presidents Flashcards
what were Kennedy’s successes in civil rights under the new frontier?
-hired Thurgood Marshall (black civil rights activist) as a federal judge
-suppourting James Meredith in 1962
-introducing the civil rights bill to congress in 1963
-threatening legal action against Louisiana for refusing to fund schools that weren’t segregated
when was kennedy the president?
from 1960-1963
what was kennedy’s policy called?
the New Frontier
what did Kennedy want as a president?
to create a fairer society with greater oppourtunity for all
why did people not entirely like kennedy to start with? (5)
-first catholic president
-may argued he was trying to change things to quickly - accused of being socialist
-inexperienced
-southern congressmen disliked his commitment to civil rights
-only narrowly won the election
what did Kennedy do economically under the new frontier?
-cut taxes to increase spending and boost the economy
-increased spending on defence and space tech (created jobs)
-increased minimum wage by 25 cents
-$900 million for public works
what social schemes did Kennedy set up?
-planned to start Medicare to provide cheaper state health insurance
-Housing Act 1961 to redevelop the inner cities
-social security act 1962 = financial help for elderly and unemployed
why were Kennedy’s reforms limited?
his assassination in 1963 limited his reforms
in what years was johnson president?
1963-68
why were Johnson’s successes often overshadowed?
-the reputation of JFK
-US involvment in the Vietnam War
what was Johnson’s policy called? what did he want to do?
-the Great Society
-continue the work of JFK
-war on poverty
-end racial discrimination
what were Johnson’s sucesses?
-as he was from Texas he could deal with southern democrats opposition
-more sucessful than any other president at passing bills
-passed the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965)
what did Johnson do about healthcare?
Medical Care Act 1965 - attempted to ensure that everyone had access to healthcare through Medicare for the old and Medicaid for the poor
what did Johnson do about education?
passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure the quality of education was equal across the US - federal money was used to ensure this
what did Johnson do to improve living conditions in big cities?
The Model Cities Act 1966 - provided federal funds for slum clearance and the provision of better services
what did Johnson increase the minimum wage by?
15 cents
what were arguments against Johnson’s great society?
-republicans said he overspent on welfare and undermined rugged individualism
-accused of not helping inner cities enough (as there were riots in 1967)
-US involvement in Vietnam meant that money that would be spent on the great society had to be spent on war instead
why did LBJ eventually have to cut spending on the Great Society?
when he had to pay for the vietnam war
when was Nixon president?
1968-74
why was Nixon forced to resign?
the Watergate scandal
what was CREEP?
the organisation that Nixon set up to get him re-elected using whatever means necessary
when and why were five members of CREEP arrested?
-June 1972
-for breaking into Watergate offices (the Democrats HQ)
how did info about the Watergate scandal get out?
the Washington Post were the ones who found out that the criminals were from CREEP and that CREEP was funded by the white house
what was Nixon’s reaction to the Watergate scandal getting out?
he denied his involvment but admitted that two of his advisors were involved
they resigned
what had Nixon installed in the white house?
-he had installed a tape recording system in the white house
-he initially refused to hand over these tapes
did Nixon hand over the tapes right away? elborate.
-in 1973 he handed over 7/9 tapes with 18 minutes missing from one
-in 1974 he had to hand over all of the tapes and they revealed his involvment
why did Nixon resign?
to avoid impeachment
when did Nixon resign?
Aug 1974
what did Ford (the president after Nixon) do?
pardoned him of any criminal acts
what were the effects of the Watergate scandal?
-damaged Nixon’s rep and the attitude towards politics
-USA was made a laughing stock - the USSR used it as fuel against capitalism (plus it was at the same time they were withdrawing from Vietnam.)
-showed how well the legal system worked
-series of laws passed (privacy act, congressional budget act)
when was Regan president?
1981-89
what economic problems did Regan inheret?
world recession - factory closures, rising unemploment, inflation and oil shortages
what was Regan’s economic policy called?
Reaganomics
what was Regan’s economic theory and what did he do as a result?
-he believed that wealth trickled down (rich people will spend and this will benefit lower classes) so the government wouldn’t have to spend as much on social welfare programs
-he cut taxes for buissnesses and the wealthy so they could spend more (by $33 billion)
-Medicare benefits were cut
-cut welfare spending by over $20 billion a year
what happened as a result of Reganomics?
-the gov was getting hardly any income so they coudnt pay for services
-he increased spending especially on defence (which doubled in his presidency) so national debt increased to $1 trillion as gov had to borrow money
-people in all sectors lost their jobs and inflation soared
-sever stock market crash in 1987 (almost as bad as ‘29)
what happened in 1987?
biggest stock market crash since 1929
what happened to Medicare when the US started going barkrupt thanks to Reagan?
the benefits introduced by JFK and Johnson were cut
What disastrous things happened for the space program during Regans presidency?
