Clinton's Presidency Overview

Clinton's response to the Rwandan Genocide (1994)

• Intervened militarily and provided extensive aid

• Did not intervene militarily; later acknowledged as a major foreign policy failure

• Supported the Rwandan government with military supplies

• Condemned the genocide but took no action

Clinton's intervention in Bosnia vs. inaction in Rwanda — key distinction

• Airstrikes in Bosnia (1995) halted ethnic cleansing; lack of action in Rwanda reflected inconsistent humanitarian foreign policy

• Both interventions were characterized by military action and humanitarian aid

• Clinton's administration was consistent in its humanitarian foreign policy in both cases

• The intervention in Rwanda was more successful than in Bosnia

Comparison: Clinton's economic policies vs. Reagan's "trickle-down" approach

• Raised taxes on the wealthy and cut the deficit; contrasted with Reagan's tax cuts and increased deficit spending

• Increased taxes on the middle class while cutting taxes for corporations

• Maintained a balanced budget with no tax changes

• Implemented universal basic income for all citizens

Clinton's impeachment

• Impeached by the House in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice; acquitted by the Senate and remained in office

• Impeached by the Senate in 1998 for tax evasion and resigned from office

• Impeached by the House in 1999 for campaign finance violations and removed from office

• Impeached by the House in 1998 for misuse of power and later pardoned

Economic conditions during Clinton's two terms

• peacetime economic expansion; low unemployment, low inflation, and rising GDP

• high unemployment and inflation; stagnant GDP

• rapid economic decline; high unemployment and rising inflation

• moderate growth; fluctuating unemployment and stable inflation