President Clinton Webquest Name ______________________________________________

Go to: http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/clinton Follow the headings under “Essays on Bill Clinton and His
Administration” Academic Students Do the Questions highlighted in RED, Honors Students complete ALL questions
Life Before the Presidency:
1. Where and when was President Clinton born?
President Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas.

2. Summarize President Clinton’s experience with the Vietnam War draft.

Bill Clinton received a draft deferment during the Vietnam War to continue his education. He later entered the Reserve Officers'
Training Corps (ROTC) program but decided not to pursue it, opting instead to re-enter the draft.
3. Summarize President Clinton’s first term as governor.
Bill Clinton’s first term as governor of Arkansas began in 1979 when he became the youngest governor in the country at the age
of 32. His term was marked by ambitious reforms in education and health care, but he faced significant backlash for increasing
taxes and raising car license fees.
4. Describe the programs that President Clinton supported while governor of Arkansas.
As governor, Clinton supported educational reform, including the implementation of standardized testing for teachers and
students, and increased funding for public schools.

5. What did President Clinton mean when he labeled himself as a “New Democrat”?
By labeling himself as a “New Democrat,” Clinton signaled a centrist approach that combined liberal and conservative policies.

Campaigns and Elections

1. What two scandalous admissions did President Clinton make during the 1992 primaries?
During the 1992 primaries, Clinton admitted to trying marijuana while at Oxford University, famously stating that he "didn't
inhale."

2. What issues did President Clinton use for his 1992 campaign?
Clinton focused on economic issues, promising to revitalize the economy with the slogan “It’s the economy, stupid.”

3. Who was Ross Perot? What percentage of the popular vote did he win in the 1992 election?
Ross Perot was a billionaire businessman who ran as an independent candidate in the 1992 presidential election. He won 18.9% of
the popular vote, which was one of the highest percentages for a third-party candidate in U.S. history.

4. Why was the 1994 Congressional election significant?

The 1994 Congressional election, also known as the "Republican Revolution," was significant because the Republican Party
gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first time in 40 years. This shift posed a major
challenge to Clinton’s legislative agenda.

5. Why did so many people believe after 1994 that President Clinton couldn’t win a second term?
After the 1994 Congressional elections, many believed Clinton couldn’t win a second term due to his inability to pass key parts of
his legislative agenda and the significant losses suffered by the Democratic Party, which were seen as a repudiation of his
presidency.

6. Why did Clinton’s popularity rise and the Republicans popularity fall by the 1996 election?
Clinton’s popularity rose due to a combination of economic growth, effective triangulation policies that balanced conservative
and liberal approaches, and a strong focus on centrist policies.

7. Summarize how President Clinton was able to win the 1996 Presidential Election.
Clinton won the 1996 Presidential Election by focusing on the strong economy, emphasizing successful welfare reform, and
promoting centrist policies.

Domestic Affairs
1. What was included in President Clinton’s 1993 economic program? Did this program cut or increase taxes?
Clinton’s 1993 economic program included a combination of spending cuts and tax increases aimed at reducing the federal
deficit. It raised taxes on the wealthiest Americans, increased the corporate tax rate, and implemented new taxes on gasoline
and Social Security benefits for high-income earners. It also included spending cuts in defense and other areas.

2. What were some examples of President Clinton cooperating with the Republican Congress?
Clinton cooperated with the Republican Congress on several issues, including welfare reform, balancing the federal budget, and
passing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which deregulated the telecommunications industry.
3. What was President Clinton’s position regarding homosexuality in the military? Why did his position fail to satisfy many
Americans?
Clinton’s position on homosexuality in the military led to the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy, which allowed gay individuals to
serve as long as they did not openly acknowledge their sexual orientation.

4. What did President Clinton mean when he promised to form a cabinet “that looked like America?”
Clinton’s promise to form a cabinet “that looked like America” meant he aimed to create a diverse cabinet that represented
various demographics of the U.S., including different races, genders, and backgrounds.

5. What types of health care reform did President Clinton attempt?

Clinton attempted comprehensive health care reform aimed at providing universal health coverage through a managed
competition approach, creating regional health alliances, and requiring employers to provide health insurance.

6. Why did President Clinton’s healthcare reform plan fail?

Clinton’s healthcare reform plan failed due to strong opposition from the insurance industry, business groups, and conservative
lawmakers. It was also criticized for being overly complex and for lacking sufficient support in Congress.

7. Summarize the actions of Kenneth Star.

Kenneth Starr was appointed as an independent counsel to investigate various allegations against President Clinton, including
the Whitewater real estate investments. His investigation expanded to cover the Monica Lewinsky scandal, ultimately leading to
Clinton’s impeachment.

8. What did the Supreme Court rule in the case of Clinton v. Jones?
In Clinton v. Jones, the Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president does not have immunity from civil litigation for actions taken
before entering office, allowing Paula Jones’s sexual harassment lawsuit to proceed.

9. Summarize the Monica Lewinski scandal.

The Monica Lewinsky scandal involved an affair between President Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton
initially denied the affair but later admitted to it. This led to allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice, contributing to his
impeachment by the House of Representatives.

10. Why was President Clinton impeached? What was the outcome of his impeachment?

President Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his
testimony about the Monica Lewinsky affair. The Senate acquitted him on both charges, allowing him to complete his term in
office.
11. What happened to the popularity of the Republican Party by 1998?
By 1998, the popularity of the Republican Party had declined, partly due to perceived overreach in the impeachment proceedings
against Clinton. In the 1998 midterm elections, the Republicans lost seats in Congress, which was unusual for the party not
holding the presidency.

Foreign Affairs
1. What action did President Clinton take in regard to the U.S. troops in Somalia?
Clinton decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Somalia following the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, where 18 American soldiers
were killed, and the subsequent public outcry.

2. What action did President Clinton take in regards to the Rwandan genocide?
Clinton faced criticism for the U.S.'s inaction during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, where an estimated 800,000 people were
killed. The U.S. did not intervene militarily and was criticized for not doing more to stop the atrocities.

3. What action did President Clinton take in regards to Haiti?

Clinton intervened in Haiti in 1994 to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power after he was ousted in a military coup.
The U.S. led a multinational force to reinstate the democratically elected government.

4. What was meant by the Clinton policy of the “doctrine of enlargement”?

The Clinton policy of the “doctrine of enlargement” referred to promoting the expansion of democracy and market economies
worldwide, particularly in the post-Cold War era, through diplomatic and economic means rather than military intervention.

5. What were some of the successes of Clinton’s foreign policy?

Successes of Clinton’s foreign policy included the negotiation of the Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War, the
expansion of NATO, and the promotion of peace and economic reform in Northern Ireland.

6. How did the Clinton administration respond to the ethnic violence in Europe?
The Clinton administration responded to ethnic violence in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, by leading NATO
interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo to stop ethnic cleansing and secure peace agreements.

7. What were the successes and failures of Clinton’s policies toward the former Soviet Union?
Successes included supporting democratic and economic reforms in Russia and other former Soviet states. Failures involved
challenges in managing the complex relationship with Russia, including economic instability and political opposition within
Russia.