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US History – 1945 to Present Unit 14 ReviewBush Presidency and the 2000 Election

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The 2000 U.S. presidential election was a watershed moment in American politics. It pitted George W. Bush against Al Gore in a razor-thin race that ultimately hinged on Florida's electoral votes, leading to a contentious recount and a controversial Supreme Court decision. Bush's presidency was defined by the September 11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror. Domestically, he focused on tax cuts and education reform, while his foreign policy centered on military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, reshaping America's global role.

14.1

Bush v. Gore and Electoral Controversy

14.2

Domestic Policy: No Child Left Behind and Tax Cuts

14.3

Foreign Policy Pre-9/11: Unilateralism and Missile Defense

unit 14 review

Key Players and Political Landscape

  • George W. Bush, Republican candidate and Governor of Texas, son of former President George H. W. Bush
  • Al Gore, Democratic candidate and incumbent Vice President under President Bill Clinton
  • Ralph Nader, Green Party candidate, gained significant support from left-leaning voters
  • Bill Clinton's presidency marked by economic growth and budget surplus, but also impeachment scandal
  • Electorate divided on issues such as tax cuts, social security reform, and foreign policy
  • Bush campaigned as a "compassionate conservative" promising to unite the nation
  • Gore emphasized his experience and the Clinton administration's economic success

The 2000 Election Campaign

  • Close race with no clear front-runner throughout the campaign
  • Bush and Gore participated in three televised debates
    • Bush criticized for lack of foreign policy experience
    • Gore perceived as knowledgeable but less charismatic
  • Nader's campaign gained momentum, especially among liberal voters disillusioned with the Democratic Party
  • Key issues included tax policy, education reform, and the role of government
  • Bush proposed large tax cuts and privatizing portions of Social Security
  • Gore focused on maintaining economic growth, reducing the national debt, and expanding healthcare coverage
  • Late-breaking revelation of Bush's DUI arrest in 1976 briefly shifted the race in Gore's favor

Election Night Drama

  • Initial projections showed a tight race with several key battleground states too close to call
  • Networks prematurely declared Gore the winner in Florida, then retracted and declared Bush the winner
  • Gore conceded to Bush in a phone call, then retracted his concession as the margin in Florida narrowed
  • Florida's 25 electoral votes would determine the outcome of the election
  • Final national popular vote tally: Gore 48.4%, Bush 47.9%, Nader 2.7%
  • Bush led in Florida by just 1,784 votes out of nearly 6 million cast, triggering an automatic recount
  • Initial recount reduced Bush's lead to just 327 votes
  • Gore campaign requested manual recounts in four heavily Democratic counties
    • Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Volusia
  • Controversy arose over "hanging chads" and other irregularities on punch card ballots
  • Bush campaign filed a federal lawsuit to stop the manual recounts
  • Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified Bush as the winner by 537 votes
  • Gore campaign challenged the certification, arguing for the inclusion of more ballots
  • Florida Supreme Court ordered a statewide manual recount of all undervotes

Supreme Court Decision

  • U.S. Supreme Court halted the Florida recount in Bush v. Gore
  • Ruled 7-2 that the recount violated the Equal Protection Clause due to inconsistent standards
  • Ruled 5-4 that no constitutional recount could be completed by the December 12 "safe harbor" deadline
  • Effectively awarded Florida's electoral votes and the presidency to Bush
  • Final electoral vote count: Bush 271, Gore 266
  • Controversial decision with critics arguing that the Court overstepped its authority

Bush's First Term Priorities

  • Focused on domestic issues, particularly tax cuts and education reform
  • Signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
    • $1.35 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years
    • Reduced marginal income tax rates, phased out estate tax
  • Passed the No Child Left Behind Act to improve accountability in education
  • Proposed partial privatization of Social Security, but faced opposition
  • Foreign policy initially focused on missile defense and U.S.-China relations
  • September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks dramatically shifted priorities

Domestic Policy Highlights

  • Created the Department of Homeland Security in response to 9/11
  • Signed the Patriot Act, expanding law enforcement and intelligence gathering capabilities
  • Passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
    • Added prescription drug coverage to Medicare
    • Criticized for complexity and cost
  • Pursued socially conservative policies
    • Restricted federal funding for embryonic stem cell research
    • Supported a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage
  • Nominated conservatives John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court

Foreign Policy and 9/11 Impact

  • September 11 attacks led to the War on Terror and the Bush Doctrine of preemptive military action
  • Invaded Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and capture Osama bin Laden
  • Shifted focus to Iraq, claiming Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction
  • Formed a "coalition of the willing" and invaded Iraq in March 2003
    • Swift initial victory, but faced prolonged insurgency
    • No WMDs found, eroding public trust
  • Controversial policies included the detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques
  • Strained relations with traditional allies over Iraq War
  • Promoted the spread of democracy in the Middle East as a long-term strategy for combating terrorism
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