1990 and 2000s

1. 1990 and 2000s United States

2. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President • 1992 election: the Democrats –Governor William Jefferson Clinton (Arkansas) won nomination in spite of accusations of womanizing and draft dodging –Clinton picked Albert Gore, fellow southern white male moderate as running mate

3. 1992 Presidential election candidates H. Ross Perot, Independent Texas billionaire who promised to reduce the deficit Bill Clinton, Democrat Arkansas Governor who labeled himself a “New Democrat”, meaning more centrist on issues George H.W. Bush, Republican Incumbent president blamed for the economic troubles and rising unemployment

4. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President • Clinton’s campaign –Claimed to be a “New” Democrat • Formed Democratic Leadership Council • Pulled party away from anti-business, antiwar, common man roots • Pushed toward pro-growth, strong defense, and anticrime policies – Promised to stimulate the economy, reform the welfare system, and overhaul the health care system

5. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President 1992 election: the Republicans –Renominated Bush and Vice President J. Danforth Quayle – Emphasized “family values” – Bush ran weak campaign • Emphasized foreign policy – ending the Cold War and Iraq

6. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President • “It’s the economy, stupid.” –Weak economy during Bush’s first term • Worker’s had actually lost purchasing power – Economy was more important to voters than foreign policy in 1992 • 20% of voters cast ballots for H. Ross Perot, political outsider who attacked Republicans for deficits and Democrats for overspending, and both for free trade

7. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President • 1992 election: the results – Record turnout – 55% of eligible voters – Clinton won with 370 electoral votes and 44 million popular votes – Bush got 168 electoral votes and 39 million popular votes – Perot received no electoral votes but got 19 million popular votes – Democrats got large majorities in both houses of Congress, seating high numbers of minorities and women

8. Bill Clinton: the First Baby-Boomer President • Clinton’s diverse cabinet (that “looked like America”) – First female attorney general, Janet Reno – Secretary of health and human services, Donna Shalala – Housing and Urban Development – Henry Cisneros – Secretary of commerce Ron Brown • Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Supreme Court

9. A False Start for Reform • Clinton came into office overestimating support for liberal reform • Clinton advocated end to ban on gays in the military – Fierce opposition led to “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy – quiet acceptance without official acknowledgement

10. A False Start for Reform • Clinton attempted to reform health care system –Appointed his wife, Hillary Clinton, as director of task force –October 1993 – complicated plan presented to Congress with little chance of passing – Hillary Clinton bitterly attacked by conservatives

11. A False Start for Reform • Managing the federal deficit – 1993 – Clinton proposed increased taxes and lower spending –Strong economy helped erase deficits and give government surpluses for first time in decades

12. A False Start for Reform 1993 - Brady Bill – Gun Control This law was named after James Brady, White House Press Secretary for Reagan. On March 30, 1981 John Hinckley, in an attempt to assassinate the President, shot Mr. Brady,President Reagan, and two law enforcement officers. The law established a waiting period before the purchase of a handgun, and for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system to be contacted by firearms dealers before the transfer of any firearm. 1994 - $30 billion anticrime bill • Banned several types of assault weapons

13. World Trade Center bombing, February 26, 1993 A massive bomb in a van exploded in the parking garage of the north tower of the World Trade Center building in New York City, killing six people, injuring over 1,000, millions of dollars worth of damage from the crater six stories deep in the building's basement floors. The mastermind of the bombing, Ramzi Yousef, later boasted that he had hoped to kill 250,000 people. Six Islamic extremist conspirators were convicted of the crime in 1997 and '98, and received prison sentences of 240 years each.

14. A False Start for Reform • 1993 – Waco, Texas standoff • Between federal agents and fundamentalist sect called the Branch Davidians • Ended in destruction of the compound and deaths of many sect members, including women and children

15. Branch Davidian compound raid, February-April, 1993 In 1992 a UPS driver reported suspicious packages being delivered to the Branch Davidians, a religious group spun off from the Seventh Day Adventists (at that time) led by David Koresh. The group had lived on the 77 acre communal property since the 1930s. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) was alerted by the local sheriff. The group made money by selling various items at gun shows and therefore did possess many guns, which were stored together in the communal property. A warrant was issued to search the entire 77 acre property as well as the living quarters of over 100 people to look for machinegun conversion parts, and items "from which a destructive device may be readily assembled”. The BATF was concerned about two major items: 1. The conversion ordinary guns into machine guns and the usage of black powder to make pipe bombs. 2. Alleged child abuse by Koresh, which had been investigated by the state of Texas and dropped due to a lack of evidence 10 months prior to the raid.

