ges of unethical conduct in legally avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War and became an early front-runner. Formally nominated at the Democratic Convention in New York, he chose Tennessee Senator Albert A. Gore, Jr., as his vice-presidential running mate. Capitalizing on the uncertainty of the health of the economy and outperforming him in televised debates, Clinton took an early lead over the Republican incumbent President George W. Bush. In November, Clinton was victorious winning 43% of the popular vote, defeating Bush (38%) and independent candidate H. Ross Perot (19%). For the first time in 12 years, the same party held both the White House and Congress. On January 20, 1993, William Jefferson Clinton was sworn into office with an approval rating of well over 60%. Clinton appeared confident to restore the Democrats to national dominance. Copying his childhood hero John F. Kennedy, he pledged to begin a new period of American renewal.
             Clinton entered office with a wide-ranging agenda for domestic policies. The family leave bill, which required large businesses to offer 12 weeks of unpaid vacation time to its employees in the event of family emergencies, was signed by Clinton after President Bush had twice vetoed similar bills. His popularity, however, tumbled and then nose-dived when he reneged on his promise to cut middle-class taxes. A deficit-reduction bill calling for a large tax increase and cuts in government
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