Bush I and Clinton AP US Unit 17 – Post Cold War America April 26, 2010

Now what? Now that the Cold War is over, what is America’s place in the world? Police power seems to be the answer. December 1989, removal of Panama’s leader Manuel Noriega

The Persian Gulf Crisis Iraq invaded Kuwait UN force says get out by January 15, 1991 or else – they invade First REAL UN effort of working together to stop an aggressor

Persian Gulf War January 16, 1991 – bombing of Iraq begins for 37 days February 23, 1991 – Operation Desert Storm begins –Land attack against Iraqi forces in Kuwait – 4 days –Saddam is moved back to Iraq Troops are victorious, but some might have been exposed to poisonous substances when exploding Saddam’s arsenals of chemical/biological weapons

The Persian Gulf War

US F-14’s-16’s fly over a burning oil field; President Bush and General Schwarzkopf visit troops on Thanksgiving 1990; Colin Powell discusses the ground war; The highway of death – remnants of Iraqi attempts to escape

Bush at Home Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 – kinder, gentler America Nominated Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court in 1991 –Opposed by the NAACP because Thomas was anti-affirmative action –The issue of Sexual Harassment is made important with testimony from Anita Hill –Thomas was confirmed by a vote of the Senate

Bush and the Economy Recession by 1992 – unemployment above 7% (above 10% in California) Federal budget deficit growing In 1990 = $133 billion in new taxes (violated campaign promise of “read my lips, no new taxes”)

27 th Amendment No new pay increases until the next Congress May 18, 1992

Election of 1992 Republicans – Bush I Democrats – Clinton - It’s the economy stupid –Clinton a “new” Democrat (Democratic Leadership Council) Independent – Ross Perot (TX) Clinton won by 5 million votes, but was still a minority president Perot got 19 million votes, strongest 3rd party candidate since Bull Moose in 1912 Democratic majority in Congress…

1992 Election Results

Clinton at Home First Baby-boomer president Diverse cabinet Couldn’t lift ban on gays and lesbians in the military – just got “don’t ask don’t tell” Health care initiative disaster with Hillary (Oct 1993) Shrunk the deficit to its lowest level in more than a decade in 1996 Brady Bill (1993) and assault weapon ban (1994) Home disasters: WTC in 1993, Waco (1993), Oklahoma City (1995) –People had been distrusting the government for a while (militias)

1994 midterm elections Republicans gain back House and Senate led by Newt Gingrich “Contract with America” Clinton in 92 and Republicans in 94 misread the general temper and claim they have a mandate… Clinton did choose to sign harsh “welfare reform” bill in 1996 that slashed the welfare system Government shut down in 1995 for a few days until it could work out a budget

1996 Elections My first campaign… Democrats – Bill Clinton Republicans – Bob Dole –More fragmentation in the primaries this year Independent – Ross Perot (again) Clinton won by 8 million Perot got half of what he did in 92

Clinton was charming in the debates and Dole looked old. And blinked. A LOT.

1996 Election Results Clinton – Electoral 379; Popular 45,628,667 Dole – Electoral 159; Popular 37,869,435 Perot – Popular 7,874,283

Clinton Abroad Somalia – finally sent peace keeping force, but withdrew them Interfered in N Ireland Couldn’t mess with China since our economy was so connected Reinstated the President to Haiti 4 years after he was deposed (once Haitian refugees began seeking asylum in US)

Yugoslavia “Ethnic Cleansing” in Yugoslavia – UN Forces ( ) US joined in 1995 –When the Soviet Union fell, the country of Yugoslavia experienced rebellions about the sovereignty of certain states Ethnic states: Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs, but also Albanians and Macedonians Really a giant mess

Big Foreign Policy Moves North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed in November 1993 to institute free trade in the Americas Peace talks – Yitzhak Rabin (Israel) and Yasir Arafat (Palestine) –Agreed on self rule for Palestinians within Israel –Rabin was later killed and peace slipped once again

Clinton’s Issues CIA stuff leaking from Cold War – double agents, killed agents exposed by double agents… Whitewater Land Corp…nothing ever pinned on them - failed real estate investment Women, more women, Monica Lewinsky…