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Line 33: − + + + + + + + − In 1992 Democrats nominated Governor Clinton to be their Presidential nominee and challenge President George H. W. Bush, despite stories that questioned his character such as dodging the [[Vietnam War]], extramarital affairs, and past drug use. The country briefly entered a mild recession under Bush which made the [[economy]] the dominating issue of the [[campaign]]. Clinton and his running mate, Senator [[Al Gore]] of [[Tennessee]], ran as "new Democrats", promising to cut middle class taxes, reduce domestic spending, end [[welfare]] and support [[capital punishment]]. Bill Clinton won the election with 43 percent of the [[vote]], 37 percent for Bush, and 19 percent for third party candidate [[Ross Perot]], the best showing for a third party candidate since [[Theodore Roosevelt]] in 1912. + − + + + + + + +
→1992 Presidential Campaign: expand
His close personal business partnerships with James and Susan McDougall in a failed Savings and Loan business venture led to investigation of the [[Whitewater]] affair. Several of the people involved with the sale of land prior to the Clinton presidency were indicted, but prosecutors never charged either Clintons with a crime.
His close personal business partnerships with James and Susan McDougall in a failed Savings and Loan business venture led to investigation of the [[Whitewater]] affair. Several of the people involved with the sale of land prior to the Clinton presidency were indicted, but prosecutors never charged either Clintons with a crime.
==1992 Presidential Campaign==
==Election of 1992==
The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) formed in early 1985 to formulate a moderate Democratic agenda. With [[Al From]] as executive director and Georgia Senator [[Sam Nunn]] as chairman, DLC comprised mostly Southern Democratic congressmen. They sought to rebuild the party's image after a series of defeats by Reagan and Bush. They wanted to assure voters that the moderate-conservative wing of the party was alive and well, and that its policy initiatives fit with mainstream American values. After the 1988 defeat, From asked Clinton in March 1990 to become the first DLC Chair from outside Washington. He and Clinton recruited state and local officials from around the country for the DLC, trying out some of the policy initiatives developed by the affiliated think tank the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). Proposals that found their way into Clinton's 1992 platform included:
* Apprenticeship programs for non-college-bound skilled workers
* A program of national service for college students (with student loan forgiveness)
* A ROTC-style program to train new police officers in colleges
* An enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor
* Government-subsidized individual savings accounts for Social Security.
The two DLC manifestos and Clinton's 1991 "New Covenant" speech accounted for more than 60% of the promises in the 1992 Democratic platform. <ref> Borrelli, 432-35</ref> Clinton campaigned as a "New Democrat," with an appeal to southerners and moderates that included demands for welfare reform and support for the death penalty.
Clinton become the first President born after [[World War 2]], making him part of the "baby-boom" generation.
After the surge of support for the war policy of President [[George H.W. Bush]] pushed his popularity to the 90% level, most prominent Democrats decided to wait out the 1992 election. Clinton, though little known outside Arkansas, proved the best campaigner in a weak field and won he Democratic nomination. Unexpectedly, billionaire [[Ross Perot]] entered the race (and briefly led the polls). Both Bush and Perot proved poor campaigners, as Clinton and his running mate [[Al Gore]] promised a more responsive government. Republicans tried to use the character issue, questioning his failure to serve in the [[Vietnam War]], repeating rumors of extramarital affairs, and stories of marijuana use in college days. But Bush was handicapped by a bad economy, and was wounded badly by breaking a promise to not raise taxes. Clinton hammered away at the economy--"It's the economy, stupid!" explained his campaign manager. Clinton and Gore ran as "new Democrats", promising to cut middle class taxes, reduce domestic spending, end welfare and support capital punishment. Clinton won the electoral college decisively, and outpolled Bush 43% to 37%, with 19% for Perot.
Clinton thus won easily, and entered Washington with a Democratic Congress and a vague agenda.
Clinton, the first President born after [[World War II]], represented the "baby-boom" generation.
==1996 Reelection Campaign==
==1996 Reelection Campaign==