Japhy
Banned
Well alright then. And you're right you are doing better then that... style.
Please do go on, it is an interesting narrative.
The American Mission
- Thread starter NickCT
- Start date
Well alright then. And you're right you are doing better then that... style.
Please do go on, it is an interesting narrative.
Deception Distracts
"Gennifer Flowers came public shortly after Bill Clinton had the Presidential nomination locked up in the Democratic Primaries. She said she had an affair with Bill Clinton that lasted for several years. Accompanying her accusations were a series of recorded phone calls that she played at a later point in the campaign. There was no way that Bill Clinton could work his way out of the Flowers affair. There were talks that Hillary Clinton was going to leave her husband and her lack of appearances on the campaign trail made it difficult for Clinton to escape the rumors. His advisers were in a free-for-all as they tried to figure out how best to address the situation. It was a very difficult time to be involved in that campaign. The American people were sick of this type of politics and they weren't going to accept it from Clinton. Meanwhile, the Bush campaign was ready to portray George H.W. Bush as a family man with Barbara Bush by his side at nearly every event, and an extensive number of ads featuring the Bush children and grandchildren. It was a masterful strategy, but the nation was looking to see what Clinton had to say."
-Excerpt from A History of Sex and Politics by Lauren Berlant; published 2008
Campaign Strategy Meeting, Clinton for President; January 08, 1992
JAMES CARVILLE: "If you do an interview your wife needs to be by your side throughout the entire thing, otherwise it isn't worth it!"
GOV. CLINTON: "I'm not going to ask Hillary to do that."
JAMES CARVILLE: "Do you want to win, Governor?"
GOV. CLINTON: "Of course I want to win, but -"
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "The Governor's right. You can't have Hillary Clinton by his side when he confesses to an affair."
JAMES CARVILLE: "Then at least get her on the damn trail with you!"
GOV. CLINTON: "This is bullshit."
JAMES CARVILLE: "It's politics. You're not going to win unless you get this scandal behind you. Now you've managed to get this far, don't fuck it up now."
CBS Evening News Interview; June 19, 2008
DAN RATHER: "Bringing you back to 1992, during the Presidential campaign then. When the Gennifer Flowers story broke, and she had those tapes, what was going on in the Clinton campaign? Was there a sense of urgency? How were you planning to proceed?"
JAMES CARVILLE: "We knew we had to react, and that we didn't have forever. That's exactly why we stuck Governor Clinton on 60 Minutes the week after. It wasn't a perfect strategy, but it was all we had at the time. Of course, it wasn't exactly an ideal situation."
DAN RATHER: "What was your opinion on Hillary Clinton's presence from the interview?"
JAMES CARVILLE: "I didn't want the Governor at the interview if Hillary wasn't with him. I got what I wanted. I mean, I'm glad she was there, it was important for the image of her to be beside her husband."
60 Minutes Interview; January 26, 1992
STEVE KROFT: "The reason it hasn't gone away is that your answer is not a denial -"
BILL CLINTON: "No matter what I say the press is going to distort it -"
STEVE KROFT: "If you did not have an affair with Gennifer Flowers, just say it."
BILL CLINTON: "I did not have an affair with Gennifer Flowers. I did not, but I think -"
HILLARY CLINTON: "Steve, I'm here with Bill because I love him and respect him."
STEVE KROFT: "Hold on, let's back up. Governor, you're saying that you did not have an affair with Gennifer Flowers, correct?"
BILL CLINTON: "I think it's time we put this behind us, Steve."
"Soon after he denied the affair, he was screwed. Gennifer Flowers continued to say that he lied to the American people and the Republicans hit Clinton left-and-right. Just after it was clear Bill Clinton was going to win the Democratic Nomination, Flowers resurrected the affair with tapes proving conclusively that Bill Clinton and her had a relationship. In the aftermath of the tapes, Clinton appeared on the CBS Evening News for a sit-down interview. This time he was alone, there was no Hillary, and he said that while he had had an affair with Gennifer Flowers, that was it. There were no other women he had been involved with other than his wife, Hillary. He was emphatic in his response and he would not let the press distort him any longer. Soon after this interview, in mid-May, numerous other women came forward. Paula Jones, who said she had an affair with Bill Clinton as recently as 1991, alleged that the Governor had forgotten about her. It was a never-ending cycle for Bill Clinton."
-Excerpt from A History of Sex and Politics by Lauren Berlant; published 2008
Campaign Strategy Meeting, Clinton for President; May 28, 1992
JAMES CARVILLE: "YOU DON'T GET TO GO OUT THERE AND LIE LIKE THAT, BILL!"
GOV. CLINTON: "I was under stress, I didn't know what I was thinking."
JAMES CARVILLE: "I don't give a shit! You lied on 60 Minutes and you lied again on the evening news! There goes our argument about Bush lying on taxes!"
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (May 26-29)
GEORGE BUSH: 44%
BILL CLINTON: 36%
UNDECIDED: 20%
Which candidate for President do you trust more? (May 26-29)
GEORGE BUSH: 57%
BILL CLINTON: 43%
"While Bill Clinton's campaign got bogged down in scandals and lies, George Bush pushed forward. He was now an aggressive campaigner, adding campaign event after campaign event to his schedule in an attempt to keep up with Governor Clinton and pull ahead. Here was George Bush, successfully ending rumors that he was too old to be President, that he couldn't match the stamina of his younger opponent. George Bush's overwhelming desire to continue as President helped him to push ahead - it gave him the encouragement he was looking for. As George Bush 2.0 hit the trail, the media hit him on the economy. Jobs were still being lost, but it was nowhere near the rate most had expected. There was a very real opportunity for George Bush to win reelection."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
"As the Republican National Convention approached, the Bush campaign was worried. They were afraid that Pat Buchanan would accentuate the divide within the Republican base, but they placed an enormous amount of weight on the fact that Republicans would come together to elect a family man as their next President. Before the GOP gathered in Houston, however, there was the Democratic National Convention to watch. All eyes were on Bill Clinton as he prepared to address the convention in the midst of scandal. His campaign was in trouble and when he took the podium on July 16th, the nation was watching."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
"As a teenager, I heard John Kennedy’s summons to citizenship. And then, as a student at Georgetown I head that call clarified by a professor named Carol Quigley, who said to us that America was the greatest nation in history because our people had always believed in two things: that tomorrow can be better than today and that every one of us has a personal moral responsibility to make it so."
-Excerpt from Bill Clinton's Acceptance Address; July 16, 1992
"Bill Clinton took the convention podium at 1992 as his campaign was imploding. Personally, he was losing the support of his wife, and politically, his advisers were also losing confidence in his potential at winning. The Flowers Affair and subsequent lies cost him support with the American public. While Bill Clinton waved to supporters a lot was on his mind. Two days before, Paula Jones had come forward and alleged that she, too, had had an affair with Governor Clinton. Not only had Paula Jones come forward, but there was significant speculation that she would sue Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. It was a deadly political issue, and Bill Clinton walked on to the stage that night hoping to put the issues to rest. He stressed family values, talked about the struggles of single mothers, and hoped to personalize himself. Clinton received a small bump in the polls, but it was nothing compared to what he would need to radically shift the results. What he had done was begin to shift the focus of the election on to the economy, which was more likely to be a winning issue for the Governor."
-Excerpt from Through the Parties: A History of Political Conventions by Jack Rakove; published 2012
Will Clinton be able to make a comeback?
Welcome to Houston
"There were rumors going around that Pat Buchanan was going to deliver a really inflammatory speech at the Republican Convention in Houston. Doing that would have almost certainly prevented George Bush from winning reelection, but there was also a need for Buchanan to unify the party if Bush wanted to win reelection. It was a fine line to walk, and the Bush campaign worked overtime to strike the perfect chord. Bush deployed his son, George W. Bush, to oversee the prevention of a disaster by Buchanan. The younger Bush worked closely with Marty Matalin to talk to the Buchanan camp to ensure the best speech possible. Obviously, Buchanan dragged his feet, but Bush and Matalin persisted."
-Excerpt from Through the Parties: A History of Political Conventions by Jack Rakove; published 2012
Conversation Between George W. Bush & Pat Buchanan; August 15, 1992
GEORGE W. BUSH: "Sir, can we have your speech for review?"
PAT BUCHANAN: "I'm not going to be man-handled by little George junior. I'll show you my speech when I'm done with it."
GEORGE W. BUSH: "Pat, you're going to give me your speech by the end of the day or you're not going to be speaking at the convention. Am I making myself clear? You will not speak at the convention until I have proofread your speech, and you will deliver it as prepared for delivery."
PAT BUCHANAN: "I should be finished by the end of the day."
