George H.W. Bush & Bill Clinton

Bush Domestic Policy Bush spoke often about the need for integrity in government Breaks “No New Tax” pledge (angers voters) Inflation and unemployment continued to rise The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 lowered legal and physical obstacles to citizens with disabilities and was one of the most sweeping pieces of civil-rights legislation in a decade.

Increase federal spending for education, child care, and advanced technology research and development Clean Air Act- established higher standards for air quality and required cleaner burning fuels Resolution Trust Corporation to take over bankrupt savings and loan associations and sell off their assets. Ultimately the bailouts cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

1991 Bush proposed a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, which would lower or eliminate tariffs on trade between the three nations.

Bush Foreign Policy Bush sent 24,000 troops to Panama to assist military forces in a coup against Panamanian President Manuel Noriega. The invasion in the last week of December 1989 lasted less than a week, leaving 23 U.S. soldiers and between 500 and 600 Panamanian soldiers and civilians dead The United States promised Panama $1 billion to repair the damage caused by the invasion

What does this do to Iraq? Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) – forced Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. What does this do to Iraq? Bush presided over the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

What would you do? You have just been elected President of the United States, there is a slow moving economy in a recession. What would you do to fix the problem?

Clinton Domestic Policy Increased government involvement to get the economy moving again. Achieved a balanced budget agreement with Congress Favored cuts in defense spending since the Cold War had ended Joined with Congress to empower states to have more control of social welfare programs.

Clinton Foreign Policy Supported Middle East peace process Supported new Russian government under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin NAFTA continues under Clinton’s administration