History Notes: Bush Sr. to Obama

George H.W. Bush Administration (1989-1993)

• Inauguration:
  • Began with a prayer, similar to a church service.
• Drug Issues:
  • Rising drug incidence since the 1960s, but problems with cocaine and marijuana existed in the 1920s and 1930s.
  • Increased drugs flowing across borders.
• Terrorism:
  • The U.S. Lower 48 had not yet experienced a physical attack (pre-9/11). Pearl Harbor being an exception
• Tiananmen Square (1989):
  • Chinese students and young people pushed for a more democratic society.
  • The Chinese government responded with brutality, including tanks running over people.
  • Bush was ambivalent about the situation, fearing that criticizing China would affect trade relations.
  • Congress pushed for sanctions, but Bush resisted, seeing China as a strategic ally against Russia.
• End of the Cold War:
  • While it occurred during Bush's presidency, Reagan and Gorbachev were primarily responsible.
  • Bush continued a relationship with Russia but was perceived as not very warm.
• "Read My Lips: No New Taxes":
  • A famous quote from Bush that became a broken promise and a meme.
• Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989):
  • Reagan and Gorbachev were heavily involved in pushing for the wall's demise.
  • Bush was not actively involved and waited two weeks to comment on the event.
• German Reunification (1990):
  • Bush cautiously approved of German reunification.
  • Some countries, like France, feared a resurgence of German dominance.
• Latin America:
  • Communist Sandinistas were voted out in Nicaragua.
  • Other communist countries were replaced with pro-Western governments.
• Panama:
  • Manuel Noriega, initially considered an ally, became involved in drugs and an enemy of the U.S.
  • Noriega declared war on the U.S. in 1989, and his men shot a U.S. Marine.
  • U.S. forces apprehended Noriega, who had been hiding in the Vatican embassy.
• Gulf War (1990-1991):
  • Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, threatening U.S. oil interests.
  • Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm were part of the Gulf War.
  • Saddam Hussein's brutality was highlighted (e.g., lowering people into plastic shredders).
  • Bush had an opportunity to remove Saddam from power but chose not to, citing a lack of UN mandate.
  • The UN mandated monitoring of Iraq for weapons of mass destruction.
• Waffling:
  • Bush was described as "waffling," or being indecisive and not taking a clear stand.
  • Margaret Thatcher criticized his lack of decisiveness.
• Fear of Provoking Pressure:
  • Bush was fearful that getting involved with Hussein might provoke the Cold War.
• Short War in Kuwait:
  • Southern Hussein was driven out.
  • As Hussein left, he set everything on fire and dumped oil into person's gulf.
  • The UN mandate monitoring of Iraq for weapons of mass destruction.

Domestic Issues

• Rodney King Incident (1991):
  • Rodney King, a young black man on parole, was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers.
  • The incident was videotaped and went viral, sparking outrage and demands for justice.
  • The police officers were charged, but the case was complex.
• Thurgood Marshall:
  • Thurgood Marshall stepped down from office.
• Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill:
  • Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme Court was controversial.
  • Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment, leading to intense scrutiny.
  • Hill was attacked for bringing up such a trivial issue, demonstrating how women had little credibilty in such cases during this period.
  • Clarence Thomas ultimately got position on the Supreme Court.
• Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991):
  • Mikhail Gorbachev stepped down as the leader of the Soviet Union, which dissolved.
  • The West was surprised by the fragility of the USSR.
  • A new regime emerged in Russia.

1992 Election

• Bush's Approval Rating:
  • Bush's approval rating was low.
• Rise of the Tea Party:
  • The initial element of the Tea Party was starting to rise.
• Bill Clinton:
  • William Jefferson Clinton, the governor of Arkansas, entered the picture.
  • He was considered intelligent, but there were rumors about his morals and womanizing.
• Public vs. Private Life:
  • A debate emerged about whether public officials should be held accountable for their private lives.
• Press Scrutiny:
  • The press was becoming more open about public officials' personal lives.
• Draft Dodging:
  • Clinton was accused of dodging the draft during the Vietnam War.
• Economic Focus:
  • Bill is an economist, and he promised to strengthen the economy.
• Political Staff:
  • James, Paul, and George were key members of his political staff.