Conversation Between George W. Bush & Pat Buchanan; August 16, 1992
GEORGE W. BUSH: "Pat, you need to rewrite this. If you're going to invoke feelings like this, to start a culture war, than you're going to do it at the Democrat's expense, and you won't do that here at the GOP Convention. Now listen to me. If you want to talk about values, hit Clinton for lying and for his lack of faithfulness. Hit him for drafting the dodge. Hit him for his inexperience. Hit him on it all, but do not - do not - jeopardize my father's campaign. Stop placing so much emphasis on abortion, stop placing so much emphasis on homosexual marriage. You need to realize we can't win like that. If you want to speak rewrite it, and focus on attacking Clinton's general lack of experience and talk-up my father's family record."
PAT BUCHANAN: "My speech is going to remain as is."
GEORGE W. BUSH: "Then don't bother coming to Houston because you won't be giving that address."
Conversation Between George W. Bush & Mary Matalin; August 17, 1992
GEORGE W. BUSH: "What did you think of Buchanan's recent draft?"
MARY MATALIN: "It's fine with me, how did you get him to rewrite it after last night?
GEORGE W. BUSH: "I'm a good bluffer. What do we do if he doesn't stick to the script?"
MARY MATALIN: "We'll find a way to get off the stage, but Buchanan won't mind being our attack dog against Clinton on moral issues."
Pat Buchanan Addresses the Republican National Convention; August 17, 1992
"Bill Clinton dodged the draft, George Herbert Walker Bush was shot down numerous times during World War II. Bill Clinton lied to the American people not once, but twice. Bill Clinton experimented with marijuana, George Bush has fought to rid this society of the drugs that seek to destroy it! Hillary Clinton compares the institution of marriage to slavery, Barbara Bush has been happily married to George Bush for 47 years. My fellow Americans: this campaign is about philosophy and it is about character, and that means that George Herbert Walker Bush is the only person qualified to be President of the United States! We cannot have the next four years spent in such a way that will prevent this nation's growth. George Bush is a leader. George Bush is a fighter. Bill Clinton is dodger. And Bill Clinton cannot be trusted. My fellow Americans: elect a President who will represent you to the best of his ability. Elect a President ready to lead from Day One, and elect a President who is a true and inspiring patriot, an example for what is best in America! When you go to vote this November you cannot elect someone as dangerously unqualified as Bill Clinton!"
-Excerpt from Pat Buchanan's Convention Address; August 17, 1992
"George Bush and his team were very nervous about Pat Buchanan and his convention address. There was always a chance he could go rogue, but after praising Ronald Reagan and eventually working his way to George Bush, the Bush team was somewhat more relaxed."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
"As the Bush team watched Buchanan's speech they were pleasantly surprised. He had stayed to the revised copy. There were no inflammatory remarks. Very little mention of abortion and no mention of gay marriage. He had kept to the script and that left George W. Bush and others watching with the President relieved, but they were still nervous. Buchanan was giving his address to the Republican delegates and he was receiving the response he wanted. The lines about pornography that George W. Bush had crossed-out were left out. The lines about gay marriage were left out. The mention of a Culture War was ignored. Buchanan had pleasantly surprised the Bush team as they watched in nervous anticipation at the speech that would bridge the divide between the far-right and the centrist wings of the Republican Party."
-Excerpt from Through the Parties: A History of Political Conventions by Jack Rakove; published 2012
"To the 13 million of you who voted for Pat Buchanan for President, I want to speak to you. We may have lost the race for this party's nomination, but the message rings true today in the candidacy of George Herbert Walker Bush. There is a commitment in this nation to a moral, guiding vision. That vision also guides President Bush. He is committed to family. He is committed to his wife. He is willing to lead, to govern this nation. I am ready to support him and I ask all of you who supported me to join me in voting for George Bush for President because we cannot afford even four years of Bill Clinton and Albert Gore and Hillary Clinton and their backwards way of viewing this nation. Our country's future can be bright, but only if we work together. Only if we leave Houston as one, ready to elect a President who will create more jobs, who will fight for a more responsible nation, who will fight for a more value-oriented America. Join me in supporting George Bush and our vision of America will be here again!"
-Excerpt from Pat Buchanan's Convention Address; August 17, 1992
Former President Ronald Reagan Addresses the Republican National Convention; August 17, 1992
"Tonight is a very special night for me. Of course, at my age, every night's a very special night. After all, I was born in 1911. Indeed, according to the experts, I have exceeded my life expectancy by quite a few years. Now this a source of great annoyance to some, especially those in the Democratic party."
-Excerpt from Ronald Reagan's Convention Address; August 17, 1992
Conversation Between President Bush and Pat Buchanan; August 17, 1992
PRES. BUSH: "Pat, it means a lot to me that you went out there and helped us out. Thank you. I won't forget it, and I look forward to working with you over the next four years."
PAT BUCHANAN: "Of course, Mr. President, and I, too, hope to work with you over the course of this campaign and your second term."
"I'll give you a hint. They put on quite a production in New York a few weeks ago. You might even call it slick. A stone's throw from Broadway it was, and how appropriate. Over and over they told us they are not the party they were. They kept telling us with straight faces that they're for family values, they're for a strong America, they're for less intrusive government. And they call me an actor. To hear them talk, you'd never know that the nightmare of nuclear annihilation has been lifted from our sleep. You'd never know that our standard of living remains the highest in the world. You'd never know that our air is cleaner than it was 20 years ago. You'd never know that we remain the one nation the rest of the world looks to for leadership."
-Excerpt from Ronald Reagan's Convention Address; August 17, 1992
"Ronald Reagan's speech to the Republican National Convention in 1992 was his farewell to the GOP and his farewell to the nation. He made the Republicans laugh, cheer, and get riled up. He energized the base in a way that only Ronald Reagan could. While his speech did not produce votes directly, it was a great moment for Reagan as he said goodbye to a party that had cared so much about him and a party he had cared so much about. It was a humbling moment for the former President as he left the stage that evening."
-Excerpt from The Gipper by Lou Cannon; published 2001
"This fellow they’ve nominated claims he’s the new Thomas Jefferson. Well, let me tell you something. I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend of mine. And Governor, you’re no Thomas Jefferson!"
-Excerpt from Ronald Reagan's Convention Address; August 17, 1992
"Ronald Reagan's speech had brought down the house on August 17th, but the next big speech to watch would come from Vice President Quayle. Quayle's image within the Republican Party had been on the rise and now it was time for him to prove to the GOP that George Bush was right for keeping him on the ticket. It was a massive undertaking, but Quayle needed to do it to help the Republican Ticket reach out to the rest of the American people. It was a necessary move, and one that the President was hopeful Quayle could do."
-Excerpt from Through the Parties: A History of Political Conventions by Jack Rakove; published 2012
Vice President Dan Quayle Addresses the Republican National Convention; August 20, 1992
"Marilyn and I have tried to teach our children these values, like faith in God, love of family, and appreciation for freedom. We have also taught them about family issues like adoption--my parents adopted twins when I was 10 years old. We have taught our children to respect single parents and their challenges--challenges that faced my grandmother many years ago, and my own sister today."
-Excerpt from Dan Quayle's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
Post-Convention Analysis; August 20, 1992
TOM BROKAW: "Dan Quayle's speech focused on what the Republicans want to talk up: family. It's family that will defeat Bill Clinton in this election. The man lied about his personal behavior twice to this nation, and he's paying the price. He's viewed as a man who can't keep his zipper up, and that's coming to haunt him in this election, and that's the message Republicans want voters to hear. Quayle's speech accomplished that - it accomplished pushing family values to the forefront."
"The President's Council on Competitiveness, which I chair, will continue to lead the charge against unnecessary federal regulation. We've worked to save jobs, and to save lives. We have reformed the drug approval process to speed up the availability of new medicines for people with life-threatening diseases like cystic fibrosis, cancer and AIDS. And what is the response of the Democrats in Congress? They have tried to kill the Council on Competitiveness, which stands up for the American people against the bureaucrats and the special interests. They think the competitiveness council should go. They don't get it. It is time for them to go. If the Democrats in Congress can't run their own restaurant, can't run their own post office and can't run their own bank, they sure can't be trusted to run our country."
-Excerpt from Dan Quayle's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
President George Bush Addresses the Republican National Convention; August 20, 1992
"Now, I know Americans are tired of the blame game, tired of people in Washington acting like they're candidates for the next episode of ``American Gladiators.'' I don't like it, either. Neither should you. But the truth is the truth. Our policies have not failed. They haven't even been tried. Americans want jobs, and on January 28th, I put before Congress a plan to create jobs. If it'd been passed back then, 500,000 more Americans would be at work right now. But in a Nation that demands action, Congress has become the master of inaction."
