Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton Economic Success, Outside Controversies

• February 12, 1999, The Senate finds Clinton not guilty on the House’s impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The Senate acquitted President Bill Clinton Friday of both articles of impeachment. The perjury charge was defeated with 55 "not guilty" votes and 45 "guilty" votes. On the obstruction-of-justice article, the chamber was evenly split, 50-50.

• October 13, 1999 U.S. Senate refuses to ratify the Clinton-signed Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which would have forbid nuclear weapons testing: The Senate moved steadily toward a vote rejecting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty late October 13, after supporters of the arms control pact knowing they lacked the votes for ratification failed in a last-ditch attempt to keep the issue off the floor.

• February 4, 2000 Announces the U.S. economy has set a record for its longest uninterrupted economic expansion. In 1992, when Bill Clinton was elected President, the American economy was barely creating jobs, wages were stagnant, and the unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. His bold, three-part economic strategy focused on three objectives: fiscal discipline, investing in education, health care, science and technology, and opening foreign markets. This strategy has helped foster the conditions for what is now the longest expansion in U.S. history.

• April 22, 2000 Federal agents seize Elian Gonzales, a 6 year- old boy Cuban refugee boy in a raid on the Miami home of his relatives. Officials eventually return Gonzalez to his father’s custody in Cuba, angering many U.S.-based Cubans. Elizabeth had left messages for Juan that she was off to Havana for the weekend. When she and Elian didn’t return Juan started to ask around and learned that Elizabeth had taken his son on an attempt to cross the ocean and reach America. Days passed with no news and then seemingly his worst fears where confirmed when reports of bodies washing up on...