Bill Clinton & George W. Bush

1. Bill Clinton & George W. Bush Mr. Ermer U.S. History Honors Miami Beach Senior high

2. Election of 1992 • Cable news media plays large role, 24-hour news cycle • Three person race between President Bush, Democrat Bill Clinton, and independent Ross Perot • Bush enters campaign with 86% approval rating after Gulf War victory • Popularity fades as recession worsens in late 1991 • Clinton unites Democrats behind economic issues, not social • Perot promises leadership on fiscal crisis as populist conservative • Grassroots campaigns motivate people to vote • Perot pulls 19% of the popular vote • Clinton wins election with 43% to Bush’s 38

5. Clinton’s First Term • Democrats in Congress weak, Republicans united • 1993: Clinton meets resistance policies and appointments • Resistance lifting ban on gays and women in the military • Whitewater Scandal • Increases taxes on wealthiest Americans, cuts gov’t spending • Budget also included tax credits for poorest Americans • North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • Appoints Hillary Rodham Clinton to reform healthcare • Healthcare reform fails amidst staunch Republican opposition • Successful intervention in Bosnia • 1994 mid-term election, Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress for first time in 40 years • New Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich leads Republicans on radical agenda

7. Election of 1996 • 1995: Republicans move to more conservative agenda • Scale back federal regulation, transfer other powers to states • Medicare reform • Greatly reduce federal spending, balance the budget • Clinton moves his own agenda more to the center • Moves own agenda to center: cut taxes, balance budget • “The era of big government is over”~ President Clinton • Congressional Republicans unwilling to compromise • Government shuts down in November 1995, January of 1996 • Shut-downs discredit Gingrich and Republicans heading into election • Republicans nominate Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, Perot back • Clinton surging in popularity after shift to the center • Economy booming, world at peace, federal deficit shrinking • Clinton signs Social Security reform, raises minimum wage • Clinton wins with 49%, Dole 41%, Perot 8%

9. The Rise and Fall of Bill Clinton • Republicans remain in control of Congress • Clinton and Congress work together on economy • Cut taxes for middle class Americans for education • Balance the federal budget, deficit becomes a surplus • Government makes more money than it spend for first time in 30 yrs. • Monica Lewinsky Scandal • President denies, then admits he lied to Kenneth Starr • Clinton impeached by Congress, for perjury and obstructing justice, only second presidential impeachment in US history • Clinton acquitted in impeachment trial, remains in office • Kosovo Crisis • Clinton ends presidency more popular than he began