President George H.W. Bush
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Transcript of President George H.W. Bush
Presidential Election of 1988
• Ronald Reagan had already served two terms, so George H.W. Bush (his Vice-President) 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****
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.
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)
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.
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 oath2) 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 guilty55 not guilty
Votes on obstruction of justice charge-50 guilty50 not guilty
***President Bill Clinton was never removed from office and was acquitted of all charges.