American society is very unforgiving when it comes to their politicians. Mistakes and alleged scandals are scrutinized over and exploited by the media while great accomplishments may fall into the shadows. This is the case with President Clinton, who may be one of the best and most successful Presidents our nation has ever elected. Unfortunately, his impeachment and alleged sexual scandals are hovering over his accomplishments. Despite current criticisms, however, time will prove the Clinton administration a success in all aspects of society, international as well as national.One of Clinton’s greatest accomplishments is the economy, which has prospered ever since he took office. America is now enjoying its strongest economy in a generation. The unemployment rate is the lowest in over three decades, down from 7.5 percent in 1992 to 3.9 percent in September, 2000. Unemployment for minorities has fallen significantly as well, and for both African-Americans and Hispanics it is at record lows. Side by side with the decreasing unemployment rate is the increasing availability of new jobs. More than 22 million have been created since 1993, the most jobs ever created under a single administration. (The White House, p. 5)Even the national debt is being paid off. In July 2000, the Treasury Department announced that the United States would pay off $221 billion of debt for the year, making it the largest one-year payment in American history. Under the Clinton Plan, we are now on track to eliminate the nation’s debt by 2012. (The White House, p. 8) Many Americans do not realize the importance of bringing down the national debt and criticize the President for the nation’s high taxes. What they do not realize is how a decreased national debt actually helps them in their everyday lives. Reduced debt means lower interest rates and reduced payments on loans. It also keeps the nation prepared for a possible economic cri...
