The Resurgence of The Resurgence of ConservatismConservatism

1980-20001980-2000

Ronald Reagan’s Ronald Reagan’s Presidency (1981-1989)Presidency (1981-1989)

Election of 1980• Democratic candidate: Jimmy Carter• Republican candidate: Ronald Reagan

– in favor of Roosevelt’s “Common Man” theory

– “New Right” led by evangelical Christians concerned about social issues

• independent candidate: John Anderson• Reagan won over 51% of the popular vote,

Carter 41%, and Anderson 7%

Reagan’s Foreign Policies Reagan’s Foreign Policies

Iran Hostage Crisis• On Reagan’s Inauguration Day, January 20, 1981, the

Iranians released the hostages after 444 days of captivity

Invasion of Grenada• October 1983, Reagan dispatched heavy-fire-power

invasion force to island of Grenada in the Caribbean• military coup had killed prime minister and brought

Marxists to power• demonstrated Reagan’s determination to dominate

the Caribbean

Reagan’s Foreign Policies Reagan’s Foreign Policies Con’ tCon’ t

Issues in Nicaragua• Revolution in 1979 disposed of long-time dictator of

Nicaragua• “Sandinistas” : anti-American revolutionaries • Reagan retaliated and accused the Sandinistas of

turning their country into a forward base for Soviet and Cuban military

• US govt supplied the “friendly” Nicaraguans (Contras) with weapons

• Led to the Iran-Contra Affair– Media found out the money for the weapons to the

Contras came from secret weapons deal with Iran– Reagan not implicated

– “Teflon President”

Reagan’s Domestic Reagan’s Domestic PoliciesPolicies

Reagan vowed to boost American economy by: (Reaganomics)• rolling back government regulations• lowering taxes• balancing the budget

promised that lower taxes would increase government revenue because it would arouse the whole economy

the combination of tax reduction and increases in military spending opened a broad “revenue hole” of $200 billion annual shortages

in 8 years in office, Reagan added nearly $2 trillion to the national debt

Reagan appointed three conservative-minded justices to the U.S. Supreme court, namely Sandra Day O’Conner• Arizona judge sworn in on September 25, 1981• became the first woman to rise to the high bench

George Bush’s PresidencyGeorge Bush’s Presidency

Election of 1988• Republican candidate: Bush whose platform was

– Reagan’s tax cuts, strong defense policies, toughness on crime, opposition to abortion, and economic expansion

– Vice President: J. Danforth Quayle, senator from Indiana

• Democratic Candidate: Michael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts– Running mate: Lloyd Bentsen, Senator of Texas– Bush won, carrying 40 states

Bush’s Foreign PolicyBush’s Foreign Policy

End of the Cold War• Several regimes collapsed in Europe between 1989 and

1990 including – Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and

Romania• In December 1989, Berlin Wall torn down

– East and West Germany united and formed Democratic nation

• Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev started to dissolve the communist govt , giving freedom to many

• 1991, Warsaw Pact disbanded– Bush and Gorbachev proclaimed the end of Cold War

and birth of “New World Order” where democracy and diplomacy would reign

Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ tt

• Dec. 1991, Gorbachev resigned– USSR dissolved into 15 republics, forming

the Commonwealth of Independent States– Russia most powerful, but all renounced

communism and embraced democracy and free-market economies

• 1993, Bush and Yeltsin signed the START II accord, which committed both powers to reduce their long-range nuclear arsenals by 2/3 in the next 10 years

Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ tt

Beginning of Gulf War• Jan. 16, 1991 - U.S. and allies began air campaign

against Iraq– bombed targets in Iraq and Kuwait

• Iraq responded by firing “Scud” : short-ranged ballistic missiles against military and civilian targets in Israel and Saudi Arabia. Bush convinced these countries not to retaliate

