New presidents often make it a priority to have a big influence on the first budget bill of their terms. During his first months in office, George W. Bush wanted to push through a budget which included a big tax cut, the third-largest in American history. Previously, Bill Clinton pushed hard for his budget bill, which included a big tax increase, the largest in American history. During Rather's coverage of the two presidents' budgets, he regularly labeled Bush's tax plan as "big" (28 times from December of 2000 through May 21, 2001) but rarely Clinton's (3 times from January of 1993 through July of 1993). Thus, Rather was 9 times more likely to refer to the size of Bush's proposals than Clinton's.
Below is a listing of when (as of May 3, 2001) Rather decided to label each president's proposal:
"President William Jefferson 'Bill' Clinton making his first address to a joint session of Congress, an address of about one hour in duration, including frequent applause. The plan, to review and quickly summarize, is a mixture of about $246 billion in tax increases and $253 billion in spending cuts over four years. The president underscored that in his opinion if his program goes
through, it will represent one of the greatest real spending cuts by an American president ever. If the tax increases go through, it will represent one of the biggest tax increases in history. The president saying he does not believe the country has a choice, that it absolutely must change direction.
--Dan Rather during coverage of Clinton's first address to Congress, February 17, 1993.
"There's no easy transition to make to health care, but we need to move on. So if I may, as I understand it--correct
me if I'm wrong--you were telling the American people that their health-care coverage will be increased, that the deficit at the
same time will be cut. The translation of that is that there's going to be yet another significant increase in taxes, isn't it? How can it be avoided?
--Dan Rather on 48 Hours, March 24, 1993.
George W. Bush
"Despite the reservations of congressmen about Bush's big tax cut plan, the talk for today at least was upbeat."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, December 18, 2000.
"Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has not favored a big tax cut."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, December 20, 2000.
"But the incoming Bush administration continues to talk about the possibility
of a recession, and the Clinton White House accused the president-elect
today of talking the economy down for partisan political reasons, among
other things to make his big tax cut plan more attractive, say the Democrats."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, December 21, 2000.
"He believes the Fed just gave him some new ammunition for his battle
to get a big tax cut through Congress.",
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 3, 2001.
"The cuts in interest rates did have an impact today on President-elect
Bush's plans to push for a big tax cut, but not necessarily the impact
the chairman of the Federal Reserve had intended."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 4, 2001.
"And at his confirmation hearing today, Treasury Secretary-designate
Paul O'Neill said he believes the U.S. economy is slowing; he didn't use
the word 'recession.' He did say he supports Bush's big tax cut plan."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 17, 2001.
"President Bush has another view and has said consistently that he thinks
a big tax cut, deep tax cut is necessary,"
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 20, 2001.
"President Bush is keeping up his drumbeat of negative talk about the
health of the U.S. economy and using that in his efforts to sell Congress
on a big tax cut."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 24, 2001.
"And for the first time, Greenspan gave his blessing to the idea of
cutting taxes, at least some, to try to stimulate the economy. Greenspan
did not endorse the big Bush tax cut plan, wouldn't even comment on it."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, January 25, 2001.
"William McDonough says the U.S. economy should pick up in the second
quarter of the year, and by the second half growth should be, and I quote
him now, 'quite strong.' That's even without the big tax cut President
Bush insists is needed to give the economy a boost."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 5, 2001.
"The Bush version of a tax cut goes to Capitol Hill. The president says
he still sees warning signs that the economy could be in big trouble. He
thinks a big tax cut is the answer."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 8, 2001.
"President Bush today again talked down the U.S. economy, and this time
he did it in some of the strongest terms yet, as he sent Congress the big
tax cut plan he says will stoke the economy up."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 8, 2001.
"A key Republican senator, Pete Domenici, told reporters this evening
President Bush does not have the votes to pass his big tax cut plan, at
the very least not yet."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 15, 2001.
"Meeting with the nation's governors today, President Bush tried to
pre-test and repackage his sales pitch for his budget, including big tax
cuts."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 26, 2001.
"And Mr. Bush will be trying to rally public support for his big tax
cut plan,"
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 27, 2001.
"The fork, said the president, is a choice between a big tax cut or
big spending."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 27, 2001.
"In just a short while, George W. Bush will be there at the Capitol
to address Congress for the first time as president. He will try to sell
the Congress, and you the public, his federal budget plan, including the
controversial big tax cut he says is necessary to stimulate the economy."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, February 27, 2001.
"Congressional Republicans are trying to push President Bush's big tax cut
plan quickly on to a fast track to passage."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 1, 2001.
"In the nation's capital, President Bush's push for very fast congressional
approval of his big tax cut plan tonight appears headed for at least some
more speed bumps."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 7, 2001.
"It was an important step forward for President Bush's big tax cut plan.
It was a big step away from bipartisan cooperation in Congress."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 8, 2001.
"Part of President Bush's agenda in Florida today was to keep selling
hard his big tax cut plan. It was his first visit to Florida since taking
office."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 12, 2001.
"A spokesman for President Bush says today's report of sluggish retail
sales here in the United States is more evidence the U.S. economy needs
the big Bush tax cut. The president's hard sell on this appears to be having
an impact. CBS News chief White House correspondent John Roberts has the
results of the latest sampling of public opinion."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 13, 2001.
"On Capitol Hill, the Republican-controlled House voted mostly along
party lines tonight to pass President Bush's federal budget blueprint.
This includes his big tax cut plan, partly bankrolled, critics say, through
cuts in many federal aid programs for children and education."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, March 28, 2001.
"There was a major setback today for President Bush's big tax cut plan.
The Senate voted to reduce the cut by a third and use the money for education
programs and debt reduction."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, April 4, 2001.
"On his domestic agenda President Bush acknowledged for the first time
today that Congress will not pass his big tax cut plan."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, April 25, 2001.
"As for the big Bush tax cut plan, more than half now support it; opposed:
37 percent."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, April 26, 2001.
"President Bush began a major new push today for a new version of his
big tax cut plan."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, May 1, 2001.
"President Bush has argued that one reason Congress should give quick approval to his big tax cut plan is to help Americans pay for higher-priced gasoline."
--Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, May 21, 2001.
print_file('footer'); ?>