In 1986 president bill clinton and republican president ial nominee bob dole debate debater. Twice next their first debate which focused on domestic issues. Jim lehrer moderate at the debate. Good evening from the theater, in connecticut, i am jim lehrer from the news, our on pbs. Welcome to the first of the 1996 president ial debates, between president bill clinton the democratic nominee, and senator bob dole, there were republican nominee. This event has been sponsored by the commission on president ial debates, it will last in 90 minutes, following a format and rules agreed by the campaigns. There will be two minute opening and closing statements. In between, a series of questions. Each having three parts. A 92nd answer a 62nd rebuttal, in a 32nd response. I will assist to candidates in adhering to those time limits, with the help of a series of lights, its about to both. Under their rules, the candidates are not allowed to question each other directly. I will ask the questions, there are no limitations on the subjects. The order for everything tonight was determined by a coin toss. Now, for the opening statements, president clinton. Mister president. Thank you jim, and thank you for the people who host us. I want to begin by saying again how much i respect senator dole, and his record. And how hard i worked hard to try to make this campaign in this debate one of ideas, and not insults. Four years ago i ran for president , at a time of high unemployment, and rising frustration. I wanted to turn this country around with the program of opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and an American Community where everybody has work to deploy. I wanted a government to be smaller and less bureaucratic, to help people have the tools to make the most out of their own lives. Four years ago, you took me on faith. Now, there is a record. Ten and a half million more jobs, rising incomes former cloying rates. The strong america, at peace. We are, better off than we were four years ago, lets keep it going. We cut the deficit by 60 , now lets balanced budget, and protect medicare, medicaid, and education and the environment. We cut taxes for 15 million working americans, and we passed a tax cut for education and help with medical of age emergency provide at home. We passed medical, even all its expanded, so more people can succeed as parents and in the workforce. We passed 100,000 Police Assault weapon, brand now lets keep going by finishing the work if putting the police on the street. And tackling toobin ill gangs. We passed welfare reform, snow lets move 1 Million People from welfare to work. And most important, lets make education our highest priority so that every eight year old will be able to read, every 12 year old can log on into the internet, every 18yearold can go to college. We can build that bridge, for the 21st century. And i look forward to discussing exactly how, were going to do it. Senator dole, two minutes. Thank you. Thank you mister president , for this kind world words. I think the people of hartford, the commission, and all of those who may be listening are watching. Its a great honor for me to be here, standing here is a republican nominee. Hunter proud to be the republican nominee and reaching out to democrats and independents. I have three very special people, my wife elizabeth, my daughter robin, who never let me down, and a fellow named frank, from new york, who helped me out on the mountains of italy, a few years back. Ive learned from them that people do have tough times. And sometimes you cant go at it alone. And thats what america is all about. I remember getting my future back from doctors and nurses, a doctor in chicago, and ever since that time i tried to give Something Back to my country. To the people who are watching us tonight america is the greatest place in the face of the earth. Millions of you still have anxieties, you work harder and harder, to make ends meet, and put food on the table. You worry about the quality of the safety of your children, of their education. But even more importantly, you worry about the future. And will i have the same opportunities, that you and i have had . And i want to share with you some ideas tonight. Jack camp is my running mate, hes doing an outstanding job. Im a poorly speak and men, and i learned long ago that your word was your bond. And i promise you tonight, that i will try to address your concerns, and not try to exploit them. Its a tall order, but ive been going against the odds, for a long time. And again, im honored to be here this evening. Mister president first question, theres a major difference in your view of your own federal government and that of senator goal. How would you define that difference . Well, jim, i believe the federal government should give people the tools to try to establish the conditions, in which they can make the most of their on lies. That to me, is the key. And that leads me to some different conclusions, from senator dole. For example, when we reduced the size of the federal government, to a smaller size in 30 years, we reduced more regulations, elevated more programs, than my to republican predecessors. But i have worked hard for things like the family and medical leave law. The brady bill. The assault weapons ban. The program to put 100,000 police on the street. All of these programs that senator dole opposed, and i supported. Because i felt they were a legitimate effort to help people make the most of their lives. Ive worked hard to help families, import valleys to their own children. I supported the so their parents would be able to control what their kids watch on television, when they are young. Along with the riding system for television and educational television. I supported strong action against the tobacco companies, to stop from Marketing Advertising and sales of tobacco to young people. I supported a big increase in the safe and Drug Free School program. These were areas on which senator dole and i deferred. But i believe they were the right areas for america to be acting, together, as one country. To help individuals and families make the most of their own lives, and raise your kids with good values, and a good future. Senator dole, a one minute. Id like i think the basic differences, and ive had some experience in this, i think the basic differences like trusted people. The president trusts government. If we go back and look at the Health Care Plan that he wanted to impose on the American People. One seventh of the total economy, 17 new taxes, price control, 35 to 50 new bureaucracies, a possible 1. 