Presidents Kennedy - Clinton

Question 1

When was JFK President?

Answer 1

1960-1963

Question 2

What was the name of JFK’s policy?

Answer 2

New Frontier

Question 3

What was JFK’s plan for the USA?

Answer 3

Wanted to unite the nation and create a fairer society with greater opportunity for all.

Question 4

Describe some of JFK’s issues.

Answer 4

-His Catholic faith caused problems
-Only won the election by a small margin, so faced opposition
-Many argued that he was trying to change things too quickly, and was too inexperienced.
-Southern Congressmen disliked his commitment to civil rights.
-His assassination limited the success of his reforms.

Question 5

Describe some of JFK’s successes.

Answer 5

-Appointed Thurgood Marshall as federal judge, supported James Meredith, introduced the Civil Rights Bill to Congress
-Increased spending on defence and in space tech, creating jobs
-Set up training schemes for the unemployed
-Planned to start Medicare to provide cheaper state health insurance
-Increased the minimum wage to $1.25
-Cut taxes to increase spending to boost the economy
-Introduced Housing Act 1961 to redevelop inner cities.

Question 6

How long was Lyndon B Johnson President for?

Answer 6

1963-1968

Question 7

What was the name of LBJ’s policy?

Answer 7

Great Society.

Question 8

Describe LBJ’s failures.

Answer 8

-Republicans opposed him, saying that he overspent
-Accused of not helping inner cities enough
-Overshadowed by the reputation of JFK and the US’ involvement in Vietnam
-Had to cut spending on his policy to pay for the Vietnam War

Question 9

Describe LBJ’s successes.

Answer 9

-Declared war on poverty and wanted to put an end to racial discrimination
-Was able to deal with Southern democrat’s opposition because he was a southerner.
-More successful than any other President at passing bills through Congress
-Passed Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965
-Cut taxes to give consumers more money
-Improved railways and road
-Attempted to ensure that everyone had access to healthcare through Medicare and Medicaid.
-Passed Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Model Cities Act

Question 10

How long was Nixon president for?

Answer 10

1968-1974

Question 11

What were some of Richard Nixon’s successes?

Answer 11

-Improved relations with the Soviet Union and China
-Passed Clean Air Act of 1970 and Clean Water Act
-Signed the ABM Treaty
-Removed the troops from Vietnam
-Lowered voting age from 21 to 18

Question 12

What were some of Nixon’s failures?

Answer 12

-Forced to resign due to the Watergate Scandal
-The Watergate Scandal ruined his reputation, and ultimately permanently damaged the USA’s attitude to politicians.

Question 13

When were 5 members of CREEP arrested and why?

Answer 13

Arrested in 1972 for breaking into the Watergate offices (the Democrats’ HQ)

Question 14

Describe what happened in the Watergate Scandal.

Answer 14

-Washington Post found out the Watergate intruders were members of CREEP, and that the CREEP fund was controlled by the White House.
-Nixon denied all involvement
-The Senate held an investigation, and Nixon had installed a tape recording system in the White House, and he had to hand in the tapes to the Senate.
-1973, Nixon handed over 7/9 of the tapes but they were heavily edited.
-1974, handed in all of the tapes unedited that revealed his involvement
-Nixon was ultimately impeached

Question 15

Who pardoned Richard Nixon?

Answer 15

Gerald Ford

Question 16

When was Ronald Reagan President?

Answer 16

1981 - 1989

Question 17

Describe the problems Reagan inherited when he became President.

Answer 17

-Inherited serious economic problems.
-There was a global recession, meaning there were factory closures, rising unemployment and oil shortages.
-Budget deficits were high.

Question 18

What was the name of Ronald Reagan’s economic strategy?

Answer 18

Reaganomics

Question 19

Explain the policy of Reaganomics.

Answer 19

Cut taxes for businesses and the wealthiest so that they could spend more. In theory, this wealth would “trickle down” to the middle and lower classes, and benefit all.

Question 20

Explain some of the actions that Reagan took to follow Reaganomics.

Answer 20

-Cut the welfare programme
-Initiated the biggest tax cut ever
-Cut Medicare benefits
-Government had to borrow money

Question 21

List the successes of Reagan.

Answer 21

-Set up the Star Wars programme
-Set up the Office of National Drug Control Policy
-Eventually supported research into AIDS

Question 22

List the failures of Reagan.

Answer 22

-National debt increased to $1 trillion (the highest it had ever been)
-Lost female support because he opposed abortion
-Opposed MLK’s birthday becoming a national holiday
-1986 Space Programme disaster year. Both the Challenger and Titan exploded.
-The Star Wars programme was proving to be extremely expensive
-Reduced the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency
-1987 biggest stock market crash since 1929, and the USA was the most in debt of the leading nations.

Question 23

How long was George Bush President for?

Answer 23

1989-1993

Question 24

List some of the successes of George Bush.

Answer 24

-Promised to cut taxes
-Signed Americans With Disabilities Act 1990
-Signed Clean Air Act
-Committed billions to the Drug Enforcement Agency

Question 25

Describe the economic policy of George Bush.

Answer 25

-Promised to cut taxes, but had to go back on it
-Increased direct taxes and reduced the number of wealthy people exempt from tax
-Increased the taxes on luxury items

Question 26

List the failures of George Bush.

Answer 26

-Ultimately had to go back on his plan to cut taxes
-Had to cut military spending
-Budget deficit rose to $300 billion
-Unemployment reached 7.8%
-By 1992, 14% of Americans were living in poverty
-Rodney King case highlighted racism in the police force.
-There were many race riots in 1992, in LA, Atlanta, Birmingham, Seattle and Chicago.

Question 27

How long was Bill Clinton President for?

Answer 27

1992-2001

Question 28

List some of the successes of Clinton.

Answer 28

-In 1998, the budget was balanced for the first time since 1969
-Value of the stock market tripled
-Unemployment was at its lowest rate for 30 years
-Highest rate of home ownership ever (70%)
-22 million jobs created in less than 8 years.
-Unemployment for African Americans and Hispanics fell to lowest ever rate
-Female unemployment lowest in 40 years
-Passed 1993 Family Medical Leave Act
-Minimum wage was $5 by 1997
-Infant mortality rate was at its lowest rate ever recorded.

Question 29

List some of the failures of President Clinton.

Answer 29

-Universal Health Insurance rejected by Congress
-1996 Whitewater Scandal, Bill Clinton’s business associates were convicted of fraud. Bill Clinton proved to have an affair with Monica Lewinsky. Lied about the affair under oath, and was impeached for obstruction of justice in 1998.