-Excerpt from George Bush's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
"George Bush had to be on his a-game. Even Dan Quayle had electrified the Republican delegates by calling for term limits for Senators and Congressmen. Bush had to fight to get his party back. Without a unified Republican Party, George Bush would lose in November. Here was a man who had seen so much in his many years. He had held numerous positions in government and he was now fighting his final campaign and President Bush wanted so much to win because he honestly believed that between he and Bill Clinton there was only one person ready to handle the presidency, and it certainly wasn't the Governor of Arkansas."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
"We can sit here and pretend that this convention will seal the deal. You, the delegates before me, can stand there and wave your signs and applause at all the right lines, but unless, when you leave these halls, you get out there as one, as a unified voice for leadership and experience. We cannot win without you. I am calling on this party to stand together for the good of America, to lead the United States into better days. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I am a man of missions and right now I am fighting America's mission. Join me in this mission and together we'll repair our economy at home and keep us safe abroad. We must do this much and more for the land of opportunity!"
-Excerpt from George Bush's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
"I know that the American people want answers. I understand that our nation's economy is in decline, but I am ready to fix it. I am ready to go to Washington and spend the next four years helping businesses fulfill the task of growing America's economy. We're going to be responsible spenders, we're going to fight for a more modern economy. I'm going to take the concerns of the people in this nation to the White House with me as I've done for the last four years. Now the pundits say that the voters are 'fatigued' and that they've had enough of the Republican Party. I beg to differ - I beg to differ because I know that this nation's days are ahead of us, not behind us, and that we can work together as one, come together as a nation, and bring in that future. The malaise days of the past are gone and optimism is here, let's not go backwards, let us look forward to the brighter future that lies ahead."
-Excerpt from George Bush's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
Post-Convention Analysis; August 20, 1992
TOM BROKAW: "President Bush was on top of it tonight. His speech was a call to arms for the Republican Party and a call to arms for the rest of America. He brushed over the economy with the sincerity we've come to know in George Bush. He effectively dismissed Bill Clinton as out of touch and inexperienced, and it was a masterfully strong performance by the President tonight. After a less-than-stellar bump from his convention a few weeks ago, Governor Clinton is probably very worried about the future for his campaign as allegations of affairs and inexperience continue to haunt his campaign."
"Tonight I appeal to that unyielding, undying, undeniable American spirit. I ask you to consider, now that the entire world is moving our way, why would we want to go back their way? I ask not just for your support for my agenda but for your commitment to renew and rebuild our Nation by shaking up the one institution that has withstood change for over four decades. Join me in rolling away the roadblock at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, so that in the next 4 years, we will match our accomplishments outside by building a stronger, safer, more secure America inside."
-Excerpt from George Bush's Convention Address; August 20, 1992
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Aug. 22-25)
GEORGE BUSH: 50%
BILL CLINTON: 44%
UNDECIDED: 06%
Which candidate for President do you trust more? (Aug. 22-25)
GEORGE BUSH: 63%
BILL CLINTON: 37%
It's the Economy, Stupid
"The American people have had enough! It is time to get the tired old politics of yesterday out of the White House. I said it at the convention in '88 and I'll say it again: enough is enough. Get the people who can't talk straight talk with the American people out of Washington! George Bush promises tax breaks, but we've heard it before and it's Washington-speak for tax hikes. We cannot afford four more years of the same. I want you all to get out there and vote for my dear friends Bill Clinton and Al Gore!"
-Excerpt from a surrogate speech delivered by Ann Richards for Clinton/Gore in Houston; August 30, 1992
"The President enjoyed a fairly easy ride after his convention, but soon he would have to return to reality. The economy was losing jobs and the person who would get the blame was him, he was the President, and he had to face up to the American people. They were hurt and they wanted answers. They looked to their President, but George Bush didn't have anything to say. He appeared out of touch and it was an image that he needed to shed. In reality, George Bush had lived a very privileged life and it was hurting him in the long run. Unless Bush did something drastic, he wasn't going to win reelection. All he did was campaign harder, spending more money, and hoping to make up for the ground he was losing to Clinton."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
"The polls are narrowing and it is starting to become a disaster. Clinton's catching-up and I'm losing confidence in our campaign. We came off of the convention with such optimism, such readiness, I'm disappointed that that's now gone. Matalin and the others won't accept defeat, but our numbers are falling and I can read a poll just as well as the next guy. We need to do something big, to shake up the campaign, I can't imagine how, especially with the debates ahead. Oh how I loathe debates - standing there all propped up, confining your response to an ordinary man's question into ten memorable, quotable words - bunch of horse shit it is. Can't imagine Clinton will have a problem with it though, the man doesn't seem to mind much."
-From the Diaries of George H.W. Bush; September 2, 1992
"After 12 years of trickle-down and after 12 years of being ignored, it is time to say enough! It is time to come together and seek change, to vote for change. You've been lied to. You've been ignored. Your views and your concerns have been overlooked so that the special interests in Washington can have their way. Stand with me now and we will change that because it is time for a new kind of America! It is time for a President that understands the concerns of the middle class, time for a President who is ready to defend the next generation. Whether it is health care or job creation, George Bush is out of touch and I say it's time we kick him out of the White House!"
-Excerpt from a stump speech delivered by Bill Clinton; September 8, 1992
"By September the tides were turning and our campaign was revitalized. The people were realizing that change is what the 1992 Election was all about. They wanted their country back. After 12 years of the trickle-down economic policies of the Reagan/Bush Era they wanted a different kind of approach, one that benefited them. I remember meeting people on the trail who wanted to reap the benefits of a broad change, one that didn't forget about the middle class. The critics argued my plan wasn't specific, but I believed in my vision for America, and so did millions of Americans."
-Excerpt from My Life by Bill Clinton; published in [REDACTED]
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Sept. 2-5)
GEORGE BUSH: 49%
BILL CLINTON: 45%
UNDECIDED: 06%
"And in other news, President Bush was in New Jersey today, campaigning for reelection. The President gave a speech on the accomplishments of his first four years in office, a speech positively received by the crowd. The President also attacked Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton on the "character issues" that have begun to define the campaign. The President indirectly referenced the alleged affair between Bill Clinton and Paula Jones, an affair that Bill Clinton has not come clean about. Earlier in the campaign season, the Governor was forced to come clean about an affair between him and a woman named Gennifer Flowers."
-Excerpt from the CBS Evening News Broadcast; September 15, 1992
"Hope. Not only is it the town from which Bill Clinton hails, but it is the very symbol that his campaign projects. Hope for a better country. Hope for a stronger economy. Hope for a stronger education system. Hope for a safer nation. Hope for the next generation. Hope, hope for a new America. It's the change that the American people want, the optimism that they've lost over the last four years. I am certain that on Election Day the American people will get out there and elect Bill Clinton as the next President, but we can't do it without you and I want each and every one of you to elect Bill Clinton as the next President of the United States, for your children and for your grandchildren!"
-Excerpt from a stump speech delivered by Al Gore; September 19, 1992
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Sept. 19-21)
GEORGE BUSH: 49%
BILL CLINTON: 47%
UNDECIDED: 04%
"The Bush campaign was getting nervous and they needed to act fast. Without a significant character assault on Clinton, and with the economy continuing to worsen, there was no way they could pull off victory. Eventually they got what they wanted when Paula Jones formally filed a sexual harassment suit against Governor Clinton only a few days before the first Presidential debate on October 11th. The Clinton Camp was forced to respond, frantically searching for the right words. Clinton had denied affairs with any other women while covering up for the Gennifer Flowers incident, could he afford to be caught lying again? Especially when attacking George Bush for a lack of honesty was his number one attack line."
-Excerpt from America in 1992 by Andrew Busch
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Oct. 08-11)
GEORGE BUSH: 50%
BILL CLINTON: 45%
UNDECIDED: 05%
NBC Nightly News Interview; December 10, 1994
TOM BROKAW: "The campaign in 1992 -"
BILL CLINTON: "Sure."
TOM BROKAW: "It started with so much promise and then things seemed to fall apart, but then you rebounded. It was a tumultuous campaign -"
BILL CLINTON: "Definitely."
TOM BROKAW: "Your personal life played a large part in the campaign, for better or for worse."
BILL CLINTON: "I maintain to this day that no other married couple would need to have been so open as Hillary and I were. We were honest -"
TOM BROKAW: "With all due respect, there was a pattern of lying. You denied the Gennifer Flowers affair and then it was proven that you two had an affair. You denied an affair with other women as well, and then Paula Jones -"
BILL CLINTON: "Paula Jones sued me."
TOM BROKAW: "She did. She filed her lawsuit just before the first presidential debate."
BILL CLINTON: "A stunt -"
TOM BROKAW: "Perhaps, but I want us to stay on point here. What did that say about you as a candidate?"