5 trillion dollars. Dont forget that in 1993. The tax increase that taxed everybody in america, not just a rich. He made 25,000 in his original post, from Social Security tax increase. We had a beat you tax turn into 35 billion dollar gas tax. And 265 billion dollar tax increase. I guess i rely more on the individual, i care carry quite on my pocket, the tenth amendment. Were possible, i want to give power back to the states, and back to the people. Thats my difference for the president , and my specific difference is later, he noted a few. But there are others. Mister president , 30 seconds. I trust people, weve done a lot to give the people more powers to make their on the stations, along with their own lives. But i do think we are right when we try to for example, give mothers, and newborns, 48 hours before they can get kicked out of the hospital. Ending these terrible deliveries. I think you are right to pass the act on kennedy bill, which says you cannot lose lose your Health Insurance because you lose your job, or someone your family is safe. Our government is smaller and less bureaucratic and it has given more authority to the states, then its two predecessors on a republican president s. But i do believe we have to help our people get better to succeed, and the 21st century. Senator goal, the president said his opening statement, we are better off today than we were four years ago. Do you agree . When hes better off than he was four years ago. I agree with that, thats right. And i may be better off four years from now. I dont know, i look at the slowest growth in a century. He inherited a growth of 4. 7, 4. 8 , and now it stands about 2. 4 . Were gonna pass 1 million bankruptcies this year, for the first time in history. Weve got stagnant wages, in fact womens wages have dropped 2. 2 , mens wages havent gone up or gone down. So we have stagnation. We had the highest format that in history, and it seems to me, that if you take a look, are you better off . Well i guess some may be better off. Saddam will say it is better off, then he was four years ago, probably. Someone else might be. But are the American People, that are working harder and harder, and pay more taxes, for the first time in history you pay about 40 of what you earn, more than you spent for food clothing and shelter, combined, for texas, under this administration. So some might be better off, they talk about Family Income, thats not true in connecticut, Family Income is down. And its up in some cases, because both parents are working. One works for the family, and one works to pay taxes for the government. Were gonna give him a tax cut, so he spent more time with his children, and maybe even take a vacation. Thats what america is all about. Well let me say first of all, in february, senator dole acknowledge that the American Economy was in the best shape its been in 30 years. We have ten and a half million more jobs, a faster job growth rate than under any republican administration, since the 1920s. Wages are going up for the first time, in a decade. We have record numbers of new Small Businesses. We have the biggest growth in the numb drop in the number of people in poverty in the 27 years. We have the biggest drop in income inequality and 27 years in 1995, the average Families Income has gone up from 1600 dollars just into our economic plan passed. So i think its clear we are better off than we were four years ago. Now we need to focus on what do we need to do, to be better off still . How can we help people to get their retirement . How can we help Small Businesses . To be able to afford small health care, to be able to educate the children . Thats what were focusing on we were clearly better off than what we were doing for years. Ago he acknowledged, at this year. Senator dole . I doubt that i acknowledge, did this year. But in any event, i think we just look at the facts. We asked people who are being tonight, are you better off, then you are four years ago . If not its not if we are better, off or if they are better off . Are you working hard to put food on the table . Feed your children . Are your children Getting Better education . Drug use has doubled in the past 44 months, all across america. Crime has gone down because mayors like rudy giuliani, where one third of the drop happened in one city, new york city. So yes, some may be better off. But the people listening tonight, the working families, who would benefit from an economic package, theyll be better off when bob dole is president. Mister president , senator dole has gone pretty close in the last few days of accusing him of lying about his position on medicare reform, have you done so . Absolutely not. Lets look at that position, first of all remember that in this campaign season, since senator dole has been a candidate, he has bragged about the fact that he voted against medicare, in the beginning, in 1965. One of only 12 members. He said he did the right thing, then he wouldnt work at the time. Thats what he said. Then he asked has a budget that he passed along to get medicare 270 million, dollars more than necessary to repair the Medicare Trust fund. It wouldve tracked seniors more four out of pocket cost, and in premiums, because doctors could church a more. The american medical hospital this association, the nurses association, the Catholic Hospital association, all said hundreds of