George H.W. Bush Domestic PolicyI. EnvironmentA. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 The New York Times referred to the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 as the single most notable achievement of the Bush administration. The original Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 under Richard Nixon and renewed in 1977. When Bush ran for President, he ran on a promise of being the “environmental president”. The Clean Air Act is the law that most significantly regulates (controls) air quality in the U.S. It helped to change emission standards in the auto, airline, and utility industries. Bush’s support for this legislation transformed the atmosphere on Capitol Hill and it made it possible to pass the legislation.

B. The Valdez SpillThe Exxon Valdez disaster was the sight of millions of gallons of oil spilling into the ocean off the coast of Alaska in March 1989. Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company, bound for California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled 10.8 million US gallons of crude oil over the next few days. This oil spill changed the minds of legislators and the American people about our environmental policies.

Regulating Pollution – Central to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 were limits on air pollution (smog), toxic air emissions and acid rain. The final bill included new requirements such as re-formulated gasoline requirements and emissions trading, which is still used today.

II. Civil Rights and Helping Americans with Disabilities A. Americans with Disabilities ActThough the Bush administration did not create the legislation that would become known as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bush became a strong advocate for the bill introduced by his former rival Bob Dole. Some have suggested that his son Neil’s dyslexia made Bush more sensitive to the discriminatory practices against people with all degrees of disabilities. Despite the costs to the federal government and complaints from businesses that the legislation would be expensive, Bush signed it into law on July 26, 1990. “No covered individual shall discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, or discharge of employees, job training, and other terms and conditions of employment…”

B. Rodney King – Many African Americans and other leaders from minority communities accused the Bush administration of doing little to help them. On March 3, 1991, Rodney King—an African-American taxi-driver was beaten by LAPD officers after King led police on a high-speed chase through Los Angeles County. George Holliday videotaped the beating from his apartment balcony. The video showed King being struck by police batons more than 50 times. Over 20 officers were present at the scene, most from the LAPD. King suffered 11 fractures and other injuries due to the beating. When a jury found four policemen not guilty of beating Rodney King, the six-day 1992 Los Angeles riots started, in which 55 people were killed and over 2,000 were injured, ending only when the California National Guard was called in.

III. Read My Lips - “No New Taxes” A. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990When Bush took office in 1989, the federal debt stood at $2.8 trillion, three times larger than it had been in 1980.The federal government did not have the revenues (incomes) for any large, new domestic missions.

Having pledged during the campaign not to raise taxes, the President found himself in the difficult position of trying to balance the budget and reduce the debt without putting additional taxes on the American people. In June 1990, Bush noted that tax increases might be necessary. The President and Congress reached a compromise with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 – which included measures of cutting government expenses and raising taxes. Many conservative Republicans felt betrayed when Bush agreed to raise taxes.

George H.W. Bush Foreign PolicyI. The Cold War Is Over

A. USSR - The USSR had fallen but Bush met with President Gorbachev to attempt to maintain peaceful relations. They further de-armed their military and agreed to have friendly relations. In July 1991, Bush met Gorbachev in Moscow and signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START. Throughout the fall, the Soviet Republics began to declare their independence from the Soviet Union, and in December, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus announced they were forming a new confederation of states. Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991.

B. GermanyAfter the Berlin Wall fell in November of 1989, members of the Bush administration discussed German reunification. Very few people imagined that a unified Germany would exist in less than a year. After the Berlin Wall came down, the main question with German reunification was whether the country would be part of NATO. The Soviets initially opposed having a united Germany as part of NATO, preferring it to be part of the Warsaw Pact or exist as a neutral, non-aligned country. In the end, the Bush administration helped broker a compromise: Germany would be part of NATO but no NATO troops would be stationed in East Germany. In addition, Soviet troops would have three to four years to withdraw from East Germany, and Germany agreed to provide economic assistance to the Soviet Union.

C. China and Tiananmen Square - In June 1989, the Chinese military crushed a pro-democracy movement demonstrating in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Using tanks and armored cars, the military crushed the demonstrations and fired into the crowd, killing hundreds of protestors and arresting 10,000. Bush did not agree with what happened but he did not want to ruin improved U.S.-Sino relations by overreacting to events. Many in Congress cried out for a harsh response to the Chinese government's killing of peaceful protestors, but the Bush administration imposed only limited sanctions. A little more than three weeks later, the U.S. Congress voted to impose economic sanctions* against China in response to the brutal violation of human rights. * Economic sanctions include various forms of trade barriers, tariffs, and restrictions on financial transactions.

