The Clintons
Clinton & The New Democrats
William Jefferson Clinton Biography Born William Jefferson Blythe IV in Arkansas Father killed in auto accident Abusive, alcoholic stepfather Georgetown; Rhodes scholar @ Oxford; Yale Law Arkansas state attorney general Arkansas governor First Baby Boomer President
1990 s Society
Violence & Popular Culture In 1991,by age 18, 40,000 murders seen on TV 1981: Warner Bros. Launched MTV ½ of videos featured violence ¾ sexually suggestive
Gangsta Rap (1993-present) Unpredictably metered lyrics set against exaggeratedly heavy downbeat Urban African-American males Defiant raw rage against whatever challenged their manhood: other young men, women, & police Ice-T: I call it crime rhyme. Dr. Dre discovered whites bought more rap than blacks Promoted Eminem ( Murder, Murder Kill You Drug Ballard ) To many young Americans, the world of rap, or Hip-hop in their head seemed more real than that in suburbia
Ice-T, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog
Marshall Mathers III
School Shootings October 1997-April 1999: Columbine H.S., Littleton, CO Pearl, MS West Paducah, KY Jonesboro, AR Springfield, OR left 7 dead, 30 wounded Trenchcoat Mafia 12 killed, 30 wounded Life imitates art: The Basketball Diaries Leonardo Di Caprio May 1999: Conyers, GA 6 killed
Evacuation of Columbine
Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold
Clinton Impeached
The Comeback Kid The Clintons had survived a series of scandals: Whitewater Illegal firings of White House staff Political use of FBI records Suicide of counsel Vince Foster Rose law firm billing records Silencing of witnesses
Monica Lewinsky Jan. 1998: independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr investigates sex & perjury case Grew out of Paula Jones lawsuit Hillary: her husband was the victim of a vast right-wing conspiracy. President Clinton: I did not have sexual relations with that woman Miss Lewinsky.
Monica Lewinsky
The Scandal
Clinton s Deposition Then conceded inappropriate intimate contact but insisted, I have not had sex with her as I defined it. My understanding of this definition is it covers contact by the person being deposed with the enumerated areas, if the contact is done with an intent to arouse or gratify. He admitted his definition was rather strange. Was he ever alone with her? It depends on how you define alone, but I never really thought we were. When asked if his lawyer had been correct when he had assured the judge in January that there is absolutely no sex of any kind, Clinton replied, it depends on what the meaning of is is. )
Impeachment Gingrich & Congress seized political opportunity; moved for impeachment 98 election strategy backfired Gingrich, then Bob Livingston resigned Starr seen as invading privacy December 1998: House impeached Clinton on counts of perjury & obstruction Vote came day after bombing of Iraq Only 2nd time a President impeached January 1999: Senate trial Many believed Clinton guilty, but didn t constitute high crimes for removal Perjury charge one vote shy: 55-45 Clinton later fined $25,000 & disbarred
Economic Boom & The Internet
Clinton & the Economy Clinton s survived impeachment in large part due to prospering economy GDP grew by 1/3 13 million new jobs created Lowest unemployment in 25 yrs Low inflation Soaring stock market Clinton s contributions deficit reduction led to lower interest rates, which stimulated growth NAFTA, GATT free trade treaties
The Information Age US economy had transformed fully to one based on creation, distribution, & sales of information Internet= Greater labor productivity Corporate prosperity Dot-com. Economy Globalization=greater lower prices competition &
2000 Election
Al Gore Vice President US Senator Vietnam Vet Environmentalist Chose first Jew on major party ticket, Joe Lieberman Gore appeared stiff; loose with facts Violated campaign laws with Buddhist temple Chinese army
George W. Bush Texas Governor Oilman Owner Texas Rangers Yale, Harvard MBA Air National Guard Born-again Christian Ran as compassionate conservative
Ground Zero 9/11
Results Gore won popular vote Bush won disputed FL by 537 votes Eventual recount gave Bush electoral college victory US Supreme Court ruled in Bush s favor 5-4 1st time since 1888 President failed to win popular vote
2000 Election