Bill Clinton Traditional Stereotypes Democrats/Liberals Republicans/Conservatives “Tax and Spend” “Favor the rich” • government action can be the solution government is the problem • government spending is necessary cut government spending • taxes are necessary cut taxes • government regulation is necessary cut government regulation Democratic Party Changes 1960s-1980s 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 and Reaganomics Democratic Party Changes New Democrats • Socially liberal • Fiscally Conservative • Pro-Business • Government has limited, but important role Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) The New Politics Democrats Liberals vs. Centrists New Deal/Great Society • pro-labor • maybe protectionist • socially liberal • activist government Democratic Leadership Council pro-business free trade socially liberal limited, but important, government role Members: • Sen. Walter Mondale • Sen. Ted Kennedy (MA) • Sen. Harry Reid (NV) • Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA) • Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA) • Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) • Sen. Robert Byrd (WV) Pres. Bill Clinton VP Al Gore Gov. Mark Warner (VA) Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY) Sen. Barack Obama (IL) Gov. Jennifer Granholm (MI) Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS) • Winner: Centrists The New Politics • Republicans • • • • • Moderates vs. pro-choice balanced budget socially liberal small, but active, government Conservatives anti-abortion balanced budget socially conservative government is the problem • • • • • • • • Members: Gov. George H. W. Bush Mayor Rudy Giuliani Sen. John McCain (AZ) Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) Gov. Mitt Romney Sen. Chuck Hagel Pres. George W. Bush VP Dick Cheney Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR) Rep. Newt Gingrich (GA) Rep. Tom Delay (TX) Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) Justice Antonin Scalia • Winner: Conservatives 1992 • Clinton 43% • Bush 37% • Perot 19% • The electoral map 1992 Was Clinton a New Democrat? • • • • • Gays in the military Health Care Budget “Triangulation” and Welfare Reform Trade Clinton’s Legacy? 1. Economic World Order Building • • • • NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement FTAA: Free Trade Area of the Americas APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation WTO: World Trade Organization 2. Pro-Business Democrat The Trust Issue Clinton Haters • American Spectator • Regnery Publications Whitewater-Lewinsky Chronology I 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 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 David Brock Paula Jones 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