• Commander of allies forces was Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf– strategy to soften Iraqis with relentless

bombing, then begin war

Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ tt

• Saddam Hussein, director of Iraq, threatened to wage the “mother of all battles”– Iraq had chemical and biological weapons including

anthrax– Saddam employed ecological warfare: released an oil

slick into the Persian Gulf to stop amphibious assault• Operation Desert Storm

– began Feb. 23, 1991 and lasted 4 days: “hundred-hour war”

– succeeded in driving back Iraq’s armies and liberated Kuwait

– nonstop media coverage

Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ Bush’s Foreign Policy Con’ tt

• Results of Persian Gulf War:– Bush’s approval rating soared, but was

criticized for not removing Saddam Hussein from power

– A U.N. observer force took place in Iraq– few American casualties– led to U.N. inspections of Iraq and further

military action against Saddam in 1998 and 2003

Bush’s Domestic PoliciesBush’s Domestic Policies

Bush’s economic policies• Conservatives wanted Bush to continue Reagan's policies

but Bush saw that he needed to confront a budget deficit, prosperity that only benefited the wealthy, and problems from Reagan's cuts in govt programs

• called for a “kinder, gentler America” and proposed cuts in military spending

• in his campaign, Bush pledged, “Read my lips: no new taxes,” a promise he would come to regret

• Bush agreed to a budget agreement that included $133 million in new taxes

– violated campaign promise of no new taxes and would cost him the 1992 election

Bush’s Domestic PoliciesBush’s Domestic Policies

Bush and Supreme Court• Bush made 2 Supreme Court appointments: David Souter and

Clarence Thomas• Thomas was first African American justice to be appointed since

the retirement of liberal Thurgood Marshall• However, the Confirmation hearings of Thomas were complicated

due to an accusation of sexual harassment by Anita Hill Bush and Congress

• 1990, recession hit. – By 1992, unemployment rate was 7%– federal budget deficit hit $250 billion

• in battles with Congress, Bush vetoed 35 pieces of legislation– for this reason, his presidency called “status quo” because not

much was done

Bill Clinton’s PresidencyBill Clinton’s Presidency(1993-2001)(1993-2001)

Election of 1992• Republican candidate: Pres. George Bush• Democratic candidate: Bill Clinton

– campaign theme: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

• independent candidate: H. Ross Perot• Clinton won with 370 electoral votes to

Bush’s 168 and Perot’s none

Clinton’s Foreign PolicyClinton’s Foreign Policy

Clinton supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)• created in 1993, free trade zone including

Mexico, U.S., and Canada• Effects:

– changed his own stand in the 1992 election– eliminated the opposition of democratic

protectionists, especially labor leaders afraid of losing jobs to Mexicans working for less money

In 1994, Clinton promoted World Trade Organization (WTO) : a global free-trade system

Clinton’s Domestic PolicyClinton’s Domestic Policy

Attempted to create Universal Health Care ProgramAttempted to create Universal Health Care Program Passed Family and Medical Leave Act, “Motor-Voter” Passed Family and Medical Leave Act, “Motor-Voter”

laws, and Anti-Crime Billslaws, and Anti-Crime Bills BudgetBudget

• 1995: House passed legislation to balance federal 1995: House passed legislation to balance federal budget by 2002budget by 2002

• Clinton agreed to work with Congress, but lack of Clinton agreed to work with Congress, but lack of compromise led to two government shut downscompromise led to two government shut downs

• Compromise achieved in 1996, led to the first Compromise achieved in 1996, led to the first budget surplus since the 1950sbudget surplus since the 1950s

Clinton’s ImpeachmentClinton’s Impeachment

Clinton’s role in the Whitewater Land Corporation prompted federal prosecutor, Kenneth Starr to investigate

Jan. 1998, Clinton blamed for having a sexual affair with a young White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, and then lied about it when testified under oath in a civil law suit.• Law suit brought by Paula Jones who charged that

when the president was governor, he had sexually harassed her when she was a state employee

• Supreme court permitted case move forward in May 1997

Clinton’s ImpeachmentClinton’s Impeachment

Clinton publicly denied any relationships with “that woman” after keeping innocence for 8 months, Clinton forced to

admit an “inappropriate relationship” Sept. 1998, Starr presented a report to House of Rep..

