The Clinton Presidency 1992 2000 Bill Clinton Democrat

The Clinton Presidency 1992 - 2000

Bill Clinton - Democrat • Arkansas governor for 13 years • Pushed for middle class tax cuts and benefitted from the strong economy of the Digital Revolution • Strong alliance with his First Lady, Hillary Clinton • Campaign revealed numerous accusations of marital infidelity on the part of Bill Clinton (see 60 minutes interview clip here…to see how they handled accusations)

1992 Election • Running mate, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee • Three way race – Clinton (D), George H. W. Bush (R), H. Ross Perot (I) How do 3 rd party candidates often change a presidential race? )

Domestic Policy – Health Care • Health care costs rising, millions had no health insurance • Hillary Clinton headed special task force proposing a government-sponsored program of health care (universal health care) • Her proposal was defeated, negatively nicknamed “Hillarycare” – SKILL BUILDER: Take a few minutes to analyze a typical medical bill and answer the questions (see handout)

The Presidency of Bill Clinton defined himself a “New Democrat” by embracing both liberal & conservative policies, he was considered moderate Clinton worked with Republicans to reform the welfare system (benefit caps, jobs requirements) • • Reformed criminal justice system (3 strikes laws, mandatory minimum sentencing) fun fact: today these are seen as bad and BOTH parties want to end these…why?

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” • 1993 policy regarding gay military members • Not allowed to be discharged for sexual orientation, which was original law • Clinton compromise, wanted to repeal military’s ban on gay personnel

Domestic Policy – Budget Deficit • First budget surplus for government since 1950’s • Presidency longest period of sustained economic growth in U. S. history • Lowest unemployment in 30 years • Highest home ownership in history

Clinton’s deficit reduction coincided with a boom in the technology industry as part of the Digital Revolution; This led to the longest sustained era of economic growth in U. S. history Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1901 -2010

Other Achievements • • • Raised education standards and doubled education and training investment Largest expansion of college opportunity since the GI Bill Connected 95 percent of schools to the Internet Lowest crime rate in 26 years 100, 000 more police for our streets Enacted most sweeping gun safety legislation in a generation – Family and Medical Leave Act for 20 million Americans To help parents succeed at work and at home, President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993. Over 20 million Americans have taken unpaid leave to care for a newborn child or sick family member. • • Smallest welfare rolls in 32 years Lowest poverty rate in 20 years Deactivated more than 1, 700 nuclear warheads from the former Soviet Union Oslo Peace Accords in Middle East

Scandals • Whitewater - Kenneth Starr led investigation into a failed real estate investment of Clintons in 1970 s – 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

Foreign Policy ■ Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which reduced trade barriers among USA, Mexico, & Canada (see online video) ■ NAFTA and other changes in the way the US trades with the world will become controversial until today…this change is known as globalization

SKILL BUILDER: Pros/Cons of Globalization? (see handout)