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Chapter 39

Chapter 39 discusses the political landscape in America from 1992 to 2000, focusing on Bill Clinton's presidency and his election strategies. Clinton's administration faced challenges such as healthcare reform and military policies, while also achieving a budget surplus by 1998. The chapter highlights the rise of Republican opposition led by Newt Gingrich and the impact of third-party candidate Ross Perot in the elections.

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Amra Grcić
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4 views

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 discusses the political landscape in America from 1992 to 2000, focusing on Bill Clinton's presidency and his election strategies. Clinton's administration faced challenges such as healthcare reform and military policies, while also achieving a budget surplus by 1998. The chapter highlights the rise of Republican opposition led by Newt Gingrich and the impact of third-party candidate Ross Perot in the elections.

Uploaded by

Amra Grcić
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 39

America Confronts the Post-Cold War Era


1992-2000

Bill Clinton: The First Baby-Boomer President


For the election of 1992, the Democrats chose Bill Clinton as their candidate (despite
accusations of womanizing and draft evasion) and Albert Gore, Jr. as his running mate. The
Democrats tried a new approach, promoting growth, strong defense, and anticrime policies,
while campaigning to stimulate the economy.
The Republicans dwelled on "family values" and re-nominated George H. W. Bush for the
presidency and J. Danforth Quayle for the vice presidency.
Third party candidate, Ross Perot entered the race and ended up winning 19,237,247 votes,
although he won no Electoral votes.
Clinton won the election of 1992. Democrats also gained control of both the House and the
Senate.
Presidency Clinton hired minorities and more women in Congress and his presidential cabinet.
This included the first female attorney general, Janet Reno, Secretary of Health and Human
Services, Donna Shalala, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Supreme Court

A False Start for Reform


Clinton called for accepting homosexuals in the armed forces, but he had to settle for a "don't
ask, don't tell" policy that unofficially accepted gays and lesbians.
Clinton appointed his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to revamp the nation's health and medical
care system. When the plan was revealed in October 1993, critics blasted it as cumbersome,
confusing, and stupid. The previous image of Hillary as an equal political partner of her
husband changed to a liability.
By 1998, Clinton 's policies had led to budget surplus and he had shrunk the federal deficit to
its lowest levels in ten years.
On February 26, 1993, a radical Muslim group bombed the World Trade Center in New York,
killing six people. On April 19, 1993, a standoff at Waco, Texas between the government and
the Branch Davidian cult ended in a fire that killed 82 people. On April 19, 1995, Timothy
McVeigh bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 169 people.

The Politics of Distrust


In 1994, Newt Gingrich led Republicans on an attack of Clinton's liberal failures with a
conservative "Contract with America." That year, Republicans won eight more seats in the
Senate and 53 more seats in the House, where Gingrich became the new Speaker of the
House.
A conservative Congress passed the Welfare Reform Bill, which made cuts to welfare
programs.
In 1995, the government shut down when Congress could not agree on a budget.
In the election of 1996, Clinton beat Republican Bob Dole. Ross Perot, the third party
candidate, again finished third.

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