Clinton Administration (1993-2001)

• Rodney King Verdict and Riots:
  • The police officers who assaulted Rodney King were cleared of all charges.
  • The verdict sparked riots in Los Angeles, resulting in 55 deaths, over two thousand injuries, and widespread destruction.
• Continued Charges of Infidelity:
  • Clinton faced ongoing charges of infidelity throughout his presidency.
• Economic Success:
  • Clinton worked to improve the economy, and America ran in the black for the first time in a long time.
• Hillary Clinton's Role:
  • Hillary Clinton was named the chairman of a major committee to find a national health care program.
  • This was a unique and controversial move, as presidential spouses traditionally had limited roles.
  • Hillary faced opposition due to her strong personality and demands for equality.
  • Her efforts to reform health care ultimately failed.
• "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":
  • Clinton's solution to the issue of gays in the military was "don't ask, don't tell."
  • This policy prohibited asking about service members' sexual orientation but also required them to remain closeted.
  • The policy was not popular with many in the LGBTQ+ community.
• Waco, Texas:
  • The Branch Davidians, a cult group led by David Koresh, were based in Waco, Texas.
  • There were rumors of weapons and child abuse.
  • The ATF raided the compound, resulting in a shootout and deaths.
  • The FBI then became involved.
  • A fire broke out in the compound, killing at least 80 men, women, and children.
  • There was controversy over who was responsible for the fire.
• World Trade Center Bombing (1993):
  • A bomb exploded in the underground garage of the World Trade Center.
  • Thousands were injured, and seven people were killed.
  • The bombing was linked to Near Eastern terrorists.
  • The attack led to the rise of Osama bin Laden's name.
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court.
• Palestine and Israel:
  • The conflict between Palestine and Israel continued.
  • The PLO, led by Yasser Arafat, was a prominent terrorist organization.
• Osama bin Laden:
  • Osama bin Laden was not initially seen as a major problem by Clinton.
• Whitewater:
  • The Clinton's were involved with a land development deal in Arkansas that happened before Clinton became the president.
• Terrorism in Africa, The Middle East, and Elsewhere:
  • Terrorism increased in Africa, The Middle East, and elsewhere.
  • The movie Black Hawk Down was made about one such incident.
• Oklahoma City Bombing (1995):
  • The Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was bombed.
  • 168 people were killed, including 19 children.
  • Timothy McVeigh was responsible, claiming retaliation for what happened at the Branch Davidian.
• Unabomber:
  • Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, sent bombs in the mail, killing and injuring people.
• Clinton Reelected:
  • Clinton won reelection.
• Princess Diana and Mother Teresa Die (1997):
  • The tragic deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa occurred.
• Monica Lewinsky Scandal (1998):
  • Clinton was accused of asking Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath about their affair.
  • The scandal led to impeachment proceedings, but he was acquitted.
• Bin Laden's Declaration of War:
  • Bin Laden Declares War to Kill all Americans, civilian or military.
• Columbine High School Massacre (1999):
  • The Columbine High School shooting marked the beginning of school shootings.
• Technological Revolution:
  • The technological revolution transformed society.
• Elian Gonzalez:
  • Elian Gonzalez was sent back to Cuba to meet with his dad.
• USS Cole Bombing (2000):
  • The USS Cole was bombed in Yemen by terrorists.

George W. Bush Administration (2001-2009)

• 2000 Election:
  • George W. Bush came into office.
• 9/11 Attacks:
  • The 9/11 terrorist attacks changed everything.
  • Bush became a national hero for attacking the perpetrators.
  • The attacks led to a negative press for Muslims and another battle with Iraq.
• Recession:
  • The U.S. entered a recession that was almost as bad as the one in 1999.
• Saddam Hussein:
  • Saddam Hussein was found hiding in a hole and was eventually put on trial and executed.
• Hurricane Katrina (2005):
  • Hurricane Katrina caused widespread damage and exposed government missteps.

Barack Obama Administration (2009-2017)

• Election of Barack Obama (2008):
  • Barack Obama was elected president, a historic moment.
• Healthcare Reform:
  • Obama established a national health care system.
• Women's Rights:
  • Laws were passed to protect women's rights.
• Space Race Goes Private:
  • The space race became privatized.
• Hate time ban
  - It became a law
• Two more woman on the Supreme Court
• End of Iraq War:
  • Obama worked to end U.S. participation in the Iraq War.
• Osama bin Laden Killed:
  • Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.

Subsequent Events

• Donald Trump Presidency:
  • Donald Trump was elected president.
• Joe Biden Presidency:
  • Joe Biden is currently president.