1. The Presidency of Bill Clinton US History Standard: SSUSH25 The student will describe changes in national politics since 1968.. e. Explain the relationship between Congress and President Bill Clinton; include the North American Free Trade Agreement and his impeachment and acquittal.

2. Election of 1992  By 1992’s election, President George H.W. Bush’s approval rating had dropped to 40% (down from its peak of 89% during the Persian Gulf War)  He could not seem to convince the public that he had a clear strategy for ending the recession and creating jobs Arkansas governor and Democratic candidate Bill Clinton campaigned on the notion that he could lead the nation out of the recession Texas billionaire Ross Perot also ran for president as a third part candidate – he targeted the nation’s soaring deficit as the number one problem On Election Day, Bill Clinton won even though he won only 43% of the vote - Bush won 38% and Perot won 19% Clinton became the first member of the baby-boom generation to become president

3. Clinton’s Priorities in Office  Clinton took office with an ambitious slate of programs he hoped to put in place – these programs included health care reform, welfare reform, balancing the budget, and ending the recession  Despite the efforts of the President and the First Lady, Hillary Clinton, health care reform would never be passed by Congress

4. Clinton’s Priorities in Office  Clinton’s administration was more successful in working with the Republican Congress for welfare reform  The bill places term limits on how long people could receive welfare benefits – over the next few years, states moved people from welfare to jobs  Clinton was also successful in his efforts to decrease the federal budget deficit  In 1998, the federal budget had a surplus for the first time in nearly 30 years – this means that the amount of money the government made through taxes was more than its expenses so there was extra money  This surplus allowed the nation’s debt to be paid down  The recession ended during Clinton’s time in office and the economy was booming

5. NAFTA  Clinton saw trade as essential to US prosperity and to world economic and political stability  To strengthen trade, Clinton backed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)  The purpose of this legislation was to bring Mexico into the free-trade zone with the US and Canada – NAFTA would strengthen all three economies and create more American jobs  Opponents insisted that NAFTA would transfer American jobs to Mexico where wages were lower and harm the environment because of Mexico’s weak antipollution laws  The treaty was ratified by all three governments in 1993

6. Republican Control of Congress  In mid-1994, voters began to question Clinton’s leadership  Republican Newt Gingrich began to turn voters’ dissatisfaction with Clinton into support for the Republicans  He introduced the Contract with America, ten items Republicans promised to enact if they won control of Congress  These measures included congressional term limits, a balanced-budget amendment, tax cuts, tougher crime laws, and welfare reform Newt Gingrich

7. Republican Control of Congress  In the November 1994 election, Republicans won control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1954  Gingrich was chosen as Speaker of the House  Pres. Clinton and the Republican Congress began to clash almost immediately – they couldn’t agree on budgets or funding for federal programs – this will lead to the federal government being shut down two separate times in 1995 and 1996  The budget standoff, the strong economy, and the passage of the welfare reform law will help Clinton be reelected in 1996

8. Clinton’s Impeachment  Clinton had much legal trouble during his Presidency  First, he was accused of improperly using money from a land deal with the Whitewater Development Company to fund his 1984 gubernatorial reelection campaign  During his presidency, Clinton allegedly lied under oath about having an improper relationship with a White House intern  In 1998, Clinton admitted to the relationship but denied lying about the incident

9. Clinton’s Impeachment  In December 1998, the House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment, charging the president with perjury and obstruction of justice  With that vote, Clinton became only the second president to face a trial in the Senate  At the trial two months later, the Senate fell short of the 67 votes, a two- thirds majority, required to convict him  Clinton remained in office and apologized for his actions