16. The BATF set up surveillance cameras at a house 300 yards away from the compound, largely based on information given by Marc Breault, a former Branch Davidian who was legally blind. The cameras turned up no evidence of illegal activities so the BATF sent an undercover agent, Robert Rodriguez, inside Mount Carmel. On February 28, 1993 the BATF sent in 76 agents to the residence and shots were exchanged, which resulted in the deaths of 4 ATF agents and 6 Branch Davidians. Federal and state authorities then surrounded the property and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assumed control. Weeks went by as the FBI and the Davidians engaged in negotiations to resolve the standoff peacefully. On April 19, 1993, Attorney General Janet Reno gave the FBI permission to flush the Davidians out of their residence. FBI agents used tanks to smash holes in the walls of the building and then sprayed tear gas into the residence. Agents also used hand-held grenade launchers to fire more than 350 "ferret" rounds into the windows of the building, but none of the Davidians obeyed the FBI's command to exit the residence. A fire then broke out, and 76 Davidians, including 27 children, perished.

17. Oklahoma City Bombing, April 19th, 1995 At 9:02 a.m. on the street in front of the Murrah federal building, attackers exploded a rented Ryder truck that contained about 5,000 lbs of explosive material. 168 people, including 19 children died in the bombing. Timothy McVeigh was arrested by an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman within an hour of the explosion. At his trial, evidence showed the motivation for the attack was to avenge the deaths of Branch Davidians at Waco, Texas , whom McVeigh believed had been murdered by agents of the federal government. The attack was staged on the second anniversary of the Waco incident. McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001, while Terry Nichols received life in prison without parole. McVeigh Nichols

18. A False Start for Reform • Antigovernment feelings strong among many Americans, not just militia fanatics • Disillusionment after Vietnam and Watergate • Term limits passed for many officeholders, but ruled inapplicable to federal office holders by Supreme Court in 1995

19. A False Start for Reform 1999 – Columbine • 2 students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves • Debate over origins of school violence • Video games, failing parents • Biggest target was easy availability of guns • Antigun rallies after Columbine • Clinton engaged in bitter debate with National Rifle Association (NRA) over need to toughen gun laws • May 2000 – “Million Mom March” • Antigun march by women in Washington, DC • 2002 – Bowling for Columbine • Antigun movie by Michael Moore

20. THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT, May 1993 This law was designed to make it easier for people to register to vote and maintain their registration throughout their lives. The law required that states allow people to register at the place they renew their driver licenses, at public assistance programs offices, and by mail.

21. Politics of Distrust • 1994 elections – Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, representative of Georgia, took advantage of antigovernment feelings and Clinton’s mistakes – “Contract with America” • Promised to end deficits and welfare programs – All incumbent Republican governors, senators, and representatives reelected – Republicans picked up 11 new governorships, 8 new seats in Senate, and 53 seats in House – Republicans had control of both chambers of Congress for first time in 40 years

22. Republican Contract with America, 1994 The 104th Congress, which was in session from 1995-1996, set out to devolve power back to the states. The Republican dominated Congress sought to reform Congressional procedures, power structure, and size. They sought to limit the federal government’s power in state matters, preferring states to have more leeway in carrying out policies. A major part of their program was the introduction of block grants, money provided to states to spend with less strings attached from the federal government. They also wanted to limit the number of unfunded mandates, directives given to states on various matters without the money to implement. To achieve these and other goals the Republican leadership introduced 10 bills that addressed the shrinking of government, fiscal responsibility of Congress, and other conservative goals such as the reduction of welfare benefits. Although not all of the proposals became law the Contract with America was a major victory for the Republican party. The House of Representatives has been dominated by Republicans since the 104th Congress and the Senate has been majority Republican every session except the 107th. House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich, a major architect of the Contract with America

23. The Politics of Distrust Conservatives in Congress • – Restricted “unfunded mandates” • • Federal obligations on state and local governments without paying for them

