Bill Clinton's Presidency

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What were Bill Clinton's accomplishments as president?

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Bill Clinton's presidency was marked by several key accomplishments, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and welfare reform encouraging work over dependency. He also oversaw a booming economy, resulting in a federal budget surplus. In foreign policy, Clinton played a significant role in peacemaking efforts in the former Yugoslavia. His administration also saw the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and improved U.S.-China trade relations.

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Among Bill Clinton's achievements as President of the United States:

  • The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Allowed pregnant employees to receive unpaid leave.
  • "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Military Policy. Allowed gay men and women to serve in the military as long as they kept it secret. Clinton actually wanted to install a policy that would allow openly homosexual men and women to serve.
  • North American Free Trade Agreement.
  • Brady Bill. Allowed for a five-day waiting period on purchases of handguns.  
  • Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Allowed for tax cuts for small businesses and low-income families while raising taxes on the wealthiest of taxpayers.
  • Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Reduced illegal immigration.
  • Adoption and Safe Families Act and Foster Care Independence Act.
  • Operation Desert Fox. Bombing of Iraq.
  • U.S.–China Relations Act of 2000. Allowed for free trade with China.
  • End-of-term approval rating of 65%. Highest of any President since Eisenhower.
  • Federal budget surplus. First time since 1969.
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Of course, Bill Clinton's presidency will be most clearly remembered for the fact that he was only the second president ever to be impeached.  However, you can argue that Clinton did have some accomplishments as president.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the Clinton years was the reform of the welfare system.  Clinton (with Congressional Republicans) changed the welfare system to encourage more people to work rather than stay on welfare.  Clinton also presided over a boom in the economy that led to the federal government actually running a surplus.

In foreign policy, Clinton's biggest accomplishments had to do with peacemaking.  Clinton helped broker an agreement between the various parties in the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

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