President Bill Clinton January 20, 1993 January 20, 2001 Created & edited by Steve Armstrong SHS, 1994-2006

1992 Election

President Bush Bush’s approval rating slipped dramatically Republicans questioned the wisdom of keeping Dan Quayle on the ticket

Gov. Bill Clinton Gov. Clinton said that Republicans were bankrupting the USA “It’s the economy, stupid.” Democrats finally seemed unified -- the first time since 1964 Called for reform of government spending

Clinton met JFK in 1963

Clinton’s personal issues Stated that he had caused “pain” in his marriage Hillary said that was not the kind of woman who would just “stand by my man” Clinton’s lack of military service did not become a major campaign issue “I tried it, but didn’t inhale.”

Ross Perot Perot said that he would spend his own money to campaign if citizens placed his name on the ballot in all fifty states Called on government to solve the deficit problem

Clinton and Al Gore Clinton selected Sen. Al Gore as his running mate This was the first ever “baby-boomer” ticket Al Gore and wife Tipper had a good marriage, to contrast with the apparent rocky marriage of Bill and Hillary

Clinton’s victory Had the Conservative Revolution failed? Four women, including Carol Mosely Braun, were elected to the Senate

Clinton Inauguration, 1992

Immigration changes 500,000 Vietnamese refugees arrived in the USA More Hispanics crossed the border Chinese and Korean immigrants arrived by the tens of thousands

Early Clinton initiatives “Don’t ask, don’t tell” -> Clinton tried to make room for homosexuals in the military Created a plan to reduce the federal deficits Signed NAFTA => North American Free Trade Agreement, linking the American economy with that of Mexico & Canada Brady Bill => the first serious gun control legislation since 1968 Banned ownership of assault weapons

Health care initiative, 1993 Clinton pushed for Congress to create an affordable health care program for all Americans Hillary Clinton appeared before Congress to push this Becoming complex, Congress proposed 27 versions of health care legislation

Economic agenda Clinton wanted to balance the federal budget and reduce deficits Clinton wanted higher corporate taxes A compromise budget was agreed to, with V-P Gore giving the tie-breaking vote

Clinton signing Economic Stimulus Package

World Trade Center Bombing

WTC Bombing - 1993 February 23, 1993 - a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda expoded a car bomb in the World Trade Center 6 killed - 1,000 injured President Clinton ordered a full FBI investigation into this terrorist act

Republican Revolution, Act II Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, proposed a Contract with America If Republican majorities were elected, Republicans promised to reduce federal spending Promised tax cuts, balanced budgets

Gingrich v. Clinton Clinton threatened to veto the Republican budget plan Gingrich and the Republicans voted to shut down the government The American public reacted harshly to this intransigence

Waco incident, 1993 FBI agents used force to break into the compound of cultist David Koresh Koresh’s people killed 4 federal agents More federal agents attacked Koresh’s compound, resulting in 77 deaths

Oklahoma City bombing, 1995 Extremist Timothy McVeigh destroyed a federal federal building This bombing occurred on the 2nd anniversary of the WACO incident 161 deaths Right-wing militia groups were brought to the public’s attention

Image of home-grown terrorism

Welfare reform, 1996 Clinton signed the first sweeping reform bill Republican influence was evident in this new law Democratic Party ideals were altered by the Republicans Certain programs were cut

The new economy Stock market surge propelled the economy New technologies boosted the economy More corporations outsourced their production Many blue-collar jobs were out of work

More Mideast Peace Clinton promoted additional peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority

Clinton scandals Republicans had been investigating Clinton since 1994 Republicans spent 47 million tax dollars pursuing Clinton The Lewinsky scandal led to Clinton’s impeachment in 1998 Clinton survived