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__Bush Takes Over__ ~in 1836, the Vice President Martin Van Buren was elected president. ~Over 150 years had passed and ten Vice presidents had been named president ~Even though vice presidents had been named presidents none of them since Van Buren had never been elected while serving as Vice president. ~1988 president George W. Bush ran for president,he broke a 152 year old tradition. __The Election of 1988__ ~Bush was challenged to the nomination by Senator Robert Dole and evangelist Pat Roberson because of is low profile, but Bush overcame his opposition. ~There were plenty of people that was up for challenging Bush,Massachusetts Governor Micheal Dukakis and Reverend Jesse Jackson. ~Democrats chose Dukakis, a more middle of the road candidate, and Lloyd Bentsen of Texas was Dukakis's running mate. ~Bush receive 53 percent of the popular vote to Dukakis's 46 percent. ~Bush also took 426 electoral votes to Dukakis's 111. ~Democrats however continued to hold a majority in both houses of congress. [|The New President] ~Bush brought a wide range of experience to the White House. As a pilot in World War two he won a medal for bravery. ~He served as a member of congress as and ambassador and the director of the central Intelligence of Agency. ~Bush hinted that he would simply follow the old ideas of Ronald Reagan Bush promised a kinder gentler nation. ~George was caution with his action and continued the policies of Reagan's years and worked a little closer with democrate-controlled congress.Bush stress a moderate course. __Drugs,Education,and the Environment__ ~the 1988 campaign George Bush spoken strongly of the need to control the spread of illegal drugs.He appointed William Bennett to be a over seer of the nations war on drugs. ~Bennett signed in in 1990 claiming that drug use had begun to drop, but the flow on drugs in the country continued. ~The former governor of Florida replaced William Bennett, he go by the name of Bob Martinez ~Reagan administration had cut back on government programs. ~In 1989 Bush set up a conference to set national goals for education. ~Local school districts would have to raise money to put these standards in effect. ~The president also appointed a strong defender of the environment,William Reilly to EPA. also known ass the environmental protection agency. ~In 1990 he signed into law a bill setting tougher standards to reduce air pollution. The new regulations were the first to pass since Carter years. ~When George Bush took office 17 military plants had manufactured nuclear weapons were closed nuclear waste posed a threat to the environment. ~Energy department guessed that the cost of cleaning up and repairing the plants might raise to 200 billion. __The Saving and Loan Crisis__ ~Bank failures put pressure on the nation's finances.the savings and loans institutions also known as s&l ~When interest rates soared in the late 1970s saving banks were stuck wilt low interest. low-term mortgages. ~Many S&L were on the verge of going out of business ~The Reagan administration had led a campaign to deregulate S&L that is to allow them more freedom form government control. ~others invested in junk bonds, risky securities that supposedly pay high interest. some were able to make huge profits. ~the profits would continue to grow only if real estate markets remained strong, a number of S&L's went bankrupt because the loans they made were not repaid ~By 1990 a recession in New England led more savings bank failures. ~Bush administration set up federal agency to take over the failed banks,sell them or sell of their assets. ~Economists estimated that the cost of bailing out the S&L would probably run more than 600 billion over ten years ~By1990 the collapse of many S&L system in general __Reducing the Deficit__ ~The savings and loan crisis added to the growing deficit in the federal budget. ~The president and congress could now agree on how to cut spending. ~through most of the 1990 congress and president struggled over budget that lowered the deficit,democrats objected that the measure would mainly benefit rich investors. ~After days of bargaining late into night,congress and the president finally reached a budget agreement that would cut the deficit by nearly 500 billion in over 5 years. ~It also cut spending many areas. __The Election of 1990__ ~Adding the new budget agreement had reduced the deficit more than any legislation during Reagan's year. ~Because of mismanagement they saw billions of dollars needed to bail out S&L institutions. ~The election of 1990 during the campaign congress found voters upset. ~14 states voted from a different party,from those who had been in office. ~with the economy heading a recession, political leaders faced an angry public. __Flags and the Supreme Court__ ~In 1989 a court decision was made that angered president Bush. He was angered with the supreme court because Texas made it illegal to burn the American flag but the Supreme court over rule them by saying that the [|American flag could be burned]. ~President Bush set tried to set up a new amendment that would allow the states to outlaw defacing the flag. ~This issue stirred heated debate, some supporters of the amendments argued that burning a beloved national symbol was not free speech. ~The amendment didn't get pass congress. ~In July 1990 Justice William Brennan announced his retirement, the 84-year old man had been the leader of the courts liberal wing. ~Brennan had written the opinion that defeated burning the flag as a form of free speech.