II. Invasion of Panama (1989) Throughout the Cold War, the United States had been involved in trying to stop the spread of Communism in Latin

America. One U.S. informant was Manuel Noriega, a Panamanian who began to work for the CIA as early as the late 1960s. When Noriega began to aid the Sandinistas (communists), and became increasingly involved in the international drug trade, the U.S. government tried to cut its ties with him. Noriega gained control of the Panamanian military in 1983, becoming a dictator. After Noriega was charged by a federal grand jury in 1988 on drug trafficking charges, members of Congress demanded that the Bush administration bring Noriega to justice. President Bush began to focus on removing him from power. A coup that Bush would not participate in took place and failed. Noriega's forces executed the coup leader. Many people criticized the President for missing an opportunity to remove Noriega. After the attempted coup, President Bush realized that they had to do something definite about Noriega.

In December 1989, the Bush administration was notified that Noriega's military forces had killed a U.S. serviceman

and attacked another serviceman and his wife. The administration now believed that it had the reason it needed to remove Noriega from power. On December 20, the U.S. military launched "Operation Just Cause" with about 10,000 forces landing in Panama (largest military troop deployment since the Vietnam War) to quickly overtake the Panamanian military. Noriega went underground…he surrendered to U.S. forces in January and was taken to Florida, where he was eventually convicted and sent to prison."Operation Just Cause" was generally acknowledged as a success and strengthened Bush's reputation as a strong, decisive leader. Although it violated international law and was denounced by the United Nations, polls indicated that a large majority of Panamanians supported the U.S. invasion. The operation also gave the administration the benefit of improving the way it managed crises, which helped the Bush team months later when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

III. The Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm), 1990The Gulf War was a success because it was short and we “won.” Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered his army to invade Kuwait in August 1990. Hussein saw himself as a leader who would unify the region in the Middle East and challenge Western imperialism. He accused Kuwait of stealing crude oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields on the border between the two countries. He captured Kuwait’s vast oil wealth and extended Iraq’s borders.Saudi Arabia (our ally) asked for protection, and Operation Desert Shield began. Hussein refused a United Nations demand to withdraw from Kuwait. An embargo was placed upon Iraq. When all peace negotiations failed, American and UN coalition forces launched air attacks against Iraq. For weeks, allied bombers and missiles pounded away at Iraq. In early 1991, forces invaded Kuwait and Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s forces set fire to oil wells in Kuwait in an act of environmental terrorism. However, a few days after the invasion began, Hussein gave in and agreed to withdraw all Iraqi troops and to pay damages to Kuwait. President Bush declared a cease-fire.

Bush announces a plan: “…The world could wait no longer. Sanctions, though having some effect, showed no signs of accomplishing their objective. Sanctions were tried for over five months, and we and our allies concluded that sanctions alone would not force Saddam from Kuwait. While the world waited, Saddam Hussein systematically raped, pillaged, and plundered a tiny nation, no threat to his own. While the world waited, Saddam sought to add to the chemical weapons arsenal he now possesses, and infinitely more dangerous weapon of mass destruction – a nuclear weapon. And while the world waited, Saddam Hussein moved massive forces into Kuwait… Saddam rejected all warnings. Instead, he tried to make this a dispute between Iraq and the United States of America. Well, he failed. Tonight, 28 nations have forces in the Gulf area standing shoulder to shoulder against Saddam Hussein. These countries had hoped the use of force could be avoided. Regrettably, we now believe that only force will make him leave.”DOCUMENT #1: FOREIGN POLICY

I. The Cold War Is OverA. USSR - The USSR had fallen but Bush met with President Gorbachev to attempt to maintain peaceful relations. They further de-armed their military and agreed to have friendly relations. In July 1991, Bush met Gorbachev in Moscow and signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START. Throughout the fall, the Soviet Republics began to declare their independence from the Soviet Union, and in December, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus announced they were forming a new confederation of states. Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991.

B. GermanyAfter the Berlin Wall fell in November

of 1989, members of the Bush administration discussed German reunification as some future reality, perhaps even five years in the future. Very few people imagined that a unified Germany would exist in less than a year. Even more surprising was that a united Germany would become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

After the Berlin Wall came down, a remarkable number of challenges confronted the Bush administration. At first, there were three main proposals on how to proceed with German reunification. The main sticking point to German reunification was whether the country would be part of NATO. The Soviets initially opposed having a united Germany as part of NATO, preferring it to be part of the Warsaw Pact or exist as a neutral, non-aligned country. In the end, the Bush administration helped broker a compromise: Germany would be part of NATO but no NATO troops would be stationed in East Germany. In addition, Soviet troops would have three to four years to withdraw from East Germany, and Germany agreed to provide economic assistance to the Soviet Union.

