BOB DOLE : 1995 Clinton's Comeback

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Bosnia, Bill Clinton, and Bob Dole: Politics Meets Principle

In the 1990s, the war in Bosnia presented President Bill Clinton and the United States with one of the most difficult foreign-policy decisions of the post-Cold War era. After years of ethnic violence, atrocities, and international inaction, the United States ultimately decided to send American troops to Bosnia as part of an international peacekeeping mission.

The decision was deeply controversial. Republicans in Congress opposed the administration's policy and questioned whether American troops should be placed in harm's way in a conflict that did not directly threaten the United States. Yet when the time came to support the American men and women who would carry out the mission, one of Clinton's fiercest political opponents stepped forward.

Bob Dole put his name on legislation supporting the troops.

It was a remarkable moment in a long political career. Dole had spent decades fighting Democrats and opposing much of Bill Clinton's agenda, but he understood the difference between opposing a president's policy and abandoning the Americans sent to carry it out. His decision reflected an old principle of American politics: once the nation sends its soldiers into harm's way, politics should not come before the men and women wearing the uniform.

In this episode, we examine the Bosnia conflict, President Clinton's decision to deploy American troops, the fierce debate it produced in Congress, and Bob Dole's decision to stand with the troops despite his opposition to the policy.

It was one of the shining moments of Bob Dole's remarkable career—and an important reminder of a time when political opponents could disagree profoundly while still finding common ground when the interests of the country demanded it.

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This is part two of the Florida Presidency 3 Straw Poll Debate. 

It features the closing remarks and results from the straw poll. 

It is a forum where we get to see real history unfold as the Senators come into the studio having just voted for the historic Balanced Budget Amendment. It would later be vetoed by President Clinton. 

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This episode features all of the candidates but it is spread out over the entire two hours by candidates entering the fray at various times. This forum was supposed to be held in Florida for the Republican convention there and the Presidency 3 campaign event. But the Senate ended up voting on the Balanced Budget Amendment at the same time that evening. That tied the Senators down in Washington D.C. 

This meant that the non office holding candidates were all in the hall in Florida while the elected officials were all in a studio in Washington D.C. Several Senators showed up at different times as they came off the floor and Senator Dole cam in last because as Majority Leader he had to finish up the business of the Senate before he could attend. 

It is one of the few times you got to see history unfold on live camera as the historic vote took place while the debate was on the air. It was hosted by CNN with the legendary Larry King as the moderator and it is an exciting little bit of television history for our viewers to relive in real time as we listen in. 

This is part one of the Presidency 3 Florida Straw Poll debate. 

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In this episode we examine the growing rift over the Federal Budget. It would see the Republican Leadership under the new House Speaker attempt to force cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and several other entitlement programs on the President. 

The President was already in huge political trouble and in his weak position the republicans thought they could force his hand but in that moment pollster Dick Morris saw Clinton's opportunity to turn his political fortunes around. 

Bill Clinton would seize the moment. 

While they would work out a stop gap motion to keep things running for the time being.  The government would reopen but the peace was only temporary and it would mark the beginning of Bill Clinton seeing his fortunes as President slowly turning the corner. His strategy of triangulation would begin. 

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Here is my student video project for a Mass Communications class at Lander University for Professor Frank Jackson, who was one of my favorites. 

The video was saved from an old videotape and the sound quality has eroded some but it’s still fairly clear except for the Lindsey Graham segment because he had to whisper at the event we were recording from. 

Still, I am proud of this project and am thrilled to share it again here with all of you. 

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A preview for three different stories we will be sharing on all three of our podcasts. 

On Grand Strand Politics we will be covering the race for Governor of South Carolina between Alan Wilson and Jermaine Johnson, and the razor thin race between Senator Darline Graham versus Dr. Annie Andrews. We will be there to cover it all

Then we revisit the oral histories of two of the most consequential figures who staffed the Watergate Judiciary Committee staff. You will hear the oral history of both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bernard Nussbaum. Nussbaum's oral history is among the most important of all of them on the subject of Watergate. You will get to hear what he really thought of the Watergate Special Prosecutors Office. 

Finally, We continue our look back at the pivotal year of 1995 and the comeback of President Bill Clinton in his race against Bob Dole. 

It will be an exciting month of October across the Wallace Podcast Network. Please Join us. 

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This is an article covering both events our last two episodes also covered.  As a media student I was allowed to use the media equipment to cover projects I was working on and I mixed that with my time also with the Student Newspaper, The Forum at Lander University. 

The footage we used for those two episodes of  The South Carolina Thirds District Republican Convention featuring the speech by Senator and Presidential Candidate Phil Gramm and the drop-in for his wife Wendy Gramm, were recorded for me to write this article for the Forum. It was a fun time in a great era of my life. 

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Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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In this epsode, we brace for the announcemnet along with the resat of the Republoican field for President. Colin Powell has his press conference to announce his decision about seeking the Presidency. That decision was NO, he would not. 

Instantly, the field was relived and set for the coming Presidential Primaries. We let you hear the collective sigh of relief from every candidate running. 

Then we listen to recollections about and the memorializing of Colin Powell, who died just before we began our series in 2020. Due to that we never did a show looking back on the life of the General, so we end this episode honoring his extraordinary life and overall contribution to the nation. 

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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