BILL CLINTON: "The lawsuit?"
TOM BROKAW: "The affair."
BILL CLINTON: "I love Hillary, our marriage has not always been easy, but through it all-"
TOM BROKAW: "The affair, sir, what did the affair tell the American people about you as a candidate?"
BILL CLINTON: "You'd need to interview them."
Bill Clinton and George Bush square-off in the first presidential debate; October 11, 1992
"Governor Clinton was a much stronger debater but the circumstances were not on his side heading into that first debate. The American voters had grown sick of his sexual escapades, but as soon as they started to warm up to Clinton again, more of his encounters were thrown in their face. On October 7th, Paula Jones filed a lawsuit against Clinton and a few days later he was thrown onto a stage against George Bush. Jim Lehrer moderated the debate and the first question came from him. It was a question about the lawsuit, questioning whether Governor Clinton could serve the future when his past kept becoming a problem. Clinton dodged the question, calling it unfair, but it threw him off his game as the debate headed into his strong suit: the economy."
-Excerpt from America in 1992 by Andrew Busch
Excerpt from the First 1992 Presidential Debate; October 11, 1992
JOHN MASHEK: "President Bush, your opponent has attacked trickle-down economics as backwards. Do you believe that a trickle-down approach can keep the nation's economy moving forward and if so, why hasn't it for the last four years?"
PRES. BUSH: "Well, for starters, that's a loaded question, but I'll do my best. The American people don't want to hear it, but this country isn't going to work if we just pin the blame on one person. I take partial responsibility for our economic failings, but you have to realize that the Democratic Congress has not acted either. They have not put forth a plan, they've simply said no to mine. Governor Clinton says he has a plan, but he stays away from specifics because when you press him on details his plan falls apart. he says he's not going to tax the Middle Class, and that's great, but he refused to define Middle Class. The American people need real answers and it's not going to happen as long as Governor Clinton is allowed to dodge the tough questions."
JIM LEHRER: "Governor Clinton, how would you define the middle class?"
GOV. CLINTON: "Jim, it's hypocritical for the President to stand here and tell you I won't keep my promise of a tax cut. The American people know that President Bush didn't keep his. Now, what we need is real leadership, and we're not going to get that from a President who says one thing to win and another thing once he's won."
JIM LEHRER: "And the President will have his turn to face the questions, but, Governor Clinton, will you detail your tax plan for us?"
GOV. CLINTON: "I have in the past, but I can do it again. I'm not going to tax the middle class any more than they're already taxed -"
JIM LEHRER: "And what's the middle class?"
PRES. BUSH: "This is where we run into the problems, Jim."
GOV. CLINTON: "The middle class are people like the ones I meet across this nation because of the tax hikes that President Bush has implemented on them. They're the people struggling to get by, and I'm running for President to help them."
JIM LEHRER: "So you're not willing to detail what the cut off point would be for the middle class?"
GOV. CLINTON: "I'm not going to have a 'read my lips' moment, I'm just saying that I will cut taxes for the middle class."
PRES. BUSH: "The funny thing is, Jim, Governor Clinton won't tell you who this tax cut is for and he won't tell you that he can't afford it with his plans to increase the size of government. For someone who paints himself as a moderate, he sure has a way of growing the federal government with a plan to return us to the malaise days of the past."
USA Today Poll: Who do you think won the first presidential debate?
GEORGE BUSH: 38%
BILL CLINTON: 30%
DRAW: 32%
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Oct. 13-15)
GEORGE BUSH: 52%
BILL CLINTON: 46%
UNDECIDED: 02%
Bill Clinton answers a question in the second presidential debate; October 15, 1992
"The first debate was a problem for the Clinton Campaign. Their candidate had hesitated to be aggressive, perhaps still thrown off by the question about Paula Jones being asked to him so pointedly at the beginning of the debate and the persistence by Jim Lehrer to respond to his middle class definition. The second debate benefited Clinton, however. The Arkansas Governor was a people person and the second debate would be a town hall style debate where the candidates would be allowed to take questions from audience directly. There was a lot on the line, it was Clinton's chance to put himself back in the game and boy did he come out swinging, it was the comeback kid that Democrats remembered from the primary fight."
-Excerpt from America in 1992 by Andrew Busch
Excerpt from the Second 1992 Presidential Debate; October 15, 1992
AUDIENCE QUESTION: "Why has so much emphasis been put on character issues instead of issues like the economy?"
GOV. CLINTON: "That's a really good question, and one that I have as well. This is a campaign for President of the United States. We're running to lead a nation for the next four years and it isn't any nation - it's the United States. We owe the people of this country a fair and honest debate on the issues, and that's why I like this format - it's why I suggested it. The President's record on the economy is weak and we can't sit back and pretend that doesn't matter. Trickle-down is done. Tax hikes on the middle class are done. I'm sick of them and so are most of you. I'm running to change it all, to usher in the hope that this nation's been missing. Washington needs a breath of fresh air and that's what I'm here to offer you. I think that if we work together we can restore the people's government, but if I was reapplying for my job after having the position for four years, and my record in those four years was as weak as President Bush's, then I can't say I'd want to run on that record. I get why the Republicans are running the campaign they're running, I don't like it, but I get it."
PRES. BUSH: "I agree that the economy matters a great deal, and no one hates the dirty politics side of a campaign more than me, but I do think the issues that have been brought forth in this campaign matter. I care very, very passionately about this issue. I don't see how a man who dodged the draft can go on to become Commander-in-Chief. I don't see how a man who can protest against this government in some of the most hateful ways on foreign soil can stand up and run for President. I don't see it, maybe it's a generational thing. I also think family values matter. Barbara is a trusted adviser of mine, she's a close friend, and she's my wife - I love her dearly. The campaign has been particularly difficult on her, as I'm sure it has been on the Mrs. Clinton, and I'm much more concerned about the economy than all of you seem to think. Those unemployment reports, they get slapped on my desk and I have to - have to react to them, have to make the calls on the issues."
USA Today Poll: Who do you think won the second presidential debate?
GEORGE BUSH: 31%
BILL CLINTON: 36%
DRAW: 33%
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Oct. 16-18)
GEORGE BUSH: 50%
BILL CLINTON: 47%
UNDECIDED: 03%
In their final debate, Bill Clinton and George Bush addressed a variety of issues; October 19, 1992
"The Bush for President Committee was enthusiastic about the direction of the campaign. They had won the first debate and done a decent job of holding off Governor Clinton in the second debate. The final debate would cover all of the issues, but would see special attention paid to foreign affairs, which only excited the Bush camp more. The President was ready. Only a few months earlier he didn't think victory was conceivable, but now the possibility for success was real. He prepped extensively for that final debate, working on strategies and hoping to seal the deal on his campaign. Circumstance was on his side. Paula Jones's case against Governor Clinton was gaining momentum and there were intense rumors that the Governor would settle out of court for the price tag Jones wanted. On top of that, Hillary Clinton was appearing on the trail less and less for her husband and the grocery line tabloids were speculating that divorce was eminent. It was enough to hurt the Clinton campaign as they prepared for that final debate, the one where everything was on the line."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
Excerpt from the Final 1992 Presidential Debate; October 19, 1992
JIM LEHRER: "Before your closing statements, the last question goes to President Bush. Mr. President, why do you deserve another four years?"
PRES. BUSH: "A lot has been said tonight, Jim, about each candidate's qualifications. Over the last four years we've seen a lot get done. The Soviet Union has fallen, we've fought to rid the world of oppression. Our nation has begun to prepare as we move into the next century. I admit that though I've spent the last four years doing a lot, a great deal remains. The economy is too fragile at its present state, I recognize that, and I am willing to lead us into recovery. There may be a lot left to do, but I ask the American people not to forget what we have done already."
JIM LEHRER: "Governor Clinton, your closing statement?"
GOV. CLINTON: "Thank you, Jim for moderating, thank you to the panelists, and thank you the viewers. This campaign has seen a lot and two weeks from tomorrow the American people are going to vote in one of the most climatic elections in our history. I am asking for the chance to serve, to lead, as we head into the future. The simple truth is that we have given George Bush four years to aid this economy and the trickle-down ways of the Reagan Era have not helped. We cannot make change without a change at the highest level of the executive branch of this government. I want that change to happen for America. Hope is alive once again, it's been gone for twelve or so years, but it's back. We can move into the future together, but we need a leader with big ideas and big plans. My plan is to invest and grow, put our people first, control health care costs and provide basic health care to all Americans, have an education system 2nd to none and revitalize the private economy. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to leave this nation better than we found it, and right now we're not. We can do better, America, and that's why I want to be your next President. Thank you."
JIM LEHRER: "And President Bush."
