The Democratic Party Story The Battle for Party

The Democratic Party Story

The Battle for Party Philosophy 1980 s/1990 s Context • Reagan Realignment • Reagan Success • Democratic defeat 1984: 525 -13 EV • Change in belief: – Government is the problem

Democrats Hit Bottom

Democratic Party Changes 1960 s-1980 s 1. Loss of South 2. Reagan shifts the electorate to right 3. Crushing loss in 1984 4. Deficit 5. Tax Revolts 6. Perceived failure of Great Society 7. Rejection of Reaganomics

Democratic Debate Traditional Liberals Centrist “New Democrats” • • • Democratic Leadership Council • pro-business • free trade • socially liberal • limited, but important, government role New Deal/Great Society pro-labor maybe protectionist socially liberal activist government

Bill Clinton

1992 • Clinton 43% • Bush 37% • Perot 19% • The electoral map 1992

Was Clinton a New Democrat? The Argument Republican view • Old Democrat • Paleoliberal Democrat view • New Democrat

Was Clinton a New Democrat? • • Gays in the military Health Care Budget “Triangulation” and Welfare Reform – 1996 SOTU: “The era of big government is over” • Trade

Clinton’s Legacy? 1. Economic World Order Building • NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement • APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation • WTO: World Trade Organization 2. Pro-Business Democrat 3. Competition: Modernizing the Workforce • Clinton NH Speech: February 1992

The Trust Issue The 1992 Campaign • The Draft • Drug Use • Affairs: Gennifer Flowers

Clinton Haters • American Spectator • Regnery Publications

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

Whitewater-Lewinsky Chronology II (for reference only) Nov. 1995 Clinton begins Affair with Lewinsky Affair ends 1997 Jan 1998 Jones’ lawyers get a tip; ask about Lewinsky Jan 1997 USSC rules; Legal to sue a President Reno gives Starr approval to investigate Clinton-Lewinsky Jan 1998 Clinton and Lewinsky deposed in civil trial; deny affair August 1998 Clinton testifies Starr’s Grand Jury; denies affair Starr gets tapes of Lewinsky-Tripp conversations Starr report Sept 1998 Impeachment proceedings begin Dec. 1998 Senate acquits 1/99

Lewinsky Gate • Comparison to other scandals • Whitewater Estates • Vince Foster

The Evidence and the Prosecution Monica Lewinsky Ken Starr

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 – Passed House; rejected by Senate • Article Four: Perjury in Questions to Judiciary Committee – Rejected by House