Presidents Foreign and Domestic Policies

1990-Present

President George H.W. Bush

In office Jan. 20, 1989-1993

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy Impact of Defense Spending on US Economy

› Can provide short term economic stimulus Provides jobs New industries

› Drawbacks Money spent on defense is taken away from

education and other federal programs

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy Supreme Court Appointments

and their impact› Several conservatives appointed

David Souter – 1990 Clarence Thomas – 1991

Helped toughen rules for criminal defendants

Reduce the scope of abortion rights Many other conservative changes

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy

Recession—decline in economy (industrial production, employment, income, wholesale-resale trade)› Reduced consumer, corporate and government

spending led to recession by 1990› Increased foreign competition led to a

decrease in demand for American made goods, resulting in layoffs

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy

Civil Rights and unrest› The recession hit young

African Americans hardest› Riots erupted in L.A. and

other cities in 1992› Police were caught on video beating Rodney King

but found not guilty› 70 people died during these riots

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990› Prohibited discrimination

against people with disabilities in employment and in public accommodations

› Restaurants, hotels, theaters, etc. had to be wheelchair accessible

George H.W. Bush—Foreign Policy

Invasion of Panama, 1989› US troops were sent to

overthrow Panamanian dictator and drug dealer, Manuel Noriega

› The goal was to restore democracy› Noriega was captured and taken to

the US, where he was tried and convicted on drug charges

George H.W. Bush—Foreign Policy

The End of the Cold War, 1989-1991› Most important event of the Bush administration› Reagan and Gorbachev had initiated reforms› From 1989-1991, Eastern Europe began to shift from

Communism to Democracy The Berlin Wall fell (1989) and Germany was reunited

› 1991-USSR dissolved, creating Russia and the 15 republics (Commonwealth of Independent States) Bush formally recognized Russia

and other nations and offered financial assistance

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy The Gulf War, 1990

› Bush’s greatest single foreign policy success

› In 1990, Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait to capture its oil wealth and extend Iraq’s borders

› UN asked Hussein to withdraw, he refused UN and US launched an attack on Iraq They were successful in only a few days

› In Feb. 1991, Hussein removed all troops and paid for all damages in Kuwait

› Bush declared a cease fire, but did not take the steps to remove Hussein from power in Iraq

George H.W. Bush—Domestic Policy

Somalia, 1992› Humanitarian airlifts of food and supplies to

war-torn Somalia in NE Africa› Millions faced starvation› Local warlords and bandits stole and

threatened food shipments› Bush sent in troops› Fighting would escalate and

continue into the Clinton administration

President Bill Clinton

In office Jan 20, 1993 - 2001

President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy

Health Care Reform› Promised during his campaign

reform Proposed giving every

American health insurance› Appointed his wife, Hillary,

to head a task force on health care› Many alternative plans were proposed but none

approved by Congress Opponents believed that Clinton’s plan would lead to

long waits and health care rationing Supporters found it shocking that so many Americans

lived without health care› The failure to pass health care reform in Congress

was a major defeat for Clinton

President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy Economic Recovery

› By eliminating Cold War restrictions on trade, it became easier to export computers and other high tech goods

› Increased trade helped restore the nation’s economy› A reductions in military spending and closing of military bases boosted

the civilian economy› By the end of Clinton’s presidency, unemployment was down,

consumer spending was up and business profits were at an all-time high

› By 1999, Clinton had balanced the budget and even a surplus of revenues over expenditures

President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy Impeachment and Scandal

› 1999-Clinton’s 2nd term, the Senate conducted an impeachment trial Only the 2nd time in history that a president has been

impeached (Nixon, who later resigned)› Clinton had a sexual affair with a white house

intern, Monica Lewinsky After finding that Clinton had lied under oath about

the affair, the prosecutor recommended impeachment

President Clinton was impeached, but was not formally removed from office.

President Bill Clinton – Foreign Policy

Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Kosovo› Yugoslavia broke up at the end the

Cold War Fierce fighting erupted between Muslim

Bosnians and Christian Serbs Serbs attempted to rid Bosnia of

Muslims (ethnic cleansing-genocide) Clinton negotiate peace in Bosnia and

spearheaded the use of NATO airstrikes against Serbia to stop attacks on Kosovo

› Clinton’s intervention led to a compromise and an end to the bloodshed and killing

President Bill Clinton – Foreign Policy North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

› Originally negotiated by Pres. Bush Clinton pushed it through Congress

› Created a trade agreement with Mexico, Canada and the US NAFTA gradually phased out tariffs between these 3 countries,

increasing trade and stimulating the economy› Critics say NAFTA has led to loss of manufacturing jobs to

countries where labor is cheaper

President Bill Clinton – Domestic Policy General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

› Formed in 1947› Increased trade by reducing tariffs on many goods› In 1994, GATT was replaced by the World Trade Organization

