AimAim: What were the major : What were the major events in the Presidential events in the Presidential

Election of 1992?Election of 1992?

2. The Presidential Race 2. The Presidential Race of 1992of 1992

The end of the Cold War, the collapse of the The end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the success in the Persian Gulf Soviet Union and the success in the Persian Gulf War seemed to make Republican President War seemed to make Republican President George Bush a strong candidate for reelection.George Bush a strong candidate for reelection.

The economy remained weak, however, in 1992.The economy remained weak, however, in 1992. Democrats hoped to defeat Bush by convincing Democrats hoped to defeat Bush by convincing

them that Bush could not deal with economic them that Bush could not deal with economic problems.problems.

After the race got started, Republicans and After the race got started, Republicans and Democrats faced a third candidate---an Democrats faced a third candidate---an outspoken independent candidate.outspoken independent candidate.

Bush and Public OpinionBush and Public Opinion

2.1 Campaign for the 2.1 Campaign for the November BallotNovember Ballot

Some members of the Republican Party Some members of the Republican Party were dissatisfied with President Bush’s were dissatisfied with President Bush’s handling of the economy.handling of the economy.

Many were angry that he had agreed to Many were angry that he had agreed to the tax increases of 1990.the tax increases of 1990.

Pat Buchanan, a conservative Republican Pat Buchanan, a conservative Republican and television commentator, ran a strong and television commentator, ran a strong campaign against Bush in the primaries.campaign against Bush in the primaries.

When the Republicans met in August for When the Republicans met in August for their nominating convention, however, their nominating convention, however, Bush easily won re-nomination and kept Bush easily won re-nomination and kept Dan Quayle as his running mate.Dan Quayle as his running mate.

Pat BuchananPat Buchanan

George Bush and Dan George Bush and Dan QuayleQuayle

Most of the Democrats who campaigned Most of the Democrats who campaigned for their party’s nomination had for their party’s nomination had backgrounds as senators or governors.backgrounds as senators or governors.

As the primary votes added up, Arkansas As the primary votes added up, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton gradually pulled Governor Bill Clinton gradually pulled ahead. Clinton won the nomination at the ahead. Clinton won the nomination at the Democratic convention in July.Democratic convention in July.

He chose Al Gore, senator from Tennessee, He chose Al Gore, senator from Tennessee, as his running mate.as his running mate.

Both men, aged 46 and 44, symbolized the Both men, aged 46 and 44, symbolized the baby boom generation to most Americans.baby boom generation to most Americans.

Nominees for the Nominees for the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

Bill Clinton Jerry Brown Paul Tsongas

The Democratic NomineeThe Democratic Nominee

Bill Clinton Al Gore

H. Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire, became a H. Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire, became a surprising third major candidate for the presidential surprising third major candidate for the presidential ballot.ballot.

Perot complained that neither the Republicans nor the Perot complained that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats were doing enough to reduce the federal Democrats were doing enough to reduce the federal deficit.deficit.

Early in 1992, he said he would run for President if Early in 1992, he said he would run for President if volunteers could collect enough voter signatures to volunteers could collect enough voter signatures to put his name on the ballot in all 50 states.put his name on the ballot in all 50 states.

Perot formed a campaign organization and announced Perot formed a campaign organization and announced he would run.he would run.

Then, in July, he suddenly surprised the public and Then, in July, he suddenly surprised the public and disappointed his followers by dropping out of the race.disappointed his followers by dropping out of the race.

Ross PerotRoss Perot

2.2 The Fall Campaign2.2 The Fall Campaign

After the major After the major parties had chosen parties had chosen their candidates, the their candidates, the final campaigning for final campaigning for the presidency began.the presidency began.

Bush and the Bush and the RepublicansRepublicans

Speaking to voters, President Bush pledged to Speaking to voters, President Bush pledged to put the same kind of effort into solving put the same kind of effort into solving domestic problems as he had put into domestic problems as he had put into Operation Desert Storm.Operation Desert Storm.

He promised that if the American people He promised that if the American people continued to support the Republican policy of continued to support the Republican policy of cutting back federal spending and keeping cutting back federal spending and keeping taxes down, the economy would improve.taxes down, the economy would improve.

He and Vice President Quayle also made the He and Vice President Quayle also made the campaign statement that they stood for campaign statement that they stood for American family values.American family values.

Republicans attacked Clinton on the same Republicans attacked Clinton on the same points that they had used during the points that they had used during the primaries.primaries.

They reminded voters that Clinton had They reminded voters that Clinton had avoided military service during the avoided military service during the Vietnam War, that he had no political Vietnam War, that he had no political experience at the national levl and no experience at the national levl and no background in foreign affairs.background in foreign affairs.

The Republicans also accused Clinton as The Republicans also accused Clinton as being a tax and spend liberal.being a tax and spend liberal.

Clinton’s StrategyClinton’s Strategy Clinton and his supporters accused the Clinton and his supporters accused the

Bush administration of ignoring Bush administration of ignoring hardships that the economic recession hardships that the economic recession had placed on those who were less had placed on those who were less fortunate.fortunate.

