America: Pathways to the PresentAmerica: Pathways to the Present

Chapter 26

Entering a New Era(1992 to the Present)

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing asPearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved.

The 1992 ElectionThe 1992 Election

The Candidates

• President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, sought a second term.

• Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot, an independent candidate, entered the race out of frustration over government economic policies.

• Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, a Democrat, pledged to address the nation’s economic problems.

Campaign Issues

• Clinton campaigned on the belief that government was necessary but that it should be made smaller and more efficient.

• Character issues, including reports of a past affair, marred Clinton’s campaign. Nonetheless, he won the election with 43 percent of the votes.

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Clinton’s First TermClinton’s First Term

Economic Reform

• Clinton tried to follow a middle course in dealing with the economy.

• To reduce the deficit, Clinton proposed a budget including both spending cuts and tax increases. Congress passed the budget, but just barely.

• Neither the spending cuts nor the tax increases were well received by the public.

The Battle Over Healthcare• When Clinton took office,

many Americans lacked access to affordable healthcare.

• Clinton proposed the creation of a government-supervised health insurance program that would guarantee affordable coverage to every American.

• Despite popular support for healthcare reform, Clinton’s proposal failed to gain the necessary votes in Congress.

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The Republicans’ Contract with AmericaThe Republicans’ Contract with America

Welfare ReformIn August 1996, Congress and Clinton agreed on a sweeping reform of the nation’s welfare system. The new law eliminated federal guarantees of cash assistance, gave more authority to states, and placed limits on the length of time Americans could receive welfare.

Contract With AmericaDuring the 1994 midterm elections, Georgia Representative Newt Gingrich called on Republican candidates to endorse a Contract with America, a pledge to scale back the role of the federal government, eliminate some regulations, cut taxes, and balance the budget.

Congress Versus the PresidentDuring that election, Republicans won majorities in both houses of Congress. They proposed cuts in many social services to balance the budget. The debate turned from whether or not to balance the budget to how to balance it.

The Government Is Shut DownAt the end of 1995, Clinton and Gingrich were unable to compromise on budget issues. As a result, budget allocations expired without reauthorization, leading to the temporary closure of government offices and disruption of services to many Americans.

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Clinton’s Second TermClinton’s Second Term

• Clinton won reelection in 1996, defeating Republican Bob Dole and Ross Perot of the newly created Reform Party.

• A strong economy improved Clinton’s popularity. In 1998, the government achieved its first budget surplus since 1969.

• Charges of scandal continued during Clinton’s second term. In what came to be known as the Whitewater affair, Clinton was accused of having taken part in fraudulent loans and land deals in Arkansas years earlier.

• A further scandal arose when Clinton denied a sexual relationship with a White House intern. In December 1998, the House voted to impeach Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. In the Senate trial which followed, Clinton was acquitted.

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The 2000 ElectionThe 2000 Election

• The mixture of a strong economy and a scandal-ridden presidency promised a close presidential election in 2000. Vice President Al Gore ran for the Democrats, while the Republicans nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush.

• Pre-election polls showed Gore and Bush virtually tied. On election night, votes in several states were too close to call.

• One undecided state, Florida, could give either candidate enough electoral votes to win the presidency. Lawyers, politicians, and the media swarmed to Florida to monitor a recount of votes there.

• A series of court battles eventually reached the Supreme Court, which voted 5–4 to stop the Florida recounts, awarding the state’s electoral votes to Bush.

• Although Gore had won the popular vote, Bush won the election by 271 electoral votes to Gore’s 266.

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The George W. Bush AdministrationThe George W. Bush Administration

Change in Presidential Style• Bush’s approach to the

presidency differed from that of Clinton.

• Bush preferred a more formal atmosphere in the White House and began keeping a stricter schedule than the former President.

• Advisors, staff members, and the Vice President, Dick Cheney, were granted more responsibility for setting policy under Bush’s administration.

Bush on Domestic Policy

• Early in his presidency, Bush received congressional approval for a tax cut that granted most taxpayers a $300 rebate.

• Bush also proposed an education reform bill that called for redirected funding and increased accountability from schools.

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