The first Democratic President since FDR to win a second term.

William J. ClintonDemocrat1993-2001

Background…

• Born & raised in Arkansas... • Attends Georgetown University• 1968: A Rhode Scholarship • 1973: Attends Yale Law School• 1978: Governor of Arkansas• 1992: Elected President… As a “centrist democrat”

The 1992 Election: G.H.W. Bush vs. Bill Clinton

Following the Persian Gulf War GHW Bush has the highest approval rating in history. Facing a faltering economy, high unemployment & a

tax increase Bush was not reelected.

The 1996 Election: Clinton vs. DoleStrong Economy & Welfare Reform helped Clinton

1993-2001: The Clinton years…• A period of peace & prosperity • Lowest unemployment rate in modern times• Lowest inflation in 30 years• Highest home ownership in US history • Crime rates drop in most US cities• Reduced welfare rolls • Raised taxes on the wealthy• Proposed the first balanced budget in decades &

achieved a budget surplus.

North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA)

• Negotiated during the Bush years & ratified under Clinton • Promoted open & free trade between Canada, Mexico & the US by

removing tariffs. It created a “free trade zone” in North America.• The concern… The effect on the US economy… American

companies might move to Mexico for cheaper labor source.

NAFTA’s impact on employment…

Q: How many U.S. jobs have been lost since the inception of the North American Free Trade Agreement?

A: 25 million jobs were gained. Nearly all economic studies say NAFTA's net effect on jobs was negligible.

Whether the job gain would have been greater or smaller without NAFTA is another question

Welfare reform…• 1996 – Limits were put on how long people could collect benefits• “Block Grants” given out to states• People moved from “Welfare to Workfare”

“Don't ask, don't tell” A controversial intermediate step to full gay

military integration.

What exactly happened with the technology boom in the 1990s?

• The Internet… The Internet revolution • New Internet-based companies develop & millions of dollars

were poured into start up internet companies. • Internet company stock prices shoot up if they simply added an

"e-" prefix to their name or a ".com" to the end• The internet boom fizzled in 2000… Companies failed and

investors lost money

The “Tech” bubble

The Clinton impeachment… • Clinton was impeached for perjury & obstruction of

justice in a scandal involving a White House intern, but was acquitted by the U.S. Senate and served his complete term of office.

The vote to impeach was

along party lines.

The President is investigated…• The Clinton’s were investigated for the White Water land deal in

Arkansas in 1979• Did Illegal $ go toward Clinton’s run for Governor?• Independent Investigator Kenneth Starr led the investigation• Starr discovered Clinton had an improper relationship with a White

House Intern • Clinton was charged with lying under oath and obstruction of justice• Senate could not impeach