PRES. BUSH: "In a matter of weeks Americans are going to vote and they'll make their mind up based on a variety of issues. When it comes to jobs -- that's the number one priority, and I believe my program for stimulating investment, encouraging small business, brand-new approach to education, strengthening the American family, and, yes, creating more exports is the way to go. I don't believe in trickle-down government, I don't believe in larger taxes and larger government spending. My views, my actions have been distorted by the Democrats to cover for their own lapses in judgement. On foreign policy -- something that some see as irrelevant, I define it as crucial. The community of this planet is becoming increasingly global. The economies of the world are becoming interconnected and it's time we realize that a strong diplomat is necessary in the next President. You can attack experience, you can say it doesn't matter, but I disagree. The future of this nation depends on strong leadership and the best way to do that is to stick up for your morals, to defend your nation, not run from that honor, and to sign-up and salute. America, I'm here for the next four years if you want a President with the experience to keep this nation moving forward."
USA Today Poll: Who do you think won the second presidential debate?
GEORGE BUSH: 30%
BILL CLINTON: 28%
DRAW: 42%
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Oct. 20-22)
GEORGE BUSH: 52%
BILL CLINTON: 47%
UNDECIDED: 01%
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There Goes the Nation
"After winning the final debate, the Bush Campaign was prepared to take it to the nation. While they held a decent lead in the popular vote, electorally the race was very close, and they would need to beat Bill Clinton in terms of turnout. The President campaigned endlessly, with victory in sight he was unwilling to give up. Bill Clinton wasn't going to give up either, he worked just as hard to project confidence on the trail. He met with voters and kissed babies, and his youth and vigor inspired the American electorate. Still, there was a trust gap. Every few days Paula Jones would be on the television to discuss her lawsuit with the press and Clinton's numbers would sag. It was destroying the confidence the public had in Governor Clinton, but it was hard to put it out of the public's eye. The electorate was being dragged through the most unpredictable election in American history."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
"Election Day is less than a week a day. If we're going to win this thing, if we're going to take back America, then we need you! We need you to get out and vote, to have your voice heard, and to support the change our nation so desperately needs! It's been twelve long years of trickle-down, broken-down, backwards politics. If we work together we can take America back, we can turn it around, we can leave a better country for our children. Join me and vote for the Clinton/Gore ticket this November!"
-Excerpt from a stump speech delivered by Bill Clinton; October 29, 1992
If the election were held today, who would you vote for for President? (Oct. 28-30)
GEORGE BUSH: 51%
BILL CLINTON: 48%
UNDECIDED: 01%
Campaign Strategy Meeting, Clinton for President; November 1, 1992
GOV. CLINTON: "So what are our chances?"
JAMES CARVILLE: "Governor, you're going to lose. I can't believe it, but there's really no chance."
GOV. CLINTON: "Jones still won't settle out of court?"
JAMES CARVILLE: "According to the lawyers."
GOV. CLINTON: "Fuck."
JAMES CARVILLE: "Hillary won't do a press conference? Say she's fully behind you?"
GOV. CLINTON: "She wants it just as much as I do, James, she'll do it."
JAMES CARVILLE: "Then let's give it a shot."
Hillary Clinton's now-famous Press Conference; November 2, 1992
Excerpt from Hillary Clinton's Press Conference; November 2, 1992
HILLARY CLINTON: "I have forgiven my husband. Our marriage is strong because I still love the man very deeply. For the last several months our relationship has come under attack by a media that cannot believe I could still love Bill. I do. For the last few weeks I've been lost, in a daze, but Bill has always been here for me, and I know in my heart he will always be there for the United States. Bill Clinton is an honest and decent man. He has not lied to the American people about policy, he fought to keep the most intimate details of our marriage private, and surely the American people can understand that and the difference between our personal and public lives."
REPORTER: "Mrs. Clinton, why have you come forth today as opposed to weeks ago?"
HILLARY CLINTON: "I have to admit that I was lost before, I didn't know what was going to become of my marriage with Bill. It is unfortunate that the media has taken my absence and assumed that it meant the end of my marriage. I love Bill, and I have not been absent from the trail. I scaled back my schedule, yes. This is my first press conference in months, sure. That does not believe that I do not love Bill Clinton and that does not mean that I won't cast my vote for him tomorrow."
"The night of Hillary Clinton's press conference, George Bush was shaken. He feared he had lost the election right there, even though his staffers felt it was too little, too late and told him that, he was uncertain. George Bush went to bed on Election Eve unconvinced and distraught, fearful of becoming a one-term President. No matter how much Barbara Bush tried to comfort him, George Bush was unconvinced. No matter how much his staff tried to explain that the election was his, George Bush felt deep in the pit of his stomach that he was going to lose the following day."
-Excerpt from [REDACTED] a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
"The press conference delivered by Hillary Clinton was a major moment in the campaign, even though it happened just one day before Election Day. The pundits had no way to know how much of an impact it would have. Democrats said it would win them the race, Republicans said it wouldn't be enough to turn the tides of the campaign. The nation waited all day on November 3rd to see who would become the President of the United States."
-Excerpt from America in 1992 by Andrew Busch
U.S. Senate Election Results, 1992:
Alabama: Democrat Richard Shelby reelected - D Hold
Alaska: Republican Frank Murkowski reelected - R Hold
Arizona: Republican John McCain reelected - R Hold
Arkansas: Democrat Dale Bumpers reelected - D Hold
California (Special): Democrat Dianne Feinstein elected - D Gain
California: Democrat Barbara Boxer elected - D Hold
Colorado: Democrat Ben Nighthorse Campbell elected - D Hold
Connecticut: Democrat Chris Dodd reelected - D Hold
Florida: Democrat Bob Graham reelected - D Hold
Georgia: Republican Paul Coverdell elected - D Gain
Hawaii: Democrat Daniel Inouye reelected - D Hold
Idaho: Republican Dirk Kempthorne elected - R Hold
Illinois: Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun elected - D Hold
Indiana: Republican Dan Coats reelected - R Hold
Iowa: Republican Chuck Grassley reelected - R Hold
Kansas: Republican Bob Dole reelected - R Hold
Kentucky: Democrat Wendell H. Ford reelected - D Hold
Louisiana: Democrat John Breaux reelected - D Hold
Maryland: Democrat Barbara Mikulski reelected - D Hold
Missouri: Republican Kit Bond reelected - R Hold
Nevada: Democrat Harry Reid - D Hold
New Hampshire: Republican Judd Gregg elected - R Hold
New York: Republican Al D'Amato reelected - R Hold
North Carolina: Republican Lauch Faircloth elected - R Gain
North Dakota: Democrat Byron Dorgan elected - D Hold
North Dakota (Special): Democrat Kent Conrad elected - D Hold
Ohio: Democrat John Glenn reelected - D Hold
Oklahoma: Republican Don Nickles reelected - R Hold
Oregon: Republican Bob Packwood reelected - R Hold
Pennsylvania: Republican Arlen Specter reelected - R Hold
South Carolina: Republican Thomas Hartnett elected - R Gain
South Dakota: Democrat Tom Daschle reelected - D Hold
Utah: Republican Robert Bennett elected - R Hold
Vermont: Democrat Patrick Leahy reelected - D Hold
Washington: Democrat Patty Murray reelected - D Hold
Wisconsin: Republican Bob Kasten reelected - R Hold
Previous Senate Composition: 56 Democrats, 44 Republicans
New Senate Composition: 56 Democrats, 44 Republicans
U.S. House Election Results, 1992:
Previous House Composition: 267 Democrats, 167 Republicans
New House Composition: 255 Democrats, 179 Republicans
Incumbent Speaker of the House: Tom Foley (D-WA)
Incoming Speaker of the House: Tom Foley (D-WA)
U.S. Gubernatorial Election Results, 1992:
Delaware: Democrat Thomas R. Carper elected - D Gain
Indiana: Democrat Evan Bayh reelected - D Hold
Missouri: Democrat Mel Carnahan elected - D Gain
Montana: Republican Marc Racicot elected - R Hold
New Hampshire: Republican Steve Merrill elected - R Hold
North Carolina: Democrat Jim Hunt elected - D Gain
North Dakota: Republican Ed Schafer elected - R Gain
Rhode Island: Democrat Bruce Sundlun reelected - D Hold
Utah: Republican Mike Leavitt elected - R Hold
Vermont: Democrat Howard Dean reelected - D Hold
Washington: Republican Ken Eikenberry elected - R Gain
West Virginia: Democrat Gaston Caperton reelected - D Hold
Previous Gubernatorial Composition: 28 Democrats, 20 Republicans
New Gubernatorial Composition: 29 Democrats, 19 Republicans
U.S. Presidential Election Results, 1992:
(R) George H.W. Bush/Dan Quayle (I): 275 EV's & 50.9%
(D) Bill Clinton/Al Gore: 263 EV's & 48.3%
Incumbent President: George H.W. Bush (R)
President-Elect: George H.W. Bush (R)
Governor Clinton conceding defeat on Election Night; November 3, 1992
"This election has bee full of unexpected twists and turns, and I want to thank all of you for making this race with me. While the results are not what we had hoped for and while our campaign meets its end, the hope we share for this nation is still very much alive. Our hope to end the disastrous economic policies of the Republican Party continue. Our hope for a brighter future is still alive. This may be the end of our campaign, but we will still continue our fight for economic prosperity. The hope we have for our country does not end here today."