(WTO) Establishes rules for global trade and helps to settle trade

disputes Accelerated globalization

President George W. Bush

In office Jan 20, 2001 - 2009

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy

No Child Left Behind› Requires states to test all students in English and Math each

year from 3rd to 8th grade› Expanded the role of the federal government in education › Aimed primarily at improving education for disadvantaged

students

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy Hurricane Katrina, 2005

› The flooding and evacuation of almost 80% of New Orleans and other coastal region

› Highest storm surge and waves ever recorded to hit North America Exceeded the engineering design of

the New Orleans levees› Costliest hurricane on record

More than 1,800 people died› Rescue efforts were delayed, citizens

were stranded on rooftops and in attics› Almost 20,000 people were stranded

in the New Orleans Superdome Suffered through extreme heat

and unsanitary conditions

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy Financial Crisis of 2008-2009

› Worst financial crisis since the Great Depression› In 2000, after stock market decline, the Federal Reserve lowered

interest rates Many people took advantage of lower interest rates to buy new homes Many of them couldn’t really afford to pay the mortgages on these

homes Failure to repay loans led to increase in housing prices

› Banks began to foreclose on houses› Banks were on the verge of failure

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy Economic Stabilization Act, October 2008

› Authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion to buy distressed investments and provide funds to banks to prevent failure These “bailouts” were provided to insurance giant AIG,

several brokerage houses and the nation’s largest banks

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy September 11, 2001

› Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorists hijacked 4 planes The terrorists (trained) pilots flew them into

the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) in NYC, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

The 4th plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers resisted the terrorists

› 3,000 people died Worst attack in US History

› Osama bin Laden (al Qaeda) took responsibility

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy Transportation Security Agency

(TSA)› Took over security at US airports› All passengers and luggage were

subjected to thorough screenings Department of Homeland Security

› Cabinet post created in 2003› Mission: keep the US secure from all

threats› Activities range from nuclear

detection and intelligence coordination to protection of high-level government officials

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy "Uniting and Strengthening America by

Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001“› Mission: to deter and punish terrorist

acts in the United States and around the world and to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools

› Expanded law enforcement powers Allowed sweeping searches and

surveillance, detainment of immigrants, monitoring of bank accounts for unusual activity

Nation Security Agency (NSA) had power to wiretap phones of suspicious calls with out a warrant—later declared unconstitutional Too Much Power? Threat to individual freedom?

President George W. Bush-Domestic Policy Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Cuba (Gitmo)

› Suspected terrorists held here are not guaranteed the same US Constitutional rights as prisoners in the US Prisoners have been force-fed while on hunger strikes and

“water-boarded” to obtain info about future attacks Critics claim this torture is inhumane Obama has promised to close down Gitmo Currently houses 155 detainees

President George W. Bush-Foreign Policy The Global War on Terror

› Bush warned the nations that harbored terrorists that he was prepared to launch a “war on terror” October, 2001-Bush ordered air and ground strikes on Taliban

and al Qaeda bases Many al Qaeda members were captured, but bin Laden eluded

capture He was later located and killed by US Seal Team Six (Operation Neptune

Spear, May 2, 2011)

President George W. Bush-Foreign Policy The War in Iraq

› Dictator of Iraq—Saddam Hussein Denied having Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs),

but refused to allow UN inspectors to search UN was finally allowed in, but found no WMDs Many believed they had hidden or moved the WMDs

› US, Spain, Britain threatened to invade if WMDs were not turned over

› France, Germany, Russia called for more inspections March, 2003-Bush gave Hussein 48 hours to comply Hussein refuse, US launched airstrikes

› April, 2003- US forces entered Baghdad, Hussein was captured, and a provisional democratic government was established Iraq was the first democratic nation in the Middle East

› Hussein was tried for crimes against humanity (using chemical weapons on the Kurds) and executed in 2006

› US troops continue to provide protection and support to the Iraqi government

President Barack Hussein Obama

In office Jan 20, 2005 - present

President Obama-Domestic Policy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009

› Mission: to jumpstart the American economy› $700 billion+ on a bailout package to create new jobs,

save existing ones, spur economic development and invest in long-term infrastructure development

› Legislation was passed to regulate credit cards, lending and other banking practices

› Steps were taken to save the auto industry

President Obama-Domestic Policy

Supreme Court Appointments› Sonia Sotomayor

Nominated to US Court of Appeals by Clinton

2009-nominated to the US Supreme Court by Obama 1st Hispanic Justice 3rd woman on Supreme Court

› Elana Kagan was also nominated to US Supreme Court Former Harvard Law School Dean

President Obama-Foreign Policy The “Arab Spring”

› Obama discouraged dictators from using force to suppress democracy movements in Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, and Egypt In Libya, he authorized airstrikes to defend rebels

Led to Gaddafi’s down fall and death

President Obama-Foreign Policy War in Afghanistan

Obama increased the level of troops in effort to stabilize the country and revitalize its development

War in Iraq› Gradually withdrew troops› US troops were replaced by

Iraqi security forces› Situation still remains challenging, as acts of terrorism

continue against the Iraqi government