Administrations of Clinton and Bush

1. President Bill Clinton
1993-2001

2. Domestic Policy
• Cut federal spending; raised taxes on the rich
• Proposed healthcare reform; it failed to pass
• Computer industry success
• “peace dividend” led to economic prosperity
– money that would be saved because the Cold War ended
• Export computers and high tech goods
– Unemployment was down, consumer spending
was up, business profits all time high

3. IMPEACHMENT
• Second term in office was the scandal
• Senate conducted Impeachment hearings for
Pres. Clinton
– Clinton had a sexual affair with a White House intern
– Clinton had lied under oath
• Removing the President from office
(impeachment) would be done by a 2/3 vote
Republican controlled House of Representatives
(Congress) had the votes for impeachment
– In the Senate, Republicans fell short of the 2/3 vote
for impeachment
• Once again, the public felt they could not trust
their elected officials

4. Foreign Policy
• NAFTA – North American Free Trade
Agreement – created a trade with Canada and
Mexico
– Gradually phased out tariffs (taxes)
• GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade
– Further reducing of tariffs
– Replaced by the World Trade Organization
• Regulated world trade

5. President George W. Bush
2001-2009

6. Election of 2000
• Vice President Al Gore won the Popular Vote
• In some states the margin was close
• Supreme Court halted a Florida recount
– By a vote of 5 to 4
– Supreme Court their was no standard way to review
the voting ballots (old school punch hole ballots)
• Bush won the election as a result of “Electoral”
vote
– Official way to decide President based on Constitution

7. 9/11
• Terrorist attacked the World Trade Centers in New
York City
• Attacked the Pentagon in Arlington, VA
• Bush declared a Global War on Terror
– Created Department of Homeland Security
– USA Patriot Act (NDAA -National Defense Authorization Act) –
expanded the government's law enforcement powers
• Gave power to look at bank statements, cell phone records,
record phone calls (wiretaps)
• Detain immigrants and American citizens without a warrant
• Gave too much power to the US Government
• President Obama signed a four year extension in 2011