24. Politics of Distrust • Conservatives in Congress went too far after winning in 1994 • Gingrich frequently made offensive remarks • Proposed sending children of welfare recipients to orphanages • End of 1995 – government shut down because of fight between Clinton and Republicans • Generally blamed on Republicans

25. 1996 Election Clinton first Democrat to be reelected since FDR – Faced Republican Congress – Proposed modest legislative goals, not liberal reforms of his 1st term President Clinton and Vice President Gore were challenged by Senator Dole and Kemp. Clinton was reelected. Clinton benefited from strong economy and his move to conservatism

26. Politics of Distrust – 1996 – conservatives forced Clinton to sign Welfare Reform Bill • Deep cuts in grants • Required able-bodied to find jobs • Clinton saw conservative mood of country and moved to the right • Angered liberals because of Clinton’s betrayal of Democratic heritage

27. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, 1996 One of Clinton’s campaign promises in 1992 to was to end welfare “as we know it”. This law had three major elements: • ended the entitlement status of welfare • limited recipients to 5 years total of benefits • recipients had to work within 2 years of receiving benefits

28. Clinton Again • Clinton put Republicans on defensive by claiming middle ground • Embraced Welfare Reform Bill of 1996 that he had not supported before • On affirmative action, promised to “mend it, not end it” • 1996 – proposition 209 in California banned affirmative action in government and higher education • Hopwood v. Texas – federal appeals court decision that banned affirmative action in Texas • Clinton criticized these broad assaults on affirmative action, but did not try to reverse them because of opposition to affirmative action, especially among whites

29. Clinton Again • Strong economy was Clinton’s biggest advantage • – By 2000 was longest period of economic growth in US history • – Driven by new Internet (“dot.com”) and other high tech businesses • –Unemployment reached 4%, businesses couldn’t find workers to fill jobs • – Inflation remained low

30. Clinton Again – 1994 – supported World Trade Organization (WTO) • Organization to promote worldwide free trade – 1999 – WTO protests in Seattle • City streets filled with protestors against human and environmental costs of globalization • Clinton and free trade • – 1993 – supported North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • Free-trade zone among US, Canada, and Mexico • Reversal of 1992 campaign pledge and betrayal of protectionists in Democratic party

31. Clinton Again • Campaign finance reform • Investigations into 1996 race revealed Clinton received money from many improper sources • Contributors allowed to stay overnight in the White House; foreigners who are legally prohibited from making donations • – Both parties had become heavily dependent on huge sums to pay for TV ads for candidates • Except for a few mavericks, both parties only paid lip service to campaign finance reform

32. Problems Abroad • End of Cold War meant US had to find new rationale for foreign policy • Clinton at first seemed amateurish and followed lead of Bush • Somalia • Clinton sent US troops as part of peacekeeping mission • Late 1993 – rebels killed Americans • Clinton reinforced US units • March 1994 – Clinton withdrew US troops • No clearly defined goal accomplished

33. Problems Abroad • Rwanda • Clinton did nothing while genocide resulted in 500,000 people being killed • Haiti • 1991 – democratically-elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide forced from office in military coup • 1994 – Clinton sent 20,000 US troops to return Aristide to power • After thousands of Haitians had bought asylum in US • 2004 – Aristide again removed by coup and exiled to Africa

34. Warships To Haiti 1993 U.S. President Bill Clinton sent 6 American warships to enforce United Nations trade sanctions against the military-led regime in Haiti that deposed the democratically elected Bertrand Aristide.

35. Problems Abroad • China • Clinton had criticized Bush during 1992 campaign for not imposing sanctions for human rights abuses • Clinton learned as president China’s importance to US economy • Clinton sought improved trade relations with China • Cheap production and huge market • May 2000 – trade bill made China full trading partner with US

36. Problems Abroad • Balkans • Widespread ethnic conflict in Balkans • Late 1995 – Clinton sent US troops with NATO peacekeeping unit • NATO forces only ones capable of preventing outbreak of more violence • 1999 – Slobodan Milosevićlaunched ethnic cleansing against Albanians in Kosovo • US-led NATO forces launched air war against Serbia • Milosević forced to accept NATO ground troops in Kosovo • 2001 – Milosević arrested and put on trial for war crimes

37. Kosovo Kosovo was a region in Yugoslavia and when the nation split up in was absorbed into Serbia. The province consisted of 90% Muslim Albanians and 10% Christian Serbians. The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) wanted independence in 1997 and began killing Serbian government officials. In 1998 President Milosevic sent troops to take control back of the region. Fighting escalated since the government sponsored killing of Albanians. NATO, led by the British and the United States, intervened in 1998 to negotiate a peace settlement and when it was unsuccessful sent in air troops for 78 days. A United Nations sponsored peace settlement was ratified in June 1999.