-Excerpt from Bill Clinton's concession speech; November 3, 1992
"Bill Clinton's speech seemed very - it made it seem as though he will return to the spotlight. In his speech he continued to drone on about how the hope he talked about on his campaign would survive, somewhat generic, but still a sign. His speech was broad, perhaps written last-minute, and he seemed to drone on - it reminded many in the press of his 1988 Convention Address, though it was over in less than 20 minutes. Very repetitive, very bland."
-Tom Brokaw on the Clinton Concession Speech in a documentary for the History Channel; 2005
"George Bush has been returned to the Oval Office for another four years, and I will respect the opinion of the American people. I am here to offer President Bush my personal support, and a true sense of confidence in his leadership. I want - now more than ever, I want this nation to come together. I want us to unite, and while it will be hard and though it may not happen immediately, I want you to join me in supporting President Bush as he prepares to lead this nation into the next four years, an uncertain future for sure. I respect George Bush and I wish him all the best, because I wish this nation success. Thank you all for standing with Hillary and Al and Tipper and I as we made this race for a more prosperous America. Thank you. God bless the United States of America. Good night."
-Excerpt from Bill Clinton's concession speech; November 3, 1992
George Bush during his victory speech; November 3, 1992
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the warm reception this evening and thank you for another four years to continue this mission that we are making together. It is an honor - I am humbled for another opportunity to serve this great nation, a nation I love dearly. The road ahead will not be easy, and I want to make that clear now. The American people have returned to Washington a Republican President and a Democratic Congress and the debates ahead will be long and uncertain, but let us come together in hopes of moving this nation forward as we prepare to enter our greatest days. In the history of this nation we have faced trouble dead-on, just as now we face an uncertain future. Let that uncertain future inspire us, not divide us. And in the interest of unity, I want to thank Governor Clinton for his gracious words tonight and for his salute to this nation and for his calls to unity. The last few months have been especially difficult for him and me and our families, especially, but I hope that we will will work together for a better American future. Let us come together tonight and make a difference for our nation."
-Excerpt from George Bush's victory speech; November 3, 1992
"President Bush was genuinely surprised at his reelection, he thought that Hillary's last-minute press conference would be enough to convince on-the-fence voters that they should go for Bill. He was partially right, people who made their mind up in the voting booth went overwhelmingly for Bill Clinton, but enough Republicans had been exhilarated by their chance at winning an unprecedented fourth election victory in a row to make sure they voted. It was enough to return George Bush to the White House. When the time came for him, the following day, to outline his vision for the next four years, he made a few things particularly clear: he wanted to focus on foreign policy as much as possible, though he realized his number one concern had to be economic policy. He wanted to do some mild cabinet shuffling. He wanted to be productive and work with the Democratic Congress to put politics aside. He would not use Bill Clinton to accomplish any of these tasks."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
Welcome Back, George
"The transition phase of George Bush was relatively simple. There was little transitioning to do, in fact, he was staying right where he was, but he reassessed his cabinet choices and went from there. The President only changed three cabinet positions before January 20, 1993. It was a symbol of continuity, perhaps that little would change in the next four years, but the President was hard at work to draft an effective inaugural address. He wanted to uplift and inspire. The country had reelected him, but it was not based completely on his performance in office. The election of 1992 was one of the worst in the nation's history for voter turnout. About 48% of the nation turned out to vote, evidence of dissatisfaction with the way politics was going. It was a sad reality: that voters were tired of the Reagan/Bush ways, which would span 16 years by the end of Bush's second term, but not ready to endorse a man who had a crumbling marriage and repeatedly lied to cover-up affairs, a man who battled accusations not only of an affair but of sexual harassment in the days leading up to the election."
-Excerpt from Reelecting a President by Doris Kearns Goodwin; published 2003
The Second-Term Cabinet of George H.W. Bush
President: George H.W. Bush (R-TX)
Vice President: Dan Quayle (R-IN)
White House Chief of Staff: James Baker (R-TX)
Secretary of State: Lawrence Eagleburger (R-VA)
Secretary of the Treasury: Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Secretary of Defense: Dick Cheney (R-WY)
Attorney General: John Danforth (R-MO)
Secretary of the Interior: Manuel Lujan (R-NM)
Secretary of Agriculture: Robert Bennett (R-KS)
Secretary of Commerce: Barbara Hackman Franklin (R-PA)
Secretary of Labor: Lynn Martin (R-IL)
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Louis Sullivan (R-GA)
Secretary of Education: Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Jack Kemp (R-NY)
Secretary of Transportation: Andrew Card (R-MA)
Secretary of Energy: James D. Watkins (R-VA)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Ed Derwinski (R-IL)
italics indicate a new cabinet official
Meet the Press Interview; December 6, 1992
TIM RUSSERT: "Governor, November 3rd marked the fourth Presidential Election in a row where the Democratic Party lost. What is going on within the party and what does the future of your party look like now that George Bush prepares for another four years in office?"
GOV. RICHARDS: "Well, Tim, let's talk about what the future of the nation looks like. We're going to have four years of lies and deception. We're going to have four more years of the trickle-down policies that have moved this nation backwards. I look at my granddaughter Lily and I can't help but fear for her future. Our debt is skyrocketing, and we've seen little action from the President. The future of our country is bleak, Tim -"
TIM RUSSERT: "But if that's the truth than why have Republicans been able to win four presidential elections in a row?"
GOV. RICHARDS: "The Democrats, admittedly, have a marketing problem. There are reasons we lost in 1992, and I'll leave it at that, that go against what the general public believed. The truth is unemployment is on the rise, our economy isn't making progress, and we have to see a change. We have to, if we want real success and a real future for the nation. I hope the Democrats in Congress will fight for the real policies, the policies that need to be made."
TIM RUSSERT: "And what are those policies?"
GOV. RICHARDS: "We can't have a government that bends over backwards to help the rich in this nation while the poor and the middle class suffer. I lived through the Great Depression, those were tough times for folks like me and my family, and I think it's time the Democratic Congress put those people first. Now, I know my party does, but we haven't been as aggressive as we should be. Let's get our message out there and change public opinion. I'm willing to do it, I know other Democrats who are, too, and I think we'll get there, but unfortunately we made a mistake in 1992 and we're going to pay the price of that error for the next four years."
Meet the Press Interview; December 13, 1992
TIM RUSSERT: "Senator Gore, what was the biggest reason for your ticket's defeat in November?"
SEN. GORE: "Well it wasn't my ticket, Tim, I was a part of it, but it was Bill Clinton's campaign -"
TIM RUSSERT: "Was that the reason for the defeat?"
SEN. GORE: "As Governor Richards said last week, 1992 was a more favorable year to the Democrats than it turned out to be. Now I worked very hard to get our message out, but the media was so focused on these so-called 'character issues' that we couldn't talk about the issues that mattered. You heard it from the people, they wanted to talk about the economy and the fact that George Bush lied in 1988. They didn't want to hear about whether or not Bill Clinton smoked marijuana in his past."
TIM RUSSERT: "Well where's the party future going now?"
SEN GORE: "We have a lot of rethinking to do. We need to decide what route we'll take in the future. There'll be discussions and debates, but I'm eager to move forward, to work with the Republicans and make substantive changes to the nation, through legislation. It's time to get our economy turned around, I hope that the President can work with us in the Congress, because we have some very real concerns about the direction our nation is headed."
"As soon as my campaign ended, Al Gore was out starting his own bid for the Presidency. The nerve! And he basically through me under the bus today in that Meet the Press interview, the bastard. I made that man, I gave him the nationwide attention he wanted. I liked him! I respected him! And he does that? The bastard."
-From the Diaries of Bill Clinton; December 13, 1992
George H.W. Bush takes the Oath of Office for the second time; January 20, 1993
"I, George Herbert Walker Bush, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States. So help me God."
"What a humbling experience, taking the Oath of Office for a second time. I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I'm optimistic about the next four years, but I realize that it's going to be difficult. Those in the other party don't want me to succeed, but I genuinely hope we can put the nation before our interest. The truth is, though, they're bitter. I was never supposed to win reelection, and after 16 years of Republican control of the White House they want this mansion back, and they want it back as soon as my term expires."
