why was the U. S. 6 trillion dollars in debt when clinton left office ?

Answer 1

The $ 6 trillion to which you refer was the acumulated debt of the United States since its inception in 1776, including debts for WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and others. During President Clinton's term, the national debt of preceeding administrations was actually being paid down for the first time since Camelot, John F. Kennedy's Administration. I just looked it up the debt when President Clinton left office: $5,711,817,746,476.20, "slightly" less than $ 6 trillion.

You may be confusing budget deficit with national debt. The budget deficit simply means the government is spending more than it takes in. The national debt is the total amount the government (we) owe someone. I don't know why, but it seems these two figures get mixed up.

The Clinton Administration did NOT bring the government out of debt. It successfully began paying down the debt by balancing the budget--achieving a surplus, actually. The incoming Bush Administration felt that since America had a budget surplus, we were taxing too much. Hence, the famous Bush "tax cuts," for which we will probably pay ten times the amount received. That $400.00 check you received in 2000 will end up costing you $4000.00. Bush Administration completely forgot about the accumulated debt of 200-plus years.

It should be noted that President Clinton did not achieve a balanced budget alone. It took a Congress that worked with him, and against him. Government is push and pull, give and take. The Executive and the Legislative achieve or fail.

I think a more prudent question is, "Why has the United States assumed roughly $3 trillion in new national debt when the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Global War on Terror have only cost $350 billion. Where has that other money gone? Are the American people and our offspring being swindled? I think yes.

Answer 2

The only time the U.S. actually repaid its' debt was during the Andwer Jackson presidency 170 years ago. and it ended up giving us a real severe depression as a result,partly because interests rates (the price of money) was so high already As a result,people had a tougher time paying their debts to the creditors. It also dwindled the money supply because Jackson destroyed the U.S. Bank by refusing to Re- new their charter,without them to regulate the money supply or the Fed to act as a monetary governor , if U will, The U.s. economy ended up out of control for a while.

Answer 3

When Reagan came into office, the debt was about 1 trillion. When Reagan left office, it was up to over 4 trillion.

So you could say that the largest reason that the US was in so much debt in 2000 was Ronald Reagan.

You could say that, but something tells me you are one of those Clinton-obsessed haters who won't bother to understand reality, and so you won't say that.

Answer 4

Are you certain that the debt was that amount and if so,what is the debt now after 4 years fighting an expensive war in Iraq???Perhaps if the govt. spent less on the military machine the debt would be greatly reduced. Brother T.M.Murphy

Answer 5

Because the US has had a national debt since its founding. Clinton inherited the debt from Bush who inherited it from Reagan who inherited it from Carter and so forth.

Answer 6

Actually, it was the Republican Congress that cut spending.
Of course, Clinton took credit for it.

Answer 7

People seem to forget the horrible final year of Clinton's presidency. The economy was struggling.

Answer 8

actually clinton cut the budget and had a small surplus...but yep we still had a big debt....

Answer 9

Our country owed a lot more than that when Bill became President.

Answer 10

It had nothing to do with Mr. Clinton. It has everything to do with Congress. The legislators spend and borrow, then spend then borrow. They use borrowing and spending our tax money to buy votes from us with their pork barrel projects.