C. China and Tiananmen Square - In June 1989, the Chinese military crushed a pro-democracy movement demonstrating in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Using tanks and armored cars, the military crushed the demonstrations and fired into the crowd, killing hundreds of protestors and arresting 10,000. Bush did not agree with what happened but he did not want to ruin improved U.S.-Sino relations by overreacting to events. Many in Congress cried out for a harsh response to the Chinese government's killing of peaceful protestors, but the Bush administration imposed only limited sanctions. A little more than three weeks later, the U.S. Congress voted to impose economic sanctions* against China in response to the brutal violation of human rights. * Economic sanctions include various forms of trade barriers, tariffs, and restrictions on financial transactions.

II. Invasion of Panama (1989) Throughout the Cold War, the United States had been involved in trying to stop the spread of Communism

in Latin America and had established contacts throughout the area. One U.S. informant was Manuel Noriega, a Panamanian who began to work for the CIA as early as the late 1960s. Bush first encountered Noriega as director of the CIA when the agency relied on him for intelligence. When Noriega began to aid the Sandinistas, and became increasingly involved in the international drug trade, the U.S. government tried to cut its ties with him. Noriega assumed control of the Panamanian military in 1983, becoming a dictator. After Noriega was indicted (charged) by a federal grand jury in 1988 on drug trafficking charges, his relationship with American military and intelligence agencies came under fire congress. Members of Congress demanded that the Reagan administration and later the Bush administration bring Noriega to justice. Following the loss of Noriega's puppet candidate in the May 1989 Panamanian presidential election, Noriega nullified the results and his supporters attacked the opposition candidates.

President Bush was appalled by Noriega's thwarting of democracy and began to focus on removing him from power. A coup was going to take place but Bush would not participate, the plan seemed unorganized. The coup failed, and Noriega's forces executed the coup leader. Reaction in the United States was harsh, and many people criticized the President for missing an opportunity to remove Noriega. After the attempted coup, President Bush and his advisers realized that they had to do something definite about Noriega.

In December 1989, the Bush administration was notified that Noriega's military forces had killed a U.S.

serviceman and attacked another serviceman and his wife. The administration now believed that it had the justification it needed to remove Noriega from power. On December 20, the U.S. military launched "Operation Just Cause" with about 10,000 forces landing in Panama (largest military troop deployment since the Vietnam War) and joining the 13,000 already there to quickly overtake the Panamanian military. Noriega went underground…he surrendered to U.S. forces in early January and was taken to Miami, Florida, where he was eventually convicted on drug charges and sent to prison."Operation Just Cause" was generally hailed as a success and strengthened Bush's reputation as a strong, decisive leader. Although it violated international law and was denounced by the United Nations, polls indicated that a large majority of Panamanians supported the U.S. invasion. The operation also gave the administration the benefit of improving the way it managed crises, which helped the Bush team months later when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

III. The Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm), 1990The Gulf War was a success because

it was short and we “won.” Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered his army to invade Kuwait in August 1990. Hussein saw himself as a pan-Arab leader who would unify the region in the Middle East and defy Western imperialism (like former Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser). He accused Kuwait of stealing crude oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields on the border b/w the two countries. He captured Kuwait’s vast oil wealth and extended Iraq’s borders.

Saudi Arabia asks for protection, and Operation Desert Shield starts. Hussein refused a United Nations demand to withdraw from Kuwait. An embargo was placed upon Iraq. When all attempts at negotiating a peaceful solution failed, American and UN coalition forces launched air attacks against Iraq. For weeks, allied bombers and missiles pounded away at Iraq with deadly accuracy. In early 1991, coalition ground forces invaded Kuwait and Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s forces set fire to oil wells in Kuwait in an act of environmental terrorism. However, a few days after the invasion began, Hussein gave in and agreed to withdraw all Iraqi troops and to pay damages to Kuwait. President Bush declared a cease-fire.

Bush announces a plan: “Some may ask: Why act now? Why not wait? The answer is clear: The world could wait no longer. Sanctions, though having some effect, showed no signs of accomplishing their objective. Sanctions were tried for over five months, and we and our allies concluded that sanctions alone would not force Saddam from Kuwait. While the world waited, Saddam Hussein systematically raped, pillaged, and plundered a tiny nation, no threat to his own. While the world waited, Saddam sought to add to the chemical weapons arsenal he now possesses, and infinitely more dangerous weapon of mass destruction – a nuclear weapon. And while the world waited, Saddam Hussein moved massive forces into Kuwait…Saddam was warned over and over again to comply with the UN: Leave Kuwait, or be driven out. Saddam rejected all warnings. Instead, he tried to make this a dispute between Iraq and the United States of America. Well, he failed. Tonight, 28 nations have forces in the Gulf area standing shoulder to shoulder against Saddam Hussein. These countries had hoped the use of force could be avoided. Regrettably, we now believe that only force will make him leave.”

