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Clinton's Encounter with the Separation of Powers: ‘United’ and ‘Divided’ Gridlock
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2014
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Soon After The Democratic Candidate For President Of The United States in 2000, Al Gore, conceded defeat to George W. Bush, he engaged in a heated exchange with President Bill Clinton over why he had lost the election. Gore argued that Clinton's sexual escapades, and public qualms about other character issues, notwithstanding strong approval ratings for the job he was doing as president, had contributed significantly to Gore's defeat. Clinton retorted that Gore blew an ideal chance to run on the record of the Clinton administration and fumbled a perfect opportunity to become president. However, the Clinton record proves ambiguous at best. Indeed, the aftertaste has carried strongly over to his first hundred days out of office. The dubious pardons, ‘conversion’ of public property from the White House and rental rates at prime Manhattan locations have grabbed more headlines and provided more grist for talk shows, it often seems, than negative coverage of George W. Bush. Indeed, in terms of negatives, we run the risk of seeing Clinton's first hundred days out of office eclipse Bush's first hundred days in the presidency.
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