Howard Dicus: 1993 saw the start of America's first Democratic Presidency in a dozen years.
President Bill Clinton: “I, William Jefferson Clinton, do solemnly swear ... ”
Chief Justice William Rehnquist: “ ...that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States.”
Howard Dicus: Bill Clinton came to Washington with promises to trim the Federal deficit.
President Bill Clinton: “It will not be easy. It will require sacrifice.”
Howard Dicus: And make Government more helpful.
President Bill Clinton: “We must provide for our nation the way a family provides for its children.”
Howard Dicus: The 15-minute Inaugural Address went over well.
(Bell ringing)
Howard Dicus: So did the ride to Washington on a bus and the bell-ringing arrival ceremony …
(Bell ringing)
Howard Dicus: It also wowed Washington that the leader of the free world could wail on sax …
Unknown Speaker: "Are you ready for this?"
Howard Dicus: ...however badly.
(Music)
Howard Dicus: But reality set in quickly.
President Bill Clinton: “We have been told since the election that the Federal debt every year is gonna be $50 billion bigger than we were told it was before the election.”
Howard Dicus: That made his budget promises harder to keep.
Unknown Speaker: “On this question the yeas are 50; the nays are 50.”
Howard Dicus: When his budget plan did come to a vote, Vice-President Gore had to break a tie.
Unknown Speaker: “The Vice-President votes yes, and the conference report on the President's economic plan is passed.”
Howard Dicus: Gore supervised a study of how to reinvent government and make it cheaper to run, but the report itself came under fire from House GLP leader Bob Michael.
Congressman Bob Michael: “The first 14,000 copies of this report cost $60,000.”
Howard Dicus: The New Right gave Clinton a fight on his social-policy plans. Activist Andrea Sheldon didn't want Wisconsin official Donna Shalala to join the Cabinet.
Andrea Sheldon: “Donna Shalala is public enemy number one for the family.”
Howard Dicus: For a while, it seemed one of the few uncontroversial Cabinet officers would be Les Aspin. Senator Armed Services Chairman Sam Nunn.
Senator Sam Nunn: “His entire adult life has in fact prepared him to be Secretary of Defense.”
Howard Dicus: But Aspin was the first Cabinet officer to resign.
Secretary Les Aspin: “I am grateful that Hillary has agreed to chair this taskforce.”
Howard Dicus: The President made his wife his chief healthcare advisor.
President Bill Clinton: “And not only because it means she'll be sharing some of the heat I expect to generate (laughing).”
First Lady Hillary Clinton: “Explain how you see the system that is being gamed and ripped off because it has no real discipline, no budget, no controls.”
Howard Dicus: Clinton got heat from vets ...
Unknown Speaker: "President Bill Clinton."
Howard Dicus: These Vietnam vets remembered who had dodged the draft.
Howard Dicus: But Clinton got good marks for putting a second woman on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “It contributes to the end of the days when women appear in high places only as one-at-a-time performers.”
Howard Dicus: From UPI, this is the Year in Review.