Charging Clinton with 11 possible grounds for impeachment, all relating to Lewinsky matter

House Republicans. In December 1998, passed 2 articles of impeachment against the president: • perjury before a grand jury• obstruction of justice• The Senate found Clinton “not guilty”

– Not removed from office– 2nd President to be impeached

ELECTION OF 2000ELECTION OF 2000

Democrats nominate Al Gore (VP)Democrats nominate Al Gore (VP) Republicans nominate George W. Republicans nominate George W.

Bush (son of former president Bush (son of former president George H.W. Bush) George H.W. Bush)

Green Party nominate Ralph NaderGreen Party nominate Ralph Nader

ELECTION OF 2000ELECTION OF 2000

Candidates fought over the moderate Candidates fought over the moderate and independent voteand independent vote• Gore’s focus was “working families”Gore’s focus was “working families”• Bush’s focus was “compassionate Bush’s focus was “compassionate

conservatives”conservatives” Gore received over 500,000 more Gore received over 500,000 more

popular votes then Bushpopular votes then Bush Victory hinged on Florida’s 25 electoral Victory hinged on Florida’s 25 electoral

votesvotes

ELECTION 2000ELECTION 2000

Democrats asked for a manual Democrats asked for a manual recount of the election punch recount of the election punch cards after a partial recount gave cards after a partial recount gave Bush the lead by 537 votesBush the lead by 537 votes

The Florida Supreme Court The Florida Supreme Court ordered a recount of all the votesordered a recount of all the votes

Bush appealed the ruling to the Bush appealed the ruling to the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

BUSH v. GOREBUSH v. GORE

The US Supreme Court overruled them The US Supreme Court overruled them in a split 5-4 decisionin a split 5-4 decision• The Court ruled that the varying standards The Court ruled that the varying standards

used in Florida’s recount violated the 14used in Florida’s recount violated the 14thth Amendment’s Equal Protection ClauseAmendment’s Equal Protection Clause

Gore ended the election by accepting the Gore ended the election by accepting the rulingruling

Final elector results; Bush 271 to Gore 266Final elector results; Bush 271 to Gore 266 Closest election since 1876Closest election since 1876

Bush’s Domestic Policy Bush’s Domestic Policy Con’ tCon’ t

Bush and the Supreme Court• Bush made 2 Supreme Court

appointments: David Souter and Clarence Thomas

• Thomas was first African American justice to be appointed since the retirement of liberal Thurgood Marshall

Bush’s Domestic Policy Bush’s Domestic Policy Con’ tCon’ t

• Thomas was very conservative and his nomination was opposed by organized labor, the NAACP, and the National Organization for Women (NOW), because he was anti-abortion

• Oct. 1991, Anita Hill, law professor a t University of Oklahoma, accused Thomas of sexual harassment– after other females colleagues of Thomas said

they witnessed improper behavior, the Senate approved Thomas with a 52-48 vote

– result: gender gap developed between the political parties, as women resented the anti-abortion policies of the Republicans

Clinton’s Foreign PolicyClinton’s Foreign Policy

Conflicts in Bosnia:• ethnic conflict raged through Bosnia• Washington govt hesitated before

committing American troops to a NATO peacekeeping contingent in late 1995

• abandoned when it became clear that were the only force capable of preventing new hostilities

Clinton’s Foreign Policy Clinton’s Foreign Policy Con’ tCon’ t

Air strikes in Serbia• President of Serbia, Milosevic, wants

“ethnic cleansing” in Kosovo• in response, NATO forces led by U.S.

launched an air war against Serbia – failed to stop ethnic terror and forced

Milosevic to accept a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo