The 1990s – HW Bush and Clinton

President George H.W. Bush Inherited Reagan’s problems BUSH’S DOMESTIC POLICY – •Promised America “no new taxes!” •Broke his promise when the budget deficit mounted.

BUSH’S FOREIGN POLICY Cold War ends – Communist governments in Eastern Europe crumble. •1991 – Soviet Union dissolves – forms the Commonwealth of Independent States. Berlin Wall removed at the end of Reagan’s Presidency

Persian Gulf War: 1990 – 1991 Saddam Hussein   orders an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait Bush orders troops to fend off the Iraqi attack. •U.S. air forces, in conjunction with United Nations forces, pummel Iraq. Saddam Hussein signs a cease-fire agreement, ending the Persian Gulf War.

The Clinton Presidency Third youngest president ever elected 1992 - 2000

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

Bill Clinton - Democrat Arkansas governor 1979-81, 1983-93 – 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

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 Longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history

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 – would ensure health care to all Americans Defeated

Foreign Policy Oslo Accords (1993) - Peace agreement between Israelis (Rabin) and Palestinians (Arafat) Somalia (1993) – American forces, distributing food, were killed Haiti (1994) – American forces led a UN effort to remove military dictators (Lieut. Gen. Raoul Cedras and Brig. Gen. Philippe Biamby) NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) – passed

Domestic Terrorism April 19, 1995 - Terrorists exploded a bomb in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people. Alfred P Murrah Federal Building Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were convicted

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 – 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

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell 1993 policy regarding gay military members Not allowed to be discharged for sexual orientation Clinton compromise, wanted to repeal military’s ban on gay personnel Policy failed to meet Clinton’s goals of decreasing discharges for homosexuality and reducing harassment

Post-presidency Autobiography – My Life, New York Times bestseller list Presidential library –2004, Little Rock, AR Humanitarian efforts in Africa and Asia, AIDS epidemic Clinton and former President Bush - humanitarian relief, victims of tsunami along coasts of Indian Ocean (2004) Clinton involved in relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina (2004) and created the Haiti Fund to support Haitians after the earthquake (2010)