Bill Clinton: The Unlikely Political Hero

Bill Clinton: The Unlikely Political Hero of the 1990’s

Ananya Dwivedi

Manchester, MA

Manchester-Essex Regional High School On January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect. Its climatic journey from an idea to bill to law was one that spanned several years and spawned political arguments that would be remembered for years to come. The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, as it is better known, is one of the characterizing and controversial economic decisions of the twentieth century. The idea of a North American common market first came into existence during Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign. In 1984, Congress passed the Trade and Tariff Act, which gave the President quick authority to negotiate

Since the 1940’s, the Democratic Party has believed in regulating business and trade. The very title of NAFTA gives away the fact that it is deregulating trade and promoting free trade instead, and this idea went against what the Democratic Party stood for. The question then becomes, why did Clinton support NAFTA? (Democratic Party Platforms: 1992 Democratic Party Platform). Obviously, it was against the Democratic Party’s ideals, as well as against the wants of the groups that majorly funded the Democratic Party. The answer to this question is simple, and completely echoes John F. Kennedy’s sentiments about what true political courage

President Clinton managed to successfully create and pass a law that benefitted the economy without support from his party or the Democrats who voted for him. He risked reelection by going against what the Democrat voters believed in. But most importantly, he risked his legitimacy as a politician and a leader to do what was correct for the American people. In the end, NAFTA significantly helped the United States, and proved that Bill Clinton had the guts to achieve political goals that went against what those closest to him