-From the Diaries of George Bush; January 20, 1993
President George H.W. Bush delivering his second inaugural address; January 20, 1993
"Mr. Chief Justice, Vice President Quayle, Senator Mitchell, Speaker Foley, Senator Dole, Congressman Michel, distinguished guests, fellow citizens:
"Four years ago, I spoke about the different times in our nations history. Times when the future, like it was four years ago, was one you could walk right through, and I spoke of times when that future was thick like fog. I said then, that during times like those we would sit and wait for that fog to lift. Though I must admit that our future is thick like a heavy morning fog, it is temporary, and we will not sit an wait: we will act.
"We will respond to the uncertainty that faces us with great resolve, with a promise to better our nation, just as our forebears have done in the past. In times like these, when the direction of our nation is uneasy, we did not lay down and wait - we seized the moment. When our future looked bleak in 1981, a man by the name of Ronald Reagan came and ushered in an era of prosperity. Now - now that the future may not look as promising as it once did, we will charge forward, stronger than we have before, knowing that our country will benefit from a resolved determination to move ahead.
"I do not pretend today that I know all of the answers, for I am but one man. As our nation's President, I look to those in this nation for your guidance just as you have looked to mine in the past. Together there is much we can accomplish, divided there is little we can do. I know, in my heart, what is right, just as all of you do, and while I return to this office after four years, I understand that the problems our nation faces are very different now than they were four years ago. For four years ago we were still involved in the Cold War, now the Soviet Union is gone. Four years ago our economy was growing each and every day, now that growth has declined. While I will not play the blame game that so many in the media may want me to participate in, I acknowledge that there are numerous reasons that our economy has turned so sour, the chief among them being a lack of reaction. When the nation cries out for help it is the responsibility of the Congress and of our Chief Executive to respond. When the Congress and that Chief Executive are unable to come to an agreement on how to respond, our country suffers. Let the political divisions of the last four years wash away with the Oath I just took. Let the next four years see growth and prosperity, renewal and change. Knowing that those things are only possible through cooperation and support."
-Excerpt from George H.W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address; January 20, 1993
"President Bush's Inaugural Address has given me hope that the politics of yesterday are gone, and that he will work with Congress to usher in a new era of prosperity and growth. I hope that he was sincere, though I believe he was, and I hope that America will benefit from a cooperative relationship between the White House and the Congress."
-Speaker of the House Tom Foley in an interview after the President's Inauguration; January 22, 1993
"The world is watching us. They are looking to us for guidance and support. We will never step away from that responsibility, the responsibility to shine the light of freedom on the rest of the world. We will embrace it and wear it like it is a badge of honor, for it is. We owe it to the global community to not only embrace but spread democracy and freedom, while respecting the traditions of other nations. We will stand hand-in-hand with those democratic nations around the globe, those nations that allow their people to vote in honest and fair elections, and we will patiently wait as other nations from across the planet work their way towards democracy and fairness."
-Excerpt from George H.W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address; January 20, 1993
"George Bush delivered a truly great Inaugural Address after he took the Oath in 1993. It was powerful and it spoke volumes about the next four years of his presidency. He reminded Americans that he was humble, that he was gracious, but also that he was an optimist. It was a well-written and well-given address and it was positively received then, as it is now."
-Doris Kearns Goodwin in HISTORY's "Ultimate Guide to the Presidents" Documentary; 2013
"The Inauguration of 1993 was one of the best, in my opinion. Both Quayle and Bush took the Oaths with confidence and poise, and Bush's speech - Bush's speech was truly unlike what we'd seen from him. He took responsibility, owned up to errors in his previous ways, and made Americans hopeful for a better future, hopeful for what lay ahead. I don't believe that George Bush knew exactly how much of an impact that speech would have. It was no JFK in 1961, but it was definitely, in my opinion, in the Top 5. Not necessarily because of the words, but because of the broader message, and the fact that it marked a change in George Bush - a willingness and a genuine desire to make the last four years of his presidency worth a damn."
-Michael Beschloss in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
The Early Sprint
"Right away, of course, President Bush wanted to get to work. He began by meeting with Democratic Leaders from the Hill about what to do next when it came to the economy. He didn't have a major jobs plan in mind, but he was immediately confronted with the issue of taxes and how to deal with them. Should he raise them or cut them?"
-Michael Beschloss in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
Conversation in the Oval Office; January 25, 1993
PRES. BUSH: "It's wrong, Jim, I can't cut taxes with the debt this far out of control. We need to bring it in."
JAMES BAKER: "Mr. President, if you raise taxes again, it'll be political suicide. You promised tax cuts in 1992 and the voters barely believed you. If you go back on that promise, you won't be able to get another thing passed because your approval will be so low the voters won't support ya, and when a President is that unpopular, Congress doesn't work with him!"
PRES. BUSH: "Economists say that a decreased federal deficit would be good for the country -"
JAMES BAKER: "You can't do it, Mr. President. If you do it you won't be able to accomplish another thing, and I'm not exaggerating. You need to swallow it this time around, maybe later we can worry about decreasing the deficit, but if you go in front of Congress and the American people and ask for a tax hike you'll lose all public trust. It's not worth it."
"Just like the first term, tax cuts were a big issue in President Bush's second term. Of course, he had a lot on his plate. The economy was barely getting by, if it was getting by at all, and the American people were losing their trust in him. They wanted the tax cuts they'd been promised, and it would have been politically tone deaf to do anything else. I doubt it is what George Bush wanted to do, but it was ultimately would circumstance would demand of him."
-Doris Kearns Goodwin in HISTORY's "Ultimate Guide to the Presidents" Documentary; 2013
"Soon, I'll be in front of the Congress delivering the State of the Union. The staff wants me to call for a tax cut, but I don't know if I can stomach that. How am I supposed to talk about a better future for future generations when I slap such a large bill on their backs? The debt is something I've always cared about - I've always wanted to pay it off, and now I'm told I can't because of politics. I thought a second term would be different, I thought not having to run for reelection would mean I wouldn't need to worry about the political consequences, perhaps it was naive of me. I don't know, I'm losing faith in all of it right now."
-From the Diaries of George Bush; January 29, 1993
"The President was now burdened by the mistakes of his predecessor. The debt and deficit were growing problems, and they weren't going away. Between his inauguration and his State of the Union, President Bush held two press conferences. In them he spoke straight to the American people, outlining support for economic renewal - but not elaborating. In one press conference a reporter asked him point-blank if he intended to ask Congress for tax cuts and the President looked him in the eye for a brief moment before dodging the question and saying that his economic team was looking for a balanced approach to the growing recession. The press took it as a sign that he was either indecisive, or ready to go back on another campaign promise."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
"Earlier today, President Bush held a press conference where he seemed to imply that he was preparing to go back on a promise from the 1992 Presidential Campaign, and it again involves taxes. At his press conference, the second since the beginning of the second term, the President dodged a question on whether or not he would call for a middle class tax cut during his State of the Union Address, just days away. It could be political suicide for George Bush if he has another 'read my lips' moment."
-NBC Nightly News broadcast; February 12, 1993
"We had a plan to get the President on television a lot, so that he could control the story. It was something I was a little concerned about but ultimately supported, I thought there was a potential for things to go wrong, and they did. During the President's second press conference of the new term, he dodged a question on taxes and it threw the White House into disaster control mode. I'm very serious when I say that, too, because it was a major issue for us. The President was asked if he would call for a tax cut or if he would raise taxes, but he had no idea, we were still trying to convince him to go for the tax cut. He tried to answer the best he could without saying 'I have no idea yet', but it screwed us. That was the end of that strategy - us trying to get the President out there to have our side fairly reported."
-Former WH Communications Director Mary Matalin in HISTORY'S "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
President Bush delivers the 1993 State of the Union Address; February 17, 1993
"Tonight, I am here to report to you on the State of the Union. The State of our Union is strong, but it is in desperate need of our absolute attention and focus. That means that tomorrow we must begin the conversation on how to strengthen our economy, and while the pundits like to say that we have a mere 100 days to act, I hope all of you understand that this task will take far closer to 1,000 days. If you are here tonight, after one of the most interesting elections of our time, and you are worrying about the next election, or even the one after that, then I respectfully ask you to leave this chamber. Our nation's economy deserves our complete attention and I am willing to pay it the attention it needs, but if you sit here tonight and you're worried about what lies ahead for you and your party in 1994 and 1996, then we cannot rebuild our nation, and if we do not rebuild our nation, none of you will be returned to the seats your in now."
