William Jefferson Clinton

 

Clinton and Gore defeated Bush after perceptions that Bush had failed to solve

            the economic recession

 

His wife Hillary Rodham Clinton played a major role in shaping policy, especially in

            universal health insurance

 

Created a five year plan to reduce the deficit by cutting spending and raising taxes;

            Republicans criticized him for too small spending cuts

 

Social Legislation:

            Family and Medical Leave Act:

                        companies with more than 50 employees had to provide unpaid

                        leave to workers facing family emergencies

            Brady Bill: provided a five day mandatory waiting period to purchase a handgun

            Health Care Plan failed

 

Appointed Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen G. Breyer to the Supreme Court

 

Was re-elected in 1996 over the uninspiring Bob Dole

 

Whitewater land deal, campaign funding, and sex scandals were investigated in the

            later part of his second term

 

In 1994 Midterm elections, Republicans won control of both Houses of Congress by

            promising a “Contract with America”

 

Foreign Affairs:

 

Arranged peace in Yugoslavia at the Dayton Accords and sent troops to Bosnia to

            monitor the peace

 

Won approval for NAFTA and continued to pressure Japan to open its markets

 

Helped facilitate peace tallks in 1993 for the Middle East but recent events have cast

            doubt on the process

 

Withdrew troops from Somalia

 

Worked closely with Yeltsin through economic aid

 

Normalized relations with Vietnam

 

Supported the return to power of Aristide in Haiti