-challenger exploded killing all seven people on board
- Titan exploded while carrying secret military equipment
-the development of the Star Wars programme was very expensive
what two things did Regan oppose?
-MLKs bday becoming a national holiday
-abortion
when was Bush president?
1989-1993
What was bush’s reputation?
He was a safe pair of hands
What did Bush promise but not go through with?
He promised to cut taxes but had to go back on this as recession developed
What did Bush do economically?
-increased direct taxes
-reduced the number of people exempt from tax
-had to cut military spending
-increase taxes on luxury items
What level did unemployment reach under Bush’s presidency?
7.8% (highest since 1984)
How many people were living in poverty in 1992?
14.2%
What did Bush sign in 1990?
The Americans With Disabilities Act (most important anti-discrimination legislation since the civil rights act)
What did the Americans With Disabilities Act forbid?
Discrimination based on disability in employment, accommodation and transport
What was the Clean Air Act of 1990? (Bush)
Aimed to reduce smog, acid rain and eliminate emissions of toxic chemicals
What did Bush do surrounding drugs?
-he promised to tackle the issue of drugs in America
-he gave several billions of dollars to the drug enforcement agency
-this made little impact though
What shows that Bush wasn’t successful in dealing with civil rights?
There were race riots in LA, Atlanta, Birmingham etc in 1992 following the arrest and beating of Rodney King
When was Clinton president?
1992-2001
What was Clinton’s political standing?
He was a democrat
What were two main features of Clinton’s domestic policies?
-reduce deficit/move away from Reaganomics
-welfare and social reforms
What did Clinton manage to achieve by 1998?
He balanced the budget for the first time since 1969
What were some indicators that Clinton was a successful president?
-balanced the budget
-value of the stock market tripled
-unemployment at lowest rate in 30 years
-high levels of home ownership
What was the level of home ownership in Clinton’s presidency?
67.7%
How was the US export market boosted in Clinton’s presidency?
The North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico
Give an example of how employment rose in Clinton’s presidency
22 mil jobs created in less than 8 years
What two groups found themselves more employed in Clinton’s presidency?
-African Americans and Hispanics
-women (highest level in 40 years)
What did Clinton pass in 1993?
Family and Medical Leave Act as previously Americans had to take unpaid leave to look after their newborn or sick family member
When and what was the whitewater scandal that Clinton was involved with?
-1996
-two of his former business associates were convicted of multiple fraud over a housing development in Whitewater
Was there ever any evidence that Clinton was involved in whitewater?
No.
Who found proof of Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky?
Kenneth Starr (who lead the Whitewater enquiry)
Why was Clinton impeached?
He lied under oath about not having the affair and was therefore impeached for the obstruction of justice in 1998
When did senate acquit Clinton?
1999 (found him not guilty of his impeachment charges)
When was Clinton made president?
1992
What things demonstrated that the economy prospered under Clinton’s presidency?
-he balanced the budget for the first time since 1969
-value of the stock market tripled
-highest level of home ownership in the history of the US
-unemployment was at its lowest in 30 years
How did Clinton increase home ownership?
Reduced interest rates so families could buy houses (67.7% home ownership)
What did Clinton sign to stimulate the US export markets?
The free trade agreement between US, Canada and Mexico that set up a free trade area between the three countries
When did Clinton sign the family and medical leave act and why?
-1993
-over 20 million Americans had taken unpaid leave to care for a newborn or sick family member
What did Clinton try to pass but got refused by Congress?
-an ambitious attempt to introduce a system of universal health insurance
-the Health Security Bill was attacked by the insurance and American Medical Association
-was therefore rejected by congress
What did Clinton set up to decrease the infant mortality rate ?
-the Clinton Administration
-expanded efforts to give mothers and newborns with health care
Was the Clinton Administration successful?
By 2000, 82% of all mothers receieved anti natal care
The infant mortality rate dropped from 8.2 per 1000 in ‘92 to 7.2 per 1000 in ‘98
What scandal was Clinton involved with in 1996?
The whitewater scandal
What was the whitewater scandal?
Two of Clinton’s former business associates were convicted of fraud over a housing development in white water
No conclusive evidence against Clinton and Hillary
What did Kenneth Starr, the man leading the whitewater enquiry, find evidence of?
Clinton had been having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, a member of the White House staff
He had denied any affair so was forced to make an apology
What were the consequences of Clinton’s affair?
He was impeach for obstruction of justice in 1998
In 1999 however, Senate acquitted him of impeachment charges
What did Reagan do about aids?
-initially dismissive
-by 1989, the federal government was spending $2.3 billion on reaserch
Who were the reporters of the Washington post that uncovered watergate?
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
When did Reagan announce a ‘war on drugs’ and what did he create as a result?
-1982
-in 1988, he created the Office of National Drug Control Policy to coordinate drug-related policy throughout the government
