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President Bill Clinton. January 20, 1993 January 20, 2001. Created & edited by Steve Armstrong SHS, 1994-2006. 1992 Election. President Bush. Bush’s approval rating slipped dramatically from 92% Republicans questioned the wisdom of keeping Dan Quayle on the ticket.
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President Bill Clinton January 20, 1993 January 20, 2001 Created & edited by Steve Armstrong SHS, 1994-2006
President Bush • Bush’s approval rating slipped dramatically from 92% • Republicans questioned the wisdom of keeping Dan Quayle on the ticket
Gov. Bill Clinton • Gov. Clinton said that Republicans were bankrupting the USA • “It’s the economy, stupid.” • Democrats finally seemed unified -- the first time since 1964 • Called for reform of government spending
Clinton’s personal issues • Stated that he had caused “pain” in his marriage • Hillary said that was not the kind of woman who would just “stand by my man” • Clinton’s lack of military service did not become a major campaign issue • “I tried it, but didn’t inhale.”
Ross Perot • Perot said that he would spend his own money to campaign if citizens placed his name on the ballot in all fifty states • Called on government to solve the deficit problem
Clinton and Al Gore • Clinton selected Sen. Al Gore as his running mate • This was the first ever “baby-boomer” ticket • Al Gore and wife Tipper had a good marriage, to contrast with the apparent rocky marriage of Bill and Hillary
Clinton’s victory • Had the Conservative Revolution failed? • Four women, including Carol Mosely Braun, were elected to the Senate
and loved the celebrity life • Clinton thoroughly enjoyed his time with Hollywood celebrities
Immigration changes • 500,000 Vietnamese refugees arrived in the USA • More Hispanics crossed the border • Hispanics may account for 35% of the USA population • Chinese and Korean immigrants arrived by the tens of thousands
Immigration debate • Illegal immigration continued to rise • Many immigrants, even those from Asia, had low-paying jobs • More religious diversity arrived with the new flow of immigrants
The Clinton agenda • Desired to be an activist executive • Democrats barely held majorities in Congress • Clinton backed down on diversifying his Cabinet when some nominees were too controversial
Early Clinton initiatives • “Don’t ask, don’t tell” -> Clinton tried to make room for homosexuals in the military • Created a plan to reduce the federal deficits • Signed NAFTA => North American Free Trade Agreement, linking the American economy with that of Mexico & Canada • Brady Bill => the first serious gun control legislation since 1968 • Banned ownership of assault weapons
Health care initiative, 1993 • Clinton pushed for Congress to create an affordable health care program for all Americans • Hillary Clinton appeared before Congress to push this • Becoming complex, Congress proposed 27 versions of health care legislation
Economic agenda • Clinton wanted to balance the federal budget and reduce deficits • Clinton wanted higher corporate taxes • A compromise budget was agreed to, with V-P Gore giving the tie-breaking vote
WTC Bombing - 1993 • February 23, 1993 - a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda expoded a car bomb in the World Trade Center • 6 killed - 1,000 injured • President Clinton ordered a full FBI investigation into this terrorist act
Republican Revolution, Act II • Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, proposed a Contract with America • If Republican majorities were elected, Republicans promised to reduce federal spending • Promised tax cuts, balanced budgets
Gingrich v. Clinton • Clinton threatened to veto the Republican budget plan • Gingrich and the Republicans voted to shut down the government • The American public reacted harshly to this intransigence
Waco incident, 1993 • FBI agents used force to break into the compound of cultist David Koresh • Koresh’s people killed 4 federal agents • More federal agents attacked Koresh’s compound, resulting in 77 deaths
Oklahoma City bombing, 1995 • Extremist Timothy McVeigh destroyed a federal federal building • This bombing occurred on the 2nd anniversary of the WACO incident • 161 deaths • Right-wing militia groups were brought to the public’s attention
Welfare reform, 1996 • Clinton signed the first sweeping reform bill • Republican influence was evident in this new law • Democratic Party ideals were altered by the Republicans • Certain programs were cut
The new economy • Stock market surge propelled the economy • New technologies boosted the economy • More corporations outsourced their production • Many blue-collar jobs were out of work
More Mideast Peace • Clinton promoted additional peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority