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President
George H.W. Bush
Ch. 32, Section 2, pg. 928
Presidential Election of 1988
• Ronald Reagan had
already served two
terms, so George
H.W. Bush (his VicePresident) is the
Republican nominee.
• George H. W. Bush
defeats Democrat
candidate Michael
Dukakis.
START
(Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)
• In 1990, George H.W. Bush and Mikhail
Gorbachev agreed, along with other
European leaders, to destroy tanks and
other nuclear weapons that were
positioned in Europe.
• Why important? It was the first time that
two nuclear powers agreed to destroy
existing nuclear weapons.
Collapse of Soviet Union
• Because of glasnost, Soviet citizens
began to express their dissatisfaction.
• Thousands marched through Moscow in
February 1990.
• The citizens were calling for democracy
instead of communism.
• Some parts of the Soviet Union republics
were trying to break free and form their
own independent nations.
Collapse of the Soviet Union
MAJOR EVENTS:
1) Berlin Wall is torn down on November 9, 1989.
(East and West Germany united)
2) Gorbachev is overthrown by communist
military leaders – taken prisoner.
3) Gorbachev is freed by republics and Boris
Yeltsin declares 15 republics free and
independent from the Soviet Union.
4) Group of republics become known as – Russia
and the Communist Party is outlawed.
****December 25, 1991****
People crossing the Berlin Wall – East Germany meets West
A New War - Persian Gulf War
• On August 2, 1990, the dictator of Iraq –
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait – a small
country that was rich with oil.
• President George H.W. Bush was scared
Saddam Hussein would also try to invade other
Middle Eastern countries – and we needed to
protect our oil interests.
• President Bush sent military troops into Kuwait
in what we call Operation Desert Shield to try
to push Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.
Saddam
Hussein
the
dictator of
Iraq
Kuwait
Operation Desert Storm
• Saddam Hussein refused
to remove his troops from
Kuwait, so on January 16,
1991, we launches
several laser-guided
missiles and thousands of
tons of bombs on Iraq.
• After six weeks, we
launched a second attack
using ground forces.
• Saddam Hussein’s troops
finally left Kuwait.
Presidential Election of 1992
• President George H.W. Bush’s approval rating
was 90% after the success of Operation Desert
Storm.
• However, the American economy was in
shambles. This was due to the federal debt that
had gotten much higher due to Reagan’s 8 years
as President. People wanted government help,
and he refused to increase government
spending.
• BILL CLINTON VS. GEORGE H.W. BUSH
(Clinton wins as he promises to restore the
nation’s economy)
President
Bill Clinton
Chapter 32, Section 3, pg. 936
Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush
(and Ross Perot)
• Clinton – 43% of the vote
• Bush – 38% of the vote
• Perot – 19% of the vote
• The Presidential Election of 1992 marks
the first time that a third-party
(independent) candidate gained so many
votes. Many blame Perot for stealing votes
from Bill Clinton’s followers.
Dealing with the economy
• President Bill Clinton proposed the
following:
• 1) reduce the budget deficit
• 2) cut government spending
• 3) raise taxes on middle and upper-class
• 4) tax credits for lower-class poor
Healthcare Reform –
Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Both Bill Clinton and
Hillary Clinton wanted to
provide health care for
every American.
• First Lady, Hillary
Rodham Clinton, put in
charge of healthcare
reform.
• The plan failed as it was
rejected by the majority
Republican congress.
Clinton wins a Second Term –
Presidential Election of 1996
• Clinton defeated Republican candidate
Bob Dole in the election of 1996.
• Clinton won because of the booming
American economy.
• The GDP (gross domestic product) was
growing at a rate of 4% per year, and the
American people were happy.
• GDP – the value of all the goods and
services produced in a nation in a year.
Scandal erupts
• In early 1998, a scandal emerged
involving a personal relationship between
President Bill Clinton and a White House
intern named Monica Lewinsky.
Monica Lewinsky and
Bill Clinton together.
Impeachment
• Impeach – make a formal accusation
against a public official (possibly removing
them from office).
• Bill Clinton was impeached by Congress in
1998 on the following counts:
1) perjury – lying under oath
2) obstruction of justice – trying to
conceal information during the
investigation.
Impeachment Trial
• On February 12, 1999, U.S. Senators voted on
whether or not to remove Bill Clinton from the
office of President.
Votes on perjury charge –
45 guilty
55 not guilty
Votes on obstruction of justice charge50 guilty
50 not guilty
***President Bill Clinton was never removed from
office and was acquitted of all charges.
Presidential Election of 2000the closest election in U.S. History
George W. Bush vs. Al Gore
271 vs. 266 (very close margin)