The Clinton Years (1993 – 2000)

I- The election of William « Bill » Clinton

- The social ills
Americans were confronted to very violent race riots. They resulted of 44 casualties (Death). Bush refused to give a speech on civil rights. People thought that he didn’t care.

- Political scandals
- Competition within the Rep Party.

Bill Clinton was young and represented the baby boomer generation. He was the first American president to be born after the Second World War

The democrats had to change their platform to a centrist party. He redefined the platform of the democrat party as the “third way”. Clinton was the first president to transform a right wing party to a centrist party. He became the model of a new socialism.

Proposals of Clinton:
(Republican principals)
- More policemen
- Policies in favor of death penalty
- Dismantling of the welfare state
- To live of welfare money

(Democratic principles)
- Universal access to vocational training (éducation professionnelle) and college education.
- Universal healthcare.
- Public investments in infrastructure.
- Shifting funds defense => civilian programs.

1. Economic policy

He was able to move from stagnation to economic growth. In 1992, the jobless rate was 7%. The US was confronted to a trade deficit. He was confronted to soaring Medicare and Medicaid costs.

Goals:
- Tax hike for the middle class
- A 10% surtax for the upper class
- Energy tax
- Corporate tax
2. Social policy:

Several victories:
- 1993: Family and Medical Leave Act: required employers to grant workers unpaid leave for family or medical reasons for up to 12 weeks.
- 1993: Brady bill
- Clinton had promised to open the military to gays and lesbians, but he was faced with a strong conservative opposition.
- Appointed Hillary Clinton to work on a new universal healthcare bill (= “Hillarycare”), but she was unable to push it through Congress because of a lack of coordination in the White House and