Chapter 18Chapter 18

Reagan, Bush, and ClintonReagan, Bush, and Clinton

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #1#1• Lower TaxesLower Taxes (supply (supply

side economics) – side economics) – People keep more of People keep more of their own money. their own money. Business productivity Business productivity would drive prices would drive prices down (often called down (often called “Reaganomics”)“Reaganomics”)

• Lower taxes combined Lower taxes combined with increased military with increased military spending led to huge spending led to huge budget deficitsbudget deficits

• Economy grew at Economy grew at record rates / inflation record rates / inflation fell / unemployment fell / unemployment droppeddropped

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #2#2

• DeregulationDeregulation: Ease restrictions on : Ease restrictions on businesses. Productivity would businesses. Productivity would increase if businesses didn’t have increase if businesses didn’t have government getting in their waygovernment getting in their way

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #3#3

• Fewer Government ProgramsFewer Government Programs: : Getting rid of government programs Getting rid of government programs would save the American taxpayer would save the American taxpayer moneymoney

Reagan’s Conservative Goals - Reagan’s Conservative Goals - #4#4

• A Conservative A Conservative Supreme CourtSupreme Court – – Conservative justices Conservative justices on the Supreme Court on the Supreme Court would use a strict would use a strict interpretation of the interpretation of the Constitution – similar Constitution – similar to Reagan’s beliefsto Reagan’s beliefs

• Reagan named the Reagan named the first woman to the first woman to the Court – Justice Sandra Court – Justice Sandra Day O’ConnorDay O’Connor

Reagan and the Cold WarReagan and the Cold War• Reagan strongly Reagan strongly

opposed opposed CommunismCommunism

• He set out to reverse He set out to reverse the “détente” the “détente” policies of the past policies of the past and confront the and confront the “Evil Empire” of the “Evil Empire” of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

• But how do you But how do you defeatdefeat communism communism in the Soviet Union in the Soviet Union without risking without risking nuclear war?nuclear war?

Reagan’s SolutionsReagan’s Solutions

• Oversaw a huge buildup in American Oversaw a huge buildup in American defense spending with defense spending with 2 trillion dollars2 trillion dollars being spent over 8 years (on programs like being spent over 8 years (on programs like SDI and the B-1 Bomber)SDI and the B-1 Bomber)

• America’s defense spending caused the America’s defense spending caused the Soviets to match the trillions spent with Soviets to match the trillions spent with build-ups of their ownbuild-ups of their own

• When the Soviet economy couldn’t handle When the Soviet economy couldn’t handle the budget deficits, Soviet leaders were the budget deficits, Soviet leaders were forced to make concessions to the U.S.forced to make concessions to the U.S.

SDI – Strategic Defense SDI – Strategic Defense InitiativeInitiative

• Reagan’s SDI plan was Reagan’s SDI plan was designed to send U.S. designed to send U.S. missiles into space to missiles into space to intercept any intercept any incoming missiles incoming missiles towards our borderstowards our borders

• Plan was dubbed “Star Plan was dubbed “Star Wars” by opponents Wars” by opponents for its Science Fiction for its Science Fiction characteristicscharacteristics

• The plan did require The plan did require the Soviets to make the Soviets to make concessions and concessions and respect our power – respect our power – even though SDI was even though SDI was never put into placenever put into place

Reagan and GorbachevReagan and Gorbachev• Reagan met with Mikhail Reagan met with Mikhail

Gorbachev to discuss Gorbachev to discuss relationsrelations

• The two signed several The two signed several treaties that improved treaties that improved relationsrelations

• The “leverage” created by The “leverage” created by America’s defense buildup America’s defense buildup allowed Reagan to “push” allowed Reagan to “push” Gorbachev further on Gorbachev further on many reformsmany reforms– Free Markets and a Free Free Markets and a Free

Society were pushed by Society were pushed by ReaganReagan

– Reagan then made his Reagan then made his famous 1987 speechfamous 1987 speech

Reagan’s Message to Reagan’s Message to GorbachevGorbachev

President George H.W. BushPresident George H.W. Bush• Reagan’s VP for 8 yrsReagan’s VP for 8 yrs• Presidency marked Presidency marked

by foreign policyby foreign policy– Communist rule in Communist rule in

Eastern Europe endsEastern Europe ends– Berlin Wall is torn Berlin Wall is torn

downdown– Boris Yeltsin, a Boris Yeltsin, a

Russian reformer, led Russian reformer, led movement that ended movement that ended Communism in RussiaCommunism in Russia

– Soviet Union breaks Soviet Union breaks upup

Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War

• Iraq – under Iraq – under Saddam Hussein – Saddam Hussein – invaded neighbor invaded neighbor Kuwait (a major Kuwait (a major supplier of oil to the supplier of oil to the U.S.)U.S.)

• The U.S. led a U.N. The U.S. led a U.N. coalition in coalition in removing Iraq’s removing Iraq’s forces from Kuwaitforces from Kuwait

• Overwhelming U.S. Overwhelming U.S. victoryvictory

President Bill ClintonPresident Bill Clinton

• Bush’s popularity went Bush’s popularity went down after economic down after economic recession of 1991-92recession of 1991-92

• 1992 election is won 1992 election is won by Arkansas Governor by Arkansas Governor Bill ClintonBill Clinton

• Clinton in office duringClinton in office during– NAFTANAFTA– economic prosperityeconomic prosperity– ImpeachmentImpeachment

Election of 2000Election of 2000

• Vice President Al Gore vs. Texas Gov. Vice President Al Gore vs. Texas Gov. George W. BushGeorge W. Bush

• Gore won the popular vote, but a close Gore won the popular vote, but a close Florida vote made the election in questionFlorida vote made the election in question

• Bush won Florida by a few hundred votesBush won Florida by a few hundred votes• Gore requested recounts in certain Gore requested recounts in certain

Democratic-leaning counties – Bush sued Democratic-leaning counties – Bush sued to stop the recountsto stop the recounts

• The Supreme Court stepped in and ruled The Supreme Court stepped in and ruled to end the recounts – giving Bush the to end the recounts – giving Bush the victoryvictory

*2000 Election**2000 Election*Vice President Al Gore vs.Vice President Al Gore vs.

Texas Gov. George W. BushTexas Gov. George W. Bush