38. Problems Abroad Middle East • 1993 – Clinton presided over historic meeting between Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasir Arafat • Agreed in principle on self-rule for Palestinians within Israel • Agreement scrapped when Rabin killed by assassin in 1995 • Clinton and Madeline Albright (secretary of state) failed to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine

39. Israel and PLO Signed Oslo Peace Accords, 1993 PLO leader Yasir Arafat and Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords in Washington D.C. on September 13, 1993, ending 45 years of fighting. The agreement reached in Oslo outlined an Israeli redeployment from parts of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and the establishment of a provisional Palestinian self-rule government. The two sides agree to recognize one another publicly. Although the peace only lasted temporarily it marked an important point in Palestinian-Israeli relations since it was the first formal agreement between the two groups.

40. Problems Abroad Peacemaking at the end of Clinton’s term • Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants • Korea between North and South Korea • India and Pakistan – both nuclear powers

41. Scandal and Impeachment • Scandal had dogged Clinton since the 1992 campaign • Marital infidelity • Use of an illegal substance • Whitewater • Investigation into failed real estate deal by Whitewater Land Corporation • No indictment for Whitewater ever came

42. President Clinton impeached President Clinton was sued by Paula Jones in 1994 for sexual harassment when she worked as a state employee in Arkansas while Clinton was governor. Clinton sought executive immunity to dismiss the suit, however the Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that presidential immunity did not apply in a civil case. Before the trial proceeded a settlement payment of $850,000 was paid to Jones. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr was investigating Bill and Hilary Clinton’s involvement in the Whitewater real estate deal in Arkansas and in the course of his investigation Jones’ lawyers gave him the name of Linda Tripp, a former White House employee. Tripp had secretly taped conversations with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, who claimed on tape to have had a sexual relationship with the President. When Lewinsky testified for Starr she denied the relationship. Starr received permission to secretly tape a meeting between Tripp and Lewinsky in which Lewinsky admitted again the true nature of her relationship with Clinton. President Clinton testified a few days later under oath that he did not have sexual relations with Lewinsky.

43. Starr presented 11 impeachable accusations in a report to Congress. The Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives investigated the matter and submitted 4 articles of impeachment. On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President William J. Clinton, claiming the president had "willfully corrupted and manipulated the judicial process."The trial, with Chief Justice Rehnquist as the presiding Officer, lasted for more than one month.

44. The Senate trial began on January 14, 1999, and once again arguments focused on the definition of "high crimes and misdemeanors." Falling short of the necessary two-thirds vote on either article of impeachment the Senate acquitted President Clinton on February 12, 1999. Article I of the Impeachment dealt with perjury, false testimony to the grand jury. The voting totals were as follows: 55 not guilty: 45 democrats, 10 republicans 45 guilty: 45 republicans Article II alleged that President Clinton obstructed justice in an attempt to delay, impede, cover up and conceal evidence in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit. The voting totals were as follows: 50 guilty: 50 Republicans 50 not guilty: 45 Democrats and 5 Republicans

45. Clinton’s Legacy Succeeded at economic growth • In part due to global expansion outside his control • Made good appointment and kept budget under control • By 2000 – US achieved near full employment, poverty rates lowered, median income increased • Consolidation of Reagan-Bush revolution against New Deal liberalism • Clinton spoke for social justice and racial harmony, but discouraged people from looking to government for solutions • Low standard of personal conduct renewed public cynicism about government

46. Clinton’s Legacy • Final actions as president • Clinton negotiated deal with Starr to prevent further legal proceedings by agreeing to fine and 5-year suspension of his law license • Clinton made several pardons to powerful political donors in 2000