"Monica Changed Everything"

I've recently been perusing Stevin Gillon's interesting book, The Pact. It's about the relationship between President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich. The second half of the book focuses largely on the possibility of significant Social Security and Medicare reform in 1998 and 1999. Clinton and Gingrich had grown to understand and respect each other, and both were eager to leave their marks on Washington. Clinton saw entitlement reform as the ultimate "New Democrat" accomplishment. He would save the greatest legacies of the New Deal and the Great Society through increasing personal choice and competition. Conversly, Gingrich saw reform as a chance to claim victory in the Contract with America; shrinking entitlements without eliminating them. The two most powerful men in Washington entered negotiations and reached an implicit deal not to raise the issue in the midterm cycle, then trying to quickly pass Social Security reform in the lame duck session. Medicare reform would dominate 1999. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer endorsed the plan, calling Bill Clinton the smartest President he'd ever served under.

Then Monica happened. Chief-of-Staff Erskine Bowles essentially said that ended any chance of entitlement reform. President Clinton suddenly had to relly on the liberal base he was planning on bypassing, while Gingrich was forced to go on the attack (though he generally stayed on the sidelines).

What would have happened if the Lewsinky affair never happened, or if Ken Starr had stepped down before Linda Tripp provided him the infamous recordings (as he was planning on before conservatives convinced him otherwise)?
 
You know, it's funny, I was just wondering early about a Clinton without Monica scenario, I had no idea how ambitious his plans were.

Any details of the actual plans?
 
You know, it's funny, I was just wondering early about a Clinton without Monica scenario, I had no idea how ambitious his plans were.

Any details of the actual plans?

It was partial-privatization of social security, that's all I know.
 
It was partial-privatization of social security, that's all I know.

I may be about to make myself look stupid, but isn't that exactly what Bush intended to do during his second term that never even made it to the table?
 
I may be about to make myself look stupid, but isn't that exactly what Bush intended to do during his second term that never even made it to the table?

Similar plan, but probably less ambitious in scope. Also, the way he framed the debate was significantly different than Bush: save Social Security and get AARP and labor on your side. At least that was the plan...

For Medicare, you'll probably get some form of premium support. The Breaux-Thomas Commission proposed it but it got no where in 1999.
 
Actually, both lost their creditablility the same way. Gingrich really didn't attack the President...why, because he was having an affair with the current Mrs. Gingrich while married to Mrs. Gingrich #2...He was forced out soon after the 98 midterm...Few outside the beltway new that the efforts against him were because he was a great thinker, poor organizer and because many of the young 94 and 96 congressmen were appalled by his personal behavior.
 
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