Clinton and the Process to Pass NAFTA: Making Sausage

Abstract

President George Bush hurried the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations to a conclusion in 1992 in time for the Republican National Convention. Although NAFTA still required congressional approval, the Bush campaign believed the ensuing debate would divide the Democratic Party and make candidate Bill Clinton appear weak and vacillating on trade issues. NAFTA was a divisive issue that unleashed nationalistic, xenophobic, and demagogic currents throughout the United States. One year later, however, the newly elected Clinton Administration embraced NAFTA and deftly crafted a triumphant political strategy that ensured the passage of the free trade initiative through the U.S. Congress against overwhelming odds. An examination of how Clinton congealed a bipartisan alliance and influenced the political process--akin to making sausage--to secure ratification of NAFTA is provided.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA442950

Entities

People

  • Chris D. Mcmenomy

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • California
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Elections
  • Environment
  • Governments
  • Health Care
  • House Of Representatives
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Trade
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • Negotiations
  • North America
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.