An Assessment of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush

Bill Clinton and George Bush

Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are the 42nd and 43rd presidents of the United States of America. Both Clinton and Bush have changed USA in many ways as well as some other countries. If Clinton and Bush were to be compared, their family, education, and the actions they have taken when they were president would produce many similarities and/or differences.

The families of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush can be compared to produce several differences. First of all, the family background in which Bush and Clinton were born in was very different. Bush was born in an upper class family, his grandfather served as a US senator and his father as a political figure who was soon to become the president of the United States from 1989 to 1993. On the other hand, Clinton was born in a middle class family, but his father was deceased from a car accident three months prior to Clinton’s birth. Secondly, Bush’s parents encouraged a good education, while Clinton’s new stepfather was a gambler who regularly abused his mother. On a side note, Bush has had the surname Bush since he was born, while Clinton adopted the surname Clinton when he was fourteen. Many differences can be found when comparing the family background of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

The education of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush can be compared as well to produce many similarities as well as differences. Due to his wealthy family background, Bush had attended private schools during his elementary and secondary school years, until attending Yale University, and eventually Harvard. On the other hand, Clinton had attended public elementary and secondary schools, and ultimately studied at Yale University as well. Both Bush and Clinton have a diverse education, Clinton receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in 1967, studying government at Oxford University, and obtaining a Juris Doctor degree at Yale University. Bush, on the other hand, received a Bachelor’s degree in History in 1968, and later earned his MBA from Harvard University in 1981. Both Bush and Clinton have worked extremely hard to achieve what they have today. The education of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush produces many similarities and differences when compared.

Lastly, the actions that Clinton and Bush have taken during their presidency create many similarities and differences. First of all, both Bush and Clinton have had several tax cuts and other benefits toward the economic factor of the citizens, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit Act by Clinton and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act by Bush. Both Bush and Clinton, however, have had their own share of criticisms. Bush’s views are much different than Clintons in a sense that he views military power as extremely important. Before becoming president, Bush had campaigned to increase the size of the United States Armed Forces. During his presidency, after the 9/11 attack on the twin towers, Bush had passed a few laws, one of which was the USA Patriots Act which expanded the government’s powers of surveillance and arrest. This brought many criticisms from people who claimed they were being mistreated because of their nationality and culture. On the other hand, one of the major actions that had caused many criticisms towards Clinton was the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill, which expanded the death penalty for people running a large drug enterprise, murderers of federal law enforcement officers, and nearly 60 additional violent felons. Many criticisms raised saying that the additional death penalties should not have been implemented. In summary, the actions that Clinton and Bush have taken during their presidency create many similarities and differences.

A comparison between George W. Bush and Bill Clinton would show many similarities and/or differences between their family backgrounds, education, and their actions during presidency. Firstly, Bush was born in an upper class wealthy family while Clinton was born in a middle class family with a single mother. Secondly, both Bush and Clinton have had a high level of education and have graduated from Yale University. Lastly, both Bush and Clinton have taken many actions that have been praised, but also many actions which had been criticized. George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are both interesting individuals and one can learn many issues of becoming a politician from their biographies.