-Excerpt from President Bush's 1993 State of the Union Address; February 17, 1993
"He was truly very honest in his State of the Union Address that year. He wanted the Senators and Congressmen to know that he meant business, that he wasn't lying when he said it was time to put politics aside. It was a brave move, but it was also classic George Bush."
-James Baker in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
"I thought the President was very firm with Congress, and it was refreshing. It was good to see that the President meant business and that he had a very real concern for helping America's economy. During the campaign it was a weak point for him - the economy was - but he has really turned one of his biggest drawbacks into a center point for his second term. He realizes that the economy needs attention, and he wants to aid it, but he doesn't want to be the only one - to fight a losing cause."
-Tom Brokaw on George Bush's State of the Union Address; February 17, 1993
"If we want businesses to hire people once again, if we want to truly help this economy, then we must pass a tax cut for the middle class and small business owners in this nation today. A tax cut will allow people to pump money back into the economy, ultimately allowing that economy to thrive. If we do not recognize this then I do not believe our economy will ever recover. Any true economic turnaround must begin, though it will not end, with a tax cut to the hardest workers in our nation. While I recognize that this government cannot afford a massive deduction in revenue, I am willing to support a mild cut today to allow for growth tomorrow. If we are serious about making this recovery happen, we must put the concerns we have about the debt to the side, just now, just for the moment, to allow real growth to begin."
-Excerpt from President Bush's 1993 State of the Union Address; February 17, 1993
"His speech last night was somewhat out of character for George Bush, and I think it is clear that the far-right in his party have gotten to him. They want a tax cut, and he promised the nation one in 1992, and he realized that was his only way out. Whether or not his fumble a few days ago during the Press Conference influenced his decision, I don't know, but I think the backlash the Administration got to his suggestion of a tax hike was enough to make up their mind."
-Tim Russert on George Bush's State of the Union Address; February 18, 1993
Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Dole briefs the press on the President's tax plan; February 24, 1993
Press Conference by Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of the Treasury; February 24, 1993
REPORTER: "Madame Secretary, in his State of the Union Address the President implied that he planned to ignore the growing debt. How will this impact his economic plan over the long term?"
SEC. DOLE: "Well, with all due respect, I do believe you're misinterpreting what the President said. Now, what President Bush called for was a tax cut on the middle class. Believe me, President Bush understands that the debt in this nation is growing, and that's exactly why his proposed tax cut is not nearly as large as some wanted. President Bush believes, as I do, that we must pass this tax cut - that it will benefit our nation's economy. It will not help our debt problem, he understands this, but our number one priority must be our economy, and that is more important than the debt. That's what the President was saying during his speech."
REPORTER: "Follow-up? There are many economists who think shrinking the deficits would help the economy. Is it a mistake to not place the debt as a bigger priority?"
SEC. DOLE: "Americans are out of work, and like the rest of us, the President understands our foremost concern must be finding jobs for those people. We can't do that if we hike up taxes on job creators and workers alike, it wouldn't be sound policy. President Bush understands policy very well, and I trust in his judgement. We - this Administration - put together a solid tax proposal that will aid our economy without adding too much to the deficit."
"Just as the President started to get traction on his tax plan, disaster struck."
-Narration in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
"Six people are dead today after a bombing on the World Trade Center. The bomb went off at 12:17 PM in the parking lot of the North Tower. Over 1,000 people are injured as a result of the bombing."
-CBS Evening News broadcast; February 26, 1993
Meeting in the Situation Room; February 27, 1993
PRES. BUSH: "Let's keep the pressure up. If this turns out to be from Iraq, I want to know about it. If this is Al-Qaeda, I want to know about it. Am I being clear, here?"
SEVERAL: "Yes, sir."
PRES. BUSH: "There are six people dead and we owe it to their families to see whoever is responsible brought to justice. I want this done."
"The first 100 days of his term were rather bland. He had signed the 'Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993', angering several conservatives. The President had dealt with a terrorist attack on the World Trad Center, and put components of his economic plan into motion, specifically his tax plan. The plan would eventually pass with middle class Americans receiving a break on their taxes. His jobs plan, which would be unveiled later in the year, would be the subject of much more scrutiny and debate."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
A Message to the World
"In the wake of the World Trade Center bombing, the President wanted to make his position on terrorism very clear. The United States would not tolerate such action against its people, and he wanted to make sure the terrorists hiding in the hills and villages of the Middle East understood that. He also wanted to make sure that Saddam Hussein understood that. His staff began writing his biggest foreign policy address, and it was to be delivered from the Oval Office on the one month anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000
Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Bush is doing? (Mar. 3-5)
APPROVE: 55%
DISAPPROVE: 37%
UNDECIDED: 08%
"There was a real conversation going on in the Administration about what our message would be to terrorism. It was a cause for serious debate in the White House. We watched, we waited, we wanted to gauge the response of Congressional leaders as well. The President, of course, wanted to be firm - to really put his foot down and say enough was enough, the U.S. would not tolerate attacks on our soil. Some in the Administration thought it could be too firm of a response."
-James Baker in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
Conversation in the Oval Office; March 10, 1993
PRES. BUSH: "I'm not going to back down. If you attack the United States, we're going to fight back."
JAMES BAKER: "I don't have a problem with that language, Mr. President, not at all."
MARY MATALIN: "It could strike problems on the Hill. There's still a Democratic Congress -"
PRES. BUSH: "When does the politics stop? When do we stop worrying about the next election?"
MARY MATALIN: "This isn't that, Mr. President. The Congress isn't going to support preemptive strikes up and down the Middle East and if you can't back up these words you'll look week. It would be a big mistake to make an address about terrorism and not back it up."
PRES. BUSH: "This isn't all preemptive, it's also talking about how we respond when we're attacked."
MARY MATALIN: "And I have no problem with that, and I doubt the Democrats will, but I wouldn't be too firm."
"Terrorism is a cause for national concern, and I trust that President Bush knows this and will deal with the issue effectively. He's a strong Commander-in-Chief and I have no doubt that we will see that displayed. We will have a strong message on terrorism, I'm sure."
-Bob Dole in an interview on Larry King Live; March 13, 1993
President George Bush delivering an Oval Office Address on terrorism; March 26, 1993
"Good evening.
"Tonight I'm going to talk to you about an issue that is very near to all of our hearts: terrorism. During my first term in office, we stood together and watched the end of the Soviet Union, and what a truly great moment that was for our nation - and for the world. We watched the end of communism right there, together. I know that it was a moment that many Americans will not soon forget, it has certainly left a lasting impression on me as Commander-in-Chief, but communism is not the only form of evil and to assume that it is would be a great mistake.
"Across the world there are those that despise America. We are the world's only military superpower. We are a free people with certain unalienable rights with a governing constitution to protect us. Just a few months ago, we participated in our greatest tradition: democracy. The ability to choose our leaders is what makes this nation stand out among the rest, and it is our lasting commitment to democracy that brings us closer still. We often take this tradition for granted, but for those people starving as a result of tyrannical and communist regimes, we serve as a cause for hope - proof that there is hope for them as they make their struggle for suffrage and freedom of speech. However, just as we inspire the oppressed we are a cause for fear among the oppressors.
"The terrorist organizations that hide in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the cities of Iraq fear our message, and they do not hesitate to show us. One month ago today, our nation was attacked during the World Trade Center bombing. Over 1,000 Americans were injured and six of our fellow patriots perished. Their deaths serve as a painful reminder that as long as the United States is free, we will be in constant and persistent danger. To those who wish to do harm against our nation allow me to be perfectly clear: When freedom is threatened, freedom will not sleep."
-Excerpt from President George Bush's Oval Office Address on terrorism; March 26, 1993
Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Bush is doing? (Mar. 27-29)
APPROVE: 56%
DISAPPROVE: 35%
UNDECIDED: 09%
"That line - 'When freedom is threatened, freedom will not sleep' - that was a powerful message. Very firm, very direct. He was saying that if the United States thought it was in danger it would not hesitate to act. It was well-worded, purposefully vague, but at the same time its overall message was clear. It was a tough stance to take, but one that really made sense for George Bush."
-James Baker in HISTORY's "George Bush: A Presidency Revealed" Documentary; 2006
"His speech was attacked as being overly hawkish, but the President was not intimidated by Congress - he meant what he said. During his time as President, George Bush witnessed a lot of change abroad. Surely his first term provided enough: the end of the Soviet Union and the Gulf War, but there was still a lot of time left in his last four years and he wanted to be very clear about how he would handle further change. He had always said he wanted to really tackle foreign policy in his second term in a way his predecessors hadn't. Even with the economy in the slumps, Bush was concerned with growing the United States' image on the world stage - that was his number one concern."
-Excerpt from 41: Profile of a President by Michael Beschloss; published 2000