USA HISTORY

CONTEMPORARY AMERICA (1992 2013)

BILL CLINTON

[SOURCES]
How many new jobs were created under President Clinton?

(A) 1 million

(B) 2.1 million (the amount George W. Bush only created)

(C) 9.7 million

(D) ** 22 million

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -President Clinton added 18.6 million jobs. He was the top job creator in terms of total numbers, but the third-largest percentage increase with a 15.6% increase.

Concept note-2: -Clinton signed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law, along with many other free trade agreements. He also enacted significant welfare reform. His deregulation of finance (both tacit and overt through the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act) has been criticized as a contributing factor to the Great Recession.

Concept note-3: -Clinton took office towards the end of a recession. His administration’s plans for fixing the economy included limiting spending and cutting the budget to reduce the nation’s $60 billion deficit, keeping interest rates low to encourage private investment, and eliminating protectionist tariffs.

Concept note-4: -Clinton’s second term saw the first federal budget surpluses since the 1960s, but was partially overshadowed by his impeachment in 1998. His impeachment arose after he denied having an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky under oath and telling Lewinsky to do the same.