Changing of the Guard: The Election of 1992

Ronald Reagan's legacy continued through the early 1990's, but by the time of the election in 1992, it seemed America was ready to give a Democrat another shot at the White House. George H.W. Bush's term had started well, and he remained popular throughout the Gulf War, but shortly after, a recession hit. Coupled with his promise to not raise taxes and doing so, and alienating conservatives, Bush lost much of his base. However, Bush and Quayle were re-nominated at the convention that year in Houston. As for the Democrats, the field was originally wide open, until Arkansas governor Bill Clinton managed to win several primaries in a row, securing the nomination. Senator Al Gore from Tennessee was chosen to run with Clinton on the ticket. During the campaign, Clinton tried to paint Bush with blame for the weakening economy. The tactic largely worked, as Bush's poll numbers took a hit during the summer of 1992. Clinton was branded as a Washington outsider and a youthful candidate who would be the first one born after World War II. Bush ran on his foreign policy accomplishments, such as the victorious Gulf War and the end of the Cold War, but now that those conflicts were over, America decided to choose another president. Running as an independent was Ross Perot, a business and oil man from Texas. On election day, Clinton pulled off the victory, with only 43% of the popular vote, but defeating Bush 370-168 in the Electoral College. Perot managed to carry 19% of the popular vote, but not enough to win a single state. With the election of Clinton, Democrats hoped to change the way things had been done during the Reagan and Bush years. Clinton went right to work, proposing a national health care overhaul and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The health care change was met with firm opposition, and ultimately failed to get through Congress. During the 1994 mid term elections, Republicans took back the House of Representatives, as Americans seemed to want to slow down Clinton's policies by giving him an opposition Congress. After the election, Clinton famously said the "era of big government" was over. Campaign items from this election are fairly easy to acquire, as Bush/Quayle and Clinton/Gore buttons are readily available and for a cheap price. Most Perot items are also fairly cheap. I have included in this blog a few items I have from this election, mostly buttons, and also a re-election poster for Bush.