DOCUMENT #2: DOMESTIC POLICY

I. EnvironmentA. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 The New York Times referred to the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 as the single most distinguished policy achievement of the Bush administration. The original Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 under Richard Nixon and renewed in 1977. Though the Reagan administration failed to renew the legislation, Bush presented its passages as a campaign issue in 1988. He ran on a promise of being the “environmental president”. The Clean Air Act is the law that most significantly regulates air quality in the U.S. It was a driving force behind changes in emission standards in the auto, airline, and utility industries. Bush’s support for this legislation transformed the atmosphere on Capitol Hill and it made passing the legislation possible.

B. The Valdez Spill

The Clean Air Act’s success was aided by the Exxon Valdez disaster. The sight of millions of gallons of oil spilling into the ocean off the coast of Alaska in March 1989 created more favorable conditions among legislators and the American people.Regulating Pollution – Central to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 were limits on urban air pollution (smog), toxic air emissions and acid rain. The final bill included such ground-breaking requirements such as re-formulated gasoline requirements and emissions trading, which is still used today. Bush down played his oil connections.

II. Civil Rights and Helping Americans with Disabilities A. Americans with Disabilities ActThough the Bush administration did not originate the legislation that would hit the books as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bush became a strong advocate for the bill introduced by his former rival Bob Dole. Some have suggested that his son Neil’s dyslexia made Bush more sensitive to the discriminatory practices against people with all degrees of disabilities. Despite the costs to the federal government and complaints from businesses that the legislation would be expensive, Bush’s signed it into law on July 26, 1990. Excerpt: The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual (a) a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities…(b) record of such impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairmentNo covered individual shall discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment…

B. Rodney King – Many African Americans and other leaders from minority communities accused the Bush administration of doing little to help them. On March 3, 1991, Rodney King—an African-American taxi-driver was beaten by LAPD officers after King led police on a high-speed chase through Los Angeles County. George Holliday videotaped the beating from his apartment balcony. The video showed King being struck by police batons more than 50 times. Over 20 officers were present at the scene, most from the LAPD. King suffered 11 fractures and other injuries due to the beating. When a jury found four policemen not guilty of beating Rodney King, the six-day 1992 Los Angeles riots started, in which 55 people were killed and over 2,000 were injured, ending only when the California national guard was called in.

III. Read My Lips - “No New Taxes” A. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990When Bush took office in 1989, the federal budget debt stood at $2.8 trillion, three times larger than it had been in 1980. This financial situation severely limited the President's ability to enact major domestic programs. The federal government did not have the revenues (incomes) for any large, new domestic missions.

Having pledged during the campaign not to raise taxes, the President found himself in the difficult position of trying to balance the budget and reduce the deficit without imposing additional taxes on the American people. He also faced a Congress controlled by the Democrats. Although Republicans thought that the government should approach the budget deficit by drastically cutting domestic spending, the Democrats wanted to raise taxes on the richest Americans.

Budget negotiations for 1991 were controversial. Bush had no choice but to compromise with Congress. In June 1990, Bush issued a written statement to the press, noting that tax increases might be necessary to solve the deficit problem. Then, after a brief government shutdown that occurred when Bush vetoed the budget Congress delivered to him, the President and Congress reached a compromise with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 - included measures to reduce the deficit by cutting government expenses and raising taxes. Many conservative Republicans felt betrayed when Bush agreed to raise taxes, or to include "revenue increases" as he called them in his statement after signing the bill.

B. Savings and Loan CollapseBush started his presidential term as the Savings and Loans industry was collapsing. The federal and state governments had deregulated (laissez-faire, lifted restrictions) the industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the S&L industry made riskier investments that destabilized the economy. The President reached a compromise with Congress that ended up costing taxpayers more than $100 billion. Bush proposed a government bailout which added to the difficult financial environment.

George Herbert Walker Bush (1989-1993)George Bush had served as VP under President Reagan. In 1988, Bush successfully campaigned on a promise to continue Reagan’s policies. He also promised to help the homeless and the poor, to improve education, and to step up the war on illegal drugs.

George H. W. Bush

VP Dan QuayleBush Domestic Policy Successes/Failures

Bush Foreign Policy Successes/Failures

Fascinating/Important Facts Bush served as ambassador to the UN from 1971-1973 Director (head) of the CIA from 1976 – 1977 He started his own oil company.

Categories to look for in documents□ Public Persuasion Crisis Leadership□ Economic Management Moral Authority□ International Relations Administrative Skills□ Relations with Congress Vision/Setting an Agenda□ Pursued Equal Justice For All Performance Within Context of Times