Chapter 18 Reagan, Bush, and Clinton

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #1 Lower Taxes (supply side economics) – People keep more of their own money. Business productivity would drive prices down (often called “Reaganomics”) Lower Taxes (supply side economics) – People keep more of their own money. Business productivity would drive prices down (often called “Reaganomics”) Lower taxes combined with increased military spending led to huge budget deficits Lower taxes combined with increased military spending led to huge budget deficits Economy grew at record rates / inflation fell / unemployment dropped Economy grew at record rates / inflation fell / unemployment dropped

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #2 Deregulation: Ease restrictions on businesses. Productivity would increase if businesses didn’t have government getting in their way Deregulation: Ease restrictions on businesses. Productivity would increase if businesses didn’t have government getting in their way

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #3 Fewer Government Programs: Getting rid of government programs would save the American taxpayer money Fewer Government Programs: Getting rid of government programs would save the American taxpayer money

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #4 A Conservative Supreme Court – Conservative justices on the Supreme Court would use a strict interpretation of the Constitution – similar to Reagan’s beliefs A Conservative Supreme Court – Conservative justices on the Supreme Court would use a strict interpretation of the Constitution – similar to Reagan’s beliefs Reagan named the first woman to the Court – Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Reagan named the first woman to the Court – Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Reagan and the Cold War Reagan strongly opposed Communism Reagan strongly opposed Communism He set out to reverse the “détente” policies of the past and confront the “Evil Empire” of the Soviet Union He set out to reverse the “détente” policies of the past and confront the “Evil Empire” of the Soviet Union But how do you defeat communism in the Soviet Union without risking nuclear war? But how do you defeat communism in the Soviet Union without risking nuclear war?

Reagan’s Solutions Oversaw a huge buildup in American defense spending with 2 trillion dollars being spent over 8 years (on programs like SDI and the B-1 Bomber) Oversaw a huge buildup in American defense spending with 2 trillion dollars being spent over 8 years (on programs like SDI and the B-1 Bomber) America’s defense spending caused the Soviets to match the trillions spent with build-ups of their own America’s defense spending caused the Soviets to match the trillions spent with build-ups of their own When the Soviet economy couldn’t handle the budget deficits, Soviet leaders were forced to make concessions to the U.S. When the Soviet economy couldn’t handle the budget deficits, Soviet leaders were forced to make concessions to the U.S.

SDI – Strategic Defense Initiative Reagan’s SDI plan was designed to send U.S. missiles into space to intercept any incoming missiles towards our borders Reagan’s SDI plan was designed to send U.S. missiles into space to intercept any incoming missiles towards our borders Plan was dubbed “Star Wars” by opponents for its Science Fiction characteristics Plan was dubbed “Star Wars” by opponents for its Science Fiction characteristics The plan did require the Soviets to make concessions and respect our power – even though SDI was never put into place The plan did require the Soviets to make concessions and respect our power – even though SDI was never put into place

Reagan and Gorbachev Reagan met with Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss relations Reagan met with Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss relations The two signed several treaties that improved relations The two signed several treaties that improved relations The “leverage” created by America’s defense buildup allowed Reagan to “push” Gorbachev further on many reforms The “leverage” created by America’s defense buildup allowed Reagan to “push” Gorbachev further on many reforms –Free Markets and a Free Society were pushed by Reagan –Reagan then made his famous 1987 speech

Reagan’s Message to Gorbachev

President George H.W. Bush Reagan’s VP for 8 yrs Presidency marked by foreign policy –C–Communist rule in Eastern Europe ends –B–Berlin Wall is torn down –B–Boris Yeltsin, a Russian reformer, led movement that ended Communism in Russia –S–Soviet Union breaks up

Persian Gulf War Iraq – under Saddam Hussein – invaded neighbor Kuwait (a major supplier of oil to the U.S.) Iraq – under Saddam Hussein – invaded neighbor Kuwait (a major supplier of oil to the U.S.) The U.S. led a U.N. coalition in removing Iraq’s forces from Kuwait The U.S. led a U.N. coalition in removing Iraq’s forces from Kuwait Overwhelming U.S. victory Overwhelming U.S. victory

President Bill Clinton Bush’s popularity went down after economic recession of Bush’s popularity went down after economic recession of election is won by Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton 1992 election is won by Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton Clinton in office during Clinton in office during –NAFTA – economic prosperity –Impeachment

Election of 2000 Vice President Al Gore vs. Texas Gov. George W. Bush Vice President Al Gore vs. Texas Gov. George W. Bush Gore won the popular vote, but a close Florida vote made the election in question Gore won the popular vote, but a close Florida vote made the election in question Bush won Florida by a few hundred votes Bush won Florida by a few hundred votes Gore requested recounts in certain Democratic- leaning counties – Bush sued to stop the recounts Gore requested recounts in certain Democratic- leaning counties – Bush sued to stop the recounts The Supreme Court stepped in and ruled to end the recounts – giving Bush the victory The Supreme Court stepped in and ruled to end the recounts – giving Bush the victory

*2000 Election* Vice President Al Gore vs. Texas Gov. George W. Bush