Bill Clinton is Elected the 42nd President of the United States

The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George H. W. Bush; Democrat Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot.

Bush had alienated much of his conservative base by breaking his 1988 campaign pledge against raising taxes, the economy was in a recession, and Bush's perceived greatest strength, foreign policy, was regarded as much less important following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the relatively peaceful climate in the Middle East after the defeat of Iraq in the Gulf War.
Clinton won a plurality in the popular vote, and a wide Electoral College margin.

Clinton won the 1992 presidential election (43.0% of the vote) against Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush (37.4% of the vote) and billionaire populist Ross Perot, who ran as an independent (18.9% of the vote) on a platform focusing on domestic issues; a significant part of Clinton's success was Bush's steep decline in public approval. Because Bush's approval ratings were in the 80% range during the Gulf War, he was described as unbeatable. However, when Bush compromised with Democrats in an attempt to lower Federal deficits, he reneged on his promise not to raise taxes, hurting his approval rating. Clinton repeatedly condemned Bush for making a promise he failed to keep.[32] By election time, the economy was souring and Bush saw his approval rating plummet to slightly over 40%.[32][33] Finally, conservatives were previously united by anti-communism, but with the end of the Cold War, the party lacked a uniting issue. When Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson addressed Christian themes at the Republican National Convention, with Bush criticizing Democrats for omitting God from their platform, many moderates were alienated.[34] Clinton then pointed to his moderate, "New Democrat" record as governor of Arkansas, though some on the more liberal side of the party remained suspicious.[35] Many Democrats who supported Ronald Reagan and Bush in previous elections switched their allegiance to Clinton.[36]
His election ended twelve years of Republican rule of the White House, and twenty of the previous twenty-four years. The election gave Democrats full control of the United States Congress.[1] It was the first time this had occurred since the Jimmy Carter presidency in the late 1970s.
However, during the campaign questions of conflict of interest regarding state business and the politically powerful Rose Law Firm, at which Hillary Rodham Clinton was a partner, arose. Clinton maintained questions were moot because all transactions with the state were deducted prior to determining Hillary's firm pay.[37][15] Further concern arose when Bill Clinton announced that, with Hillary, voters would be getting two presidents "for the price of one".[38]

When election day arrived on November 3, 1992, voters turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots. Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States and Al Gore the 45th Vice President. They had succeeded in bringing the people together in their efforts to change our country.

Throughout his life, President Clinton has worked to make a difference in the lives of others. To him, Hope means more than a small town in Arkansas; it means working to ensure that each American has the opportunity to fulfill his or her dream.

Clinton’s campaign was immediately hurt when an alleged affair with Jennifer Flowers almost sidelined his campaigning efforts. He and wife Hillary admitted that their marriage was going through trials on a televised interview. After this Clinton came back with a vengeance earning him the nickname the “Comeback Kid”.

Clinton would grasp part of his dream in 1992 after winning the Democratic nomination. Bill Clinton chose Tennessee Senator Al Gore as a running mate. The Clinton-Gore ticket would then go on to defeat the current president, President George H. W. Bush, with an electoral college vote of 370-168. Bill Clinton was inaugurated January 20, 1993 as the United State’s 42nd president.

During his first term Clinton would focus on helping the under privileged and under cared for as most Democrats tend to. He allowed homosexuals to join the armed forces under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ruling and signed the Omnibus Crime Bill in 1994. This bill would make it possible to receive the death penalty for non-death related crimes.

Clinton’s first term went fairly easily, without much scandal, but his second term starting in 1997 would be tainted by scandals. The biggest scandal would involve then Whitehouse intern Monica Lewinsky. It was found out that Clinton again was in an extra-marital affair this time with young Lewinsky. The House actually voted to impeach Clinton on two charges, however the Senate voted to acquit Clinton on all charges.

During this term Clinton and NATO would also battle world genocide and Saddam Hussein yet again. Other than this the Clinton years were relatively peaceful on the war front. The United States prospered a great deal under President Bill Clinton’s lead. The economy was great and inflation was low. Despite all of the scandal that plagued Clinton’s second term, he is most remembered for these things.

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