Nov 5
Clinton Reelected
Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole with 49.2% of the vote. Ross Perot ran again but faded. The economy was humming and Americans chose continuity.
🇺🇸United States · 90s
The Internet President
Clinton wins again, the Macarena conquers America, and Dolly the sheep is cloned.
What happened
5 milestones of 1996
Jul 27
Atlanta Olympic Park Bombing
A pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park during the Atlanta Olympics, killing 2 and injuring 111. Security guard Richard Jewell was falsely accused. Eric Rudolph was caught years later.
terrorism
Jul 17
TWA Flight 800 Crash
TWA Flight 800 exploded shortly after takeoff from JFK, killing all 230 aboard. The investigation concluded a fuel tank explosion was the cause. Conspiracy theories persisted.
tragedy
Jul 5
Dolly the Sheep Cloned
Scientists in Scotland cloned a mammal for the first time. Dolly the sheep was born from an adult cell. The world debated the ethics of cloning. Science fiction became science fact.
Aug 22
Welfare Reform Signed
Clinton signed welfare reform, 'ending welfare as we know it.' Work requirements replaced open-ended benefits. Liberals called it cruel. Clinton called it necessary.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Independence Day
Roland Emmerich — Will Smith punched an alien. The White House blew up. America cheered.
Fargo
Joel & Ethan Coen — 'Oh ya, you betcha.' Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson. Dark comedy masterpiece.
Jerry Maguire
Cameron Crowe — 'Show me the money!' Tom Cruise charmed America.
Scream
Wes Craven — 'What's your favorite scary movie?' Craven reinvented horror by deconstructing it.
Trainspotting
Danny Boyle — 'Choose life.' Ewan McGregor in the most stylish film about addiction ever made.
What was on TV
The Daily Show
1996-present — Craig Kilborn launched it. Jon Stewart would make it essential.
Seinfeld
1989-1998 — Peak years. The puffy shirt, the close-talker, the marble rye.
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996-2001 — John Lithgow as an alien studying humans. Inventive comedy.
Friends
1994-2004 — Ross and Rachel. 'We were on a break!' became a cultural debate.
ER
1994-2009 — George Clooney was the biggest TV star in America.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$2.96
Gallon of gas$1.23
New house (median)$140,000
New car (average)$16,300
Loaf of bread$0.89
Movie ticket$4.42
Inflation: 3.0%
The Clinton economy was roaring. Unemployment fell below 5.5%. The dot-com boom was building.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1996 (USD)
$2.96
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1996 (USD)
$1.23
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1996 (USD)
$140,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1996 (USD)
$16,300
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1996 (USD)
$0.89
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1996 (USD)
$4.42
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Dolly the sheep cloned
The first cloned mammal raised profound ethical questions about genetic engineering.
Palm Pilot
The Palm Pilot launched — the first successful PDA. 'Let me check my Palm.'
Nintendo 64
The N64 launched with Super Mario 64 — 3D gaming arrived.
DVD format announced
The DVD format was finalized. VHS's replacement was coming.
Hotmail launched
Free web-based email. 'You've got mail' went worldwide.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Platform sneakersBaby teesButterfly clips
Slang
Bling bling— Flashy jewelry, wealth
Wassup— What's up? (greeting)
Booyah— Exclamation of triumph
Behavior
- Everyone was doing the Macarena — at weddings, stadiums, everywhere
- 2Pac was killed in September, Biggie would follow in March 1997
- The internet was becoming part of daily life — 36 million Americans online
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