The Presidency of Bill Clinton: Policy, Domestic Policy, Foreign Affairs, and Impeachment

Presidential Inauguration
- On $01/20/1993$ , Bill Clinton was sworn in as the $42^{nd}$ President of the United States.
- Clinton campaigned on the platform of being a "New Democrat."
- This platform was defined as being socially liberal yet fiscally conservative, often continuing trends established by previous conservative administrations.
The Reinventing Government Initiative
- President Clinton appointed Al Gore as his Vice President.
- Together, Clinton and Gore spearheaded a program known as "Reinventing Government."
- The primary goals of this program were to streamline federal operations and increase government efficiency.
- Key actions included:
  - Cutting the number of federal employees.
  - Reducing government spending, which was a departure from traditional Democratic presidential priorities.

Social Legislation and Military Policy
- "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": The Clinton administration passed this infamous act, which specifically barred homosexual individuals from serving openly in the military.
- Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): Signed into law in September $1996$ , this act officially prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
Fiscal Policy and the Budget Surplus
- Clinton inherited a significant federal deficit from his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush.
- In response, Clinton passed the Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
- This legislation focused on two main pillars:
  - Raising taxes.
  - Cutting government spending.
- The long-term effects of this bill contributed to the United States experiencing its first budget surplus since the $1960s$ .

The Rise of Globalization
- With the conclusion of the Cold War, international trade became a central topic of discussion.
- Nations sought to reduce tariffs under the belief that globalization would foster widespread economic prosperity.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- Although initially drafted under the Bush administration, NAFTA was officially ratified under President Clinton in $1993$ .
- The agreement created a free-trade zone between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
NATO Expansion
- Clinton presided over the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- New member nations included:
  - Hungary
  - Poland
  - The Czech Republic

Origins of the Conflict
- During the closing years of the Cold War, a Serbian nationalist seized control of the Socialist Republic of Serbia.
- His nationalist policies alienated various ethnicities within Yugoslavia, which was a multi-ethnic state formerly aligned with the Soviet sphere.
Declarations of Independence
- In $1991$ , Slovenia, Croatia, and the Republic of Macedonia declared their independence from Yugoslavia.
- Serbian forces forcefully opposed the independence of Croatia, initiating the Yugoslav Wars.
- In $1992$ , Bosnia and Herzegovina also declared independence.
Ethnic Cleansing and NATO Response
- A minority of Serbs living in Bosnia and Herzegovina opposed independence.
- Bosnian Serbs conducted ethnic cleansing campaigns that resulted in worldwide outrage.
- Initially, the United States was hesitant to clarify whether it would intervene in the Balkan Wars.
- Ultimately, Clinton and other NATO nations authorized Operation Deliberate Force, a bombing campaign.
- These military actions forced Serbian nationalists to agree to peace talks.

Conservative Opposition
- Despite Clinton’s "New Democrat" stance, many conservatives remained opposed to his administration leading into the $1994$ midterms.
- Republicans had been the minority party in Congress for approximately $40$ years.
The Contract with America
- House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich nationalized the midterm elections by forming a $10$ -point conservative plan called the "Contract with America."
- The plan outlined specific goals:
  - Cutting taxes.
  - Reducing the size of the federal government.
  - Deregulation.
  - Increasing transparency in politics.
The Republican Revolution
- The election resulted in a massive shift in congressional power:
  - Republicans picked up $54$ seats in the House of Representatives.
  - Republicans picked up $9$ seats in the Senate.
- This event is historically referred to as the "Republican Revolution."

Reelection and Scandal
- Clinton won reelection in $1996$ despite the shift in Congress.
- His second term was largely overshadowed by his impeachment.
- In $1998$ , an investigation into the home loan industry uncovered evidence of an affair between President Clinton and a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.
Legal Proceedings and Perjury
- During a deposition, Clinton swore under oath that he had not engaged in sexual relations with Lewinsky.
- This statement was later proven to be false.
- Although Clinton publicly apologized for lying later that year, the House of Representatives proceeded with impeachment hearings on the grounds of perjury (lying under oath).
Consequences and Outcome
- The controversy derailed Clinton's legislative goals, specifically his hopes for Medicare and Medicaid reform.
- The House passed two articles of impeachment against the President.
- Ultimately, Clinton was acquitted; the impeachment process was noted as being deeply unpopular with the general public.

Approval Ratings
- Despite the scandal and impeachment, Bill Clinton left office with high approval ratings.
The Next Nominee
- Clinton’s pick for the following Democratic presidential nominee was his own Vice President, Al Gore.