1. The Clinton Presidency
The Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton
The Clinton Presidency
Third youngest president ever elected

2. Traditional Stereotypes
Democrats/Liberals Republicans/Conservatives
“Tax and Spend” “Favor the rich”
government action government is the problem
can be the solution
government spending cut government spending
is necessary
taxes are necessary cut taxes
government regulation cut government regulation

3. Democratic Party Changes
1960s-1980s
Loss of South
Reagan shifts the electorate to right
Crushing loss in 1984
Deficit
Tax Revolts
Perceived failure of Great Society

4. Democratic Party Changes
CLINTON/GORE are looked at as
“New Democrats, ” viewed as Centrists
Socially liberal
Fiscally Conservative
Pro-Business
Free Trade
Government has limited, but important role
Democratic Leadership Council (DLC)

5. Bill Clinton - Democrat
Arkansas governor , – 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

6. Road to the Whitehouse
During the campaign, Clinton was accused of sexual harassment by Paula Jones
Clinton was also accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Jennifer Flowers
Weathered scandals to upset
George HW Bush

7. 1992
Clinton 43%
Bush 37%
Perot 19% (Rep Businessman who started the Reform Party)
The electoral map 1992

8. 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

9. DOMESTIC

10. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was passed by the Clinton administration
Welfare programs were reformed so welfare recipients would not receive assistance for more than two years and required people to work to receive benefits.

11. Balanced Budget
Increased taxes (went against campaign promise to middle class) to deal with budget deficit
Critics felt tax increase would hurt economy – did not
Presidency longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history

12. Health Care Reform Costs rising, millions had no health insurance
Hillary Clinton headed special task force proposing a government-sponsored program of health care
Didn’t pass

13. “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

14. American Terrorism In 1995 Clinton was forced to confront terrorism.
A Ryder truck filled with explosives was used to blow up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City

15. American Terrorism
Timothy McVeigh, an army veteran, was convicted for planning the bombing
Timothy McVeigh, was sentenced to death and was executed in 2001

16. Foreign

17. Oslo Accords (1993) - Peace agreement between Israelis (Rabin) and Palestinians (Arafat)
> has not provided a
longterm solution.
Somalia (1993) – American forces, distributing food, were killed

18. NAFTA 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect.
Under the NAFTA, Many tariffs were eliminated between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
NAFTA was meant to stimulate the economy by encouraging increased free trade

19. NAFTA NAFTA has had both positive and negative effects
Many point to the poor working conditions in factories on the U.S./Mexico border and the loss of jobs in the U.S. as consequences
Others point to the jobs created as a result of increased free trade and increased agricultural production in the U.S. as benefits

20. Scandals

21. 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

22. Whitewater-Lewinsky Chronology I
Whitewater Vince Foster
Estates story suicide
(NY Times) (July 93)
investigation; Atty Gen Robert Fiske (1994)
files disappear Reno mid-1994 Kenneth Starr appoints Strategy: find Independent anyone who Clinton
Counsel told about finances
American Spectator David Brock Paula goes public; Paula’s lawyers
“Arkansas project” Story about sues President Clinton enemies
“Paula”
Clinton Arkansas Rivals

23. Whitewater-Lewinsky Chronology II
Nov Affair ends
Clinton begins
Affair with
Lewinsky
Jan August 1998 Starr report
Jones’ lawyers Clinton testifies Sept 1998
get a tip; Starr’s Grand Jury;
ask about Lewinsky denies affair
Jan 1997
USSC rules; Reno gives Starr Starr gets tapes Impeachment
Legal to sue a approval to of Lewinsky-Tripp proceedings
President investigate conversations begin
Clinton-Lewinsky Dec. 1998
Jan 1998
Clinton and Lewinsky Senate
deposed in civil trial; acquits
deny affair /99

24. The Evidence and the Prosecution
Monica Lewinsky Ken Starr

26. Articles of Impeachment
Article One: Perjury before Grand Jury
Passed House; rejected by Senate
Article Two: Perjury in Civil Suit
Rejected by House
Article Three: Obstruction of Justice

28. Ask Yourself…
Considering all of the information, how would you evaluate Bill Clinton’s presidency?

29. 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)