ABSTRACT
Bill Clinton's campaign strategy in 1992 was much like that of John Kennedy; get the economy moving again after a recession and advance social programs. Clinton was a retail politician with the public and in policy leadership. Clinton's achievements in foreign policy were made through the collegial work of advisers and diplomats. Clinton's leadership skills and the political context that he faced as president were quite congruent. Clinton took the White House staff and cabinet officers to Camp David in January 1993 for discussion of his priorities, which he listed as action to stimulate the economy, campaign finance reform, national service, welfare reform, and health care reform. Democratic liberals were critical of Clinton almost from the beginning because he sent uncertain signals about his commitment to traditions of progressive reform. Jimmy Carter and Clinton were telling traditional Democratic politicians that they were exhausted volcanoes, but they did not like to hear it.
