The Clinton Years Topic 29

General Information 1. Clinton was the first Democrat to serve two full terms as president since Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt 2. That 1992 election also brought the Democrats full control of both houses of Congress as well as the presidency, for the first time since the administration of the last Democratic president, Jimmy Carter CongressJimmy Carter

1992 Presidential Election A Three Way Race – Middle-class tax cuts and a national health-care system – Clinton won 370 electoral votes to Bush’s Presidential Debate: Video ClipVideo Clip Clinton 1992 Campaign Ad

1992 Election Results

Some Domestic Points 1. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993Family and Medical Leave Act of Failed Attempt at Health Care Reform 3. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy for Gays in the Military 4. Longest Economic growth in US History

The Economy – wow! More than 22 million new jobs created Homeownership rate increase from 64.0% to 67.5% Lowest unemployment rate in 30 years - Income increased Largest budget deficit in American history converted to the largest surplus of over $200 billion 220% increase in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 300% increase in the Nasdaq from 1993 to 2001 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of A Tax increase on upper income individuals and realignment of the Federal Tax Code Dot – Com Boom

A Positive Trend 1993 – Economic Plan passes w/o a single Republican vote (Omnibus Reconciliation Act) Brady Handgun Act (11/1993) Upper Class Tax Increases/Spending Cuts Lowered the deficit from $290 billion in 1992 to $203 billion by $124 B Budget Surplus $1.5 Trillion surplus projected into the next administration

Take a look! CBO 2009

Domestic Policies and Events Increased Minimum Wage - $5.15 Per Hour Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell Many women placed in high positions – Atty. General, Secs. Of Energy, State, HEW for example. Failed attempt at Health Care reform The rise of the Internet Record low unemployment rates

NAFTA – Jan. 1, 1994 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) – Free trade and investment between the US, Canada and Mexico – Gradual elimination of all tarriffs – Very controversial – By 2010 Canada and Mexico were the top two purchasers of US exports – By 2010 they were the second and third largest suppliers of goods to the United States

Republican Showdown/Shutdown Federal Budget Issues – Medicare – Education – Environment – Health Care Clinton Vetoed a Republican spending bill cutting all of the above Nov-Dec % Blamed Republicans, 27% Democrats Clinton’s popularity soared Doomed the 1996 election for Republicans

Oklahoma City Bombing April 19, 1995 Federal Building – Oklahoma City 168 Killed Domestic Terrorism – Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were convicted of the crime.

Re-election In 1996 Clinton defeated Bob Dole of Kansas. The only Democrat to win reelection to a 2nd term of office as president since FDR

Foreign Policy Challenges Oslo Accords – A series of meetings and agreements – Clinton hosted the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. – Agreed to self-rule for Palestinians in return for the Palestinians recognizing Israel’s right to exist – Never fully realized

Foreign Policy Challenges Somalia – January 1993 – Pres. Bush sent troops to help the UN distribute food. – Mogadishu – Black Hawk Down Oct US deaths – Public support diminished – Clinton withdrew the remaining soldiers. Rwandan Genocide 1994 – US did not intercede

Foreign Policy Challenges Former Yugoslavia – : Violence raged between the new countries formed from the breakup of Yugoslavia. – Clinton helped broker the Dayton Accords to end fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. – He urged NATO to act against Serbia. – The Serb army was forcing ethnic Albanians from the Serbian region of Kosovo.

Foreign Policy Challenges Haiti – 1991 Military Coup – Sept. 1994: Clinton pledged the use of American troops to restore Pres. Aristede after a military Coup. – The presence of UN forces helped bring about a generally peaceful change in government.

Scandals and impeachment Whitewater real estate deal – Fed. Prosecutor Kenneth Starr led an investigation into a failed real estate investment the Clintons were involved in during the 1970s. Paula Jones sexual harassment case – Jones sued Clinton for sexual harassment while he was governor of Arkansas. – Information emerged suggesting that Clinton had an improper relationship with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Monica Lewinsky case – Clinton accused of lying under oath about Monica Lewinsky. – House approved two articles of impeachment but the Senate did not have the two-thirds majority necessary to convict Clinton. – X-r1Iyw X-r1Iyw

The End of an Era Pres. Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating – The highest since Pres. Eisenhower He left office with a decreasing Federal debt, a Federal Budget surplus, low unemployment and rising GDP