1990s and 2000s
United States
Bill Clinton: the First BabyBoomer 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
1992 Presidential election candidates
H. Ross Perot,
Independent
Bill Clinton,
Democrat
George H.W. Bush,
Republican
Texas billionaire who
promised to reduce
the deficit
Arkansas Governor who
labeled himself a “New
Democrat”, meaning
more centrist on issues
Incumbent president
blamed for the economic
troubles and rising
unemployment
Bill Clinton: the First BabyBoomer 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
Bill Clinton: the First BabyBoomer 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
Bill Clinton: the First BabyBoomer 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
Bill Clinton: the First BabyBoomer 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
Bill Clinton: the
First BabyBoomer 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
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
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
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
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
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.
13
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
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.
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.
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
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
A False Start for Reform
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
1999 – Columbine
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.
20
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
Republican Contract with America, 1994
The 104th Congress, which was in session from 19951996, 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
The Politics of Distrust
Conservatives in Congress
– Restricted “unfunded mandates”

• Federal obligations on state and local
governments without paying for them
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
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
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
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
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
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
Clinton Again
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
– 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 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
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
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
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.
34
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
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 Milosević launched 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
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.
37
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
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.
39
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
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
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.
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.
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
Clinton’s Legacy
Succeeded at economic growth
In part due to global expansion
outside his control

Made good appointments 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

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