH AMERICA Led by Newt Gringrich, Republicans called for a smaller government, deregulation, tax cuts, and a balanced budget In the 1994 Mid-Term elections, republicans gained many seats in the House and Senate, which gave them the ability to block Clinton Legislation

GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN 1994 Mid-Term elections gave Republicans control of both houses of Congress Newt Gingrich Speaker of the House Demanded that the budget be balanced Proposed cuts in many social services 1995 Clinton and Gingrich clashed over the size of the budget Unable to compromise budget allocations expired without reauthorization Leading to a temporary closure of government offices Spring of 1996 Congress and the President came to an agreement

1996 Election Republican: Bob Dole 3 rd party: Ross Perot Democrats nominated Bill Clinton Many Americans blamed Republicans for the government shutdown Began to regard them as uncompromising and extreme Clinton raised his approval rating CLINTON’S SECOND TERM

BUDGET IMPROVEMENTS During his second term, the U.S. economy saw strong growth Combined with Bush (41) tax increases and budget cuts and an improving economy, the Clinton administration saw budget surplus in 1998!

SCANDAL AND THE SECOND TERM Whitewater affair Clinton was accused of having taken part in fraudulent loans and land deals in Arkansas years earlier Special prosecutor-Kenneth Starr No evidence was found to link the president to any wrongdoing

THE LEWINSKY SCANDAL Kenneth Starr -who had been looking into the Whitewater affair Began to investigate the relationship between Clinton and a young White House intern Under oath Clinton denied having sexual relations with the intern Repeated this denial again to a grand jury Eventually Clinton admitted to having an “inappropriate relationship” and to having “misled” his family and country

THE LEWINSKY SCANDAL Starr sent a report listing numerous grounds for impeachment On December 19,1998 the House voted to impeach Clinton on charged of perjury and obstruction of justice Senate trial followed-January 7, 1999 February 12, 1999 the Senate voted to acquit the President

Despite the many scandals, Clinton’s popularity never really takes a hit, and he leaves office with an approval rating of 66%!

REPEAL OF THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT The Gramm-Leach-Bliley bill was signed into law in November of 1999 by President Clinton. The law deregulated the banking sector and lead to collapse of the Housing market and the Banking Sector in Sen. Phil Gramm (R, Texas), Rep. Jim Leach (R, Iowa), and Rep. Thomas J. Bliley, Jr. (R, Virginia), the co- sponsors of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act.