hospitals could close, and people would be hurt badly. Under this medicare plan, that i vetoed. And now, with this risky 550 billion tax, skin senator dole, even his own friends and campaign cochairs, say that they cant possibly pay for it without cutting medicare more. And current and cutting Social Security as, well according to. Him now, my balance budget plan adds ten years to the life of the mayor Daycare Trust fund. Ten years. It will have time to deal with the long term problems, of the baby boomers. But it was simply wrong, to finance their last thing, cut medicare by billions, to have this running by the vine. We always had to reform over the years, but we need someone who believes in it, to reform it. Senator goal . Well i must say, i look back at the vote on medicare, 1965, we had a program called elder care, that also provided drugs, and test, still people who needed medical. Ive supported medicare, in the sense that i used to call my mother, and she would tell me that bob, all i have is my Social Security, and my medicare. Dont cut it. I wouldnt violate anything my mother said, in fact we had a conversation about it with my mother one day. We talked about our mothers when, day very potent conversation in the white house. Im concerned about health care, ive had the best health care, guardhouse but, an army hospitals, and i know its important. But we have to face it. Its his trustees, the president s just, hes not mind, that say its gonna go broke. He doesnt fix it for ten years. We ought to appoint a commission, just like we did for Social Security and 1983, when we rescued Social Security. And i was proud to be on that commission, along with the champion of Senior Citizens reform, in florida and we can do it again if we take politics out of this. Stop scaring the seniors. Youve already spent 45 Million Dollars scaring seniors, and tearing me apart. I think its time to have a truce. Well let me, say first of all, id be happy to have a Commission Deal with this. And i appreciate what senator gold it on the 83 security security commission. We will be possible to do, if he is tax schemes passes. Because even his own campaign cochair, senator says he will have to get medicare even more, then was cut in the bill, without veto. Now i vetoed that bill because it cut more medicare, and basically run the risk of breaking up the system. My balanced budget plan, puts ten years on the medicare, we ought to do that, and then we can have a commission. But senator doles plans are not good, for the country. Senator dole, speaking of your tax plan, do you still think thats a good idea . The 15 across the board tax cut . Oh yes, and you will be eligible. Me too. And so will the former president. Ill need it. People need, it thats a point. This is not a wall street tax cut. Its a family tax cut. This is a main street tax cut. 15 across. Whats a family making across a year, thats 1261 dollars now may be some in this bush known memorial, thats not a lot of many people. But people who are watching, couple of, kids, families working, thats four or five months of daycare, maybe a personal computer, and maybe three or four months of mortgage payments. This economic back is about families, but its six point package. First of all its balanced budget, amending the constitution, which he twisted arms and got six democrats to vote the other way, we lost by one vote. Its balancing the budget by the year 2002. Its a tax cut, cutting capital gains, 50 . To create more jobs, and more opportunities. Its a state tax relief. Its a 500 dollar per child tax credit. Its about litigation reform, not that the president gets millions of dollars, or he would like to fight this provision. In fact, when i fell off that , before i left hit the ground i had a call on myself phone for a trial lawyer i said i think we have a case here. And its also Regulatory Reform. Its a good fact that mister president would like to have your support. Mister president . Well heres a problem with it. It sounds very good. But there is a reason that 500 economists including seven a low price winners, and business periodicals, like business week and even senator doles friend, former republican senator for new hampshire, said it is not a practical program. Its a tax scheme, that will cause a big hole in the deficit. Which will raise Interest Rates, and slow down the economy and cost people to pay more for home mortgages car payments, credit card payments college loans, and Small Business loans. Its not good to raise the deficit we work too hard to lower. And he will actually raise taxes on, it and an addition to that, it will force bigger cuts in medicare and medicaid education and the environment and the lens that he had passed that i vetoed last year. So it sounds great, but our targeted tax cut for education, child raring, health care, and home buying, which is paid for in my balanced budget plan, something that he has not done, certified other congressional voting office. Thats the right way to go. Senator dole . He didnt increase spending 20 of them next year, i want to increase spending 14 . Thats how simple it. Is i want the government to pitch pennies for change, instead of the american families. Were talking about six Percentage Points over six years. And with that money, you give it back to the working people. He also provided opportunities scholarships, of low income parents, that wouldnt have the same choice as others have to sign your children to better schools. And it would work. What it does work, mister president finally will congratulate me. Mister president , senator mentioned travelers, and that Means Campaign finance and. How do you personally avoid being under the influence by people who give you money, or give your services in your campaign . While i try to articulate my position sars clearly as possible. Tell people want to stand for, and if they decide whether theyre gonna support me are not in the. Case of the liability bill, which they pass in a vetoed, i think