They charged that the economic program They charged that the economic program under Reagan and Bush had only made under Reagan and Bush had only made the rich richer while leaving the poor and the rich richer while leaving the poor and middle class hoping that benefits would middle class hoping that benefits would trickle down to them.trickle down to them.

The Clinton people also charged that the Republicans The Clinton people also charged that the Republicans were insensitive to the needs and desires of minority-were insensitive to the needs and desires of minority-group Americans.group Americans.

They claimed that the government should be doing a They claimed that the government should be doing a better job of securing equal treatment for African better job of securing equal treatment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, physically Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, physically challenged persons and others.challenged persons and others.

They pledged that a Democratic administration would They pledged that a Democratic administration would see that these groups received all their constitutional see that these groups received all their constitutional rights.rights.

Most of all, Clinton promised change. He called for a Most of all, Clinton promised change. He called for a reorganization of federal programs and a national reorganization of federal programs and a national health care plan that would protect all Americans. He health care plan that would protect all Americans. He claimed that taxes should be paid according to a claimed that taxes should be paid according to a different plan and that wealthy Americans should pay a different plan and that wealthy Americans should pay a greater share.greater share.

Perot ReturnsPerot Returns Just 33 days before the November 1992 Just 33 days before the November 1992

election, Perot announced that he was election, Perot announced that he was once again a candidate for president.once again a candidate for president.

Perot appeared with Bush and Clinton in Perot appeared with Bush and Clinton in several televised debates.several televised debates.

He also appeared in his own television He also appeared in his own television advertisements calling for cuts in advertisements calling for cuts in government spending, higher taxes and a government spending, higher taxes and a sacrifice by all Americans to reduce the sacrifice by all Americans to reduce the federal deficit and the national debt.federal deficit and the national debt.

Candidates For President Candidates For President 19921992

2.3 Outcomes of the 2.3 Outcomes of the 1992 Election1992 Election

On November 3, 1992, voters On November 3, 1992, voters elected Governor Bill Clinton the elected Governor Bill Clinton the 4242ndnd President of the United States. President of the United States.

Although Clinton received less than Although Clinton received less than ½ of the popular vote, he won the ½ of the popular vote, he won the vote in the electoral college.vote in the electoral college.

Popular Vote 1992 Popular Vote 1992 ElectionElection

Base of Clinton SupportBase of Clinton Support The results of the presidential election pointed to some The results of the presidential election pointed to some

voting trends.voting trends. Clinton brought back a number of voting blocs, groups Clinton brought back a number of voting blocs, groups

of persons with common interests, that old-time of persons with common interests, that old-time Democrats had attracted.Democrats had attracted.

Clinton had held on to most of the black vote, although Clinton had held on to most of the black vote, although he had directed little of his campaign toward blacks.he had directed little of his campaign toward blacks.

He attracted many young voters and won back many He attracted many young voters and won back many traditional Democrats who had voted for Reagan in traditional Democrats who had voted for Reagan in 1980 and 1984.1980 and 1984.

Women also voted for Clinton because of the Women also voted for Clinton because of the Democratic “pro-choice” platform rather than the “pro-Democratic “pro-choice” platform rather than the “pro-life” platform of the conservative Republicans.life” platform of the conservative Republicans.

Electoral College 1992Electoral College 1992

The Impact of PerotThe Impact of Perot Perot made the best showing of any third Perot made the best showing of any third

party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt and party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt and his Bull Moose Party ran in the election of his Bull Moose Party ran in the election of 1912.1912.

Perot used mass media—methods of Perot used mass media—methods of communicating with large numbers of peoplecommunicating with large numbers of people—to speak his message directly to the voters —to speak his message directly to the voters and to try to involve them in the campaign.and to try to involve them in the campaign.

Perot’s tactics may have introduced new Perot’s tactics may have introduced new approaches in the election and political approaches in the election and political process of the United States.process of the United States.

Congressional ChangesCongressional Changes The voters sent significantly more new Senators The voters sent significantly more new Senators

and Representatives to Congress in 1992 than in and Representatives to Congress in 1992 than in 1990.1990.

Some of the newcomers to Congress had Some of the newcomers to Congress had replaced incumbents who had decided not to run replaced incumbents who had decided not to run for reelection.for reelection.

Others, however, defeated incumbents.Others, however, defeated incumbents. A number of women won new congressional A number of women won new congressional

seats. Carol Moseley-Braun became the nation’s seats. Carol Moseley-Braun became the nation’s first black women senator while Dianne Feinstein first black women senator while Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer gave California two women and Barbara Boxer gave California two women Senators.Senators.

The election did not change the Democratic The election did not change the Democratic majority in the House and the Senate.majority in the House and the Senate.

Carol Moseley-BraunCarol Moseley-Braun

Dianne Feinstein and Dianne Feinstein and Barbara BoxerBarbara Boxer