Jake Harper
Ross Perot was an American billionaire and one of the most successful third-party presidential candidates in US history. Perot ran for president in 1992, 1996 and 2000. During his 1992 campaign, Perot referred to Bill Clinton as the chicken man, a reference to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas, where he was governor. Perot's use of the media to bring his political message directly to the American public was a significant development in political campaigning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1992 |
| Ross Perot's nickname for Bill Clinton | Chicken Man |
| Reason for nickname | Reference to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas |
| Perot's comment | "If we can agree that the two biggest problems that face our country are managing what used to be your money and putting America back to work, then the question is: Is the chicken man the best qualified man?" |
| Perot's concern | Clinton's policies might lead to an over-emphasis on poultry-related jobs |
| Perot's program | "Chicken Feathers, Deep Voodoo and the American Dream" |
| Perot's argument | Most of the jobs Clinton created as Governor of Arkansas were in the poultry business |
| Perot's warning | "If we decide to take this level of business-creating capability nationwide…we’ll all be plucking chickens for a living." |
| Perot's performance in 1992 election | Lost to Clinton, capturing 19% of the vote |
| Clinton's performance in 1992 election | Won, defeating George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot |
| Clinton's performance in 1996 election | Won re-election, defeating Bob Dole and Ross Perot |
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What You'll Learn
Ross Perot's 1992 presidential campaign against Bill Clinton
Ross Perot's 1992 presidential campaign was an unusual and unconventional quest for the presidency. Perot, a billionaire businessman from Texas, announced his candidacy on the February 20, 1992, edition of Larry King Live, stating that he would run for president if supporters filed petitions to get him on the ballot in all 50 states. Perot's volunteers succeeded in this task, and he appeared on every state ballot. Perot's campaign focused on balancing the federal budget, economic nationalism, strengthening the war on drugs, and implementing "electronic town halls" for "direct democracy". Perot's views were described as a combination of "East Texas populism with high-tech wizardry".
Perot's supporters saw him as a non-political and witty "folk hero", but critics described him as "authoritarian" and "short-tempered". Perot largely self-financed his campaign and relied on marketing and grassroots support. He tapped into voters' fears of the federal budget deficit and professional politicians, and his campaign gained momentum, with Perot leading the polls at one point with 39% support.
However, Perot's campaign suffered a setback when he unexpectedly dropped out of the race in July 1992, only to re-enter in October. His polling numbers never fully recovered, despite his aggressive use of commercials. In the general election, Perot received close to 18.97% of the popular vote, finishing in third place behind Clinton and Bush, and carrying no states and receiving no votes in the Electoral College. Perot won several counties and placed second in two states, Maine and Utah.
Perot's performance made him the most successful non-major-party presidential candidate in terms of the popular vote since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. Perot's impact on the election has been a contentious point of debate, with some Republicans asserting that he acted as a "spoiler", taking votes away from Bush and costing him the election. However, analysis of the Perot vote in exit polls showed that he drew support from both Bush and Clinton voters, and likely did not affect the outcome.
During the campaign, Perot referred to Clinton as "the chicken man", a reference to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas. Perot used this nickname to question Clinton's qualifications: "If we can agree that the two biggest problems that face our country are managing what used to be your money and putting America back to work, then the question is: Is the chicken man the best qualified man?".
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Clinton's Arkansas governor role
Ross Perot referred to Bill Clinton as "the chicken man" during his 1992 presidential campaign. This was a reference to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas, where he served as governor from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992. Clinton was the second-longest-serving governor in Arkansas's history, and his tenure was marked by significant achievements and controversies.
Clinton's early political career in Arkansas began with his election as state attorney general in 1976, a position he held from 1977 to 1979. Riding a wave of popularity from this role, he entered the Arkansas gubernatorial primary in 1978 and won, defeating Republican candidate Lynn Lowe. At 32 years old, he was the youngest governor in the country at the time and was nicknamed the "Boy Governor" due to his youthful appearance.
Clinton's first term as governor focused on educational reform and infrastructure improvements. He directed the maintenance of Arkansas's roads and worked with his wife, Hillary, on healthcare reform. However, his first term also included an unpopular motor vehicle tax and controversies such as citizens' anger over the escape of Cuban refugees detained in Fort Chaffee in 1980.
After losing his bid for reelection in 1980, Clinton returned to the governorship in 1983 for his second tenure. During this term, he took a more centrist approach and focused on the state's economy and education. He provided tax incentives to Arkansas businesses, encouraging new tech industries, and worked with Hillary on significant education reforms. Under Clinton's leadership, Arkansas became one of the top states in job creation, although the average income remained low.
Clinton's time as governor was not without controversy. In 1991, a Newsweek poll of US governors ranked him as the "most effective" governor, but his tenure was also marked by allegations of questionable business dealings and ties to drug smuggling operations at Mena Airport. Additionally, Clinton faced criticism for his role in the Whitewater land deal, which resulted in convictions for his associates but no charges against him or his wife.
Overall, Clinton's role as governor of Arkansas was a pivotal part of his political career, shaping his policies and preparing him for his eventual election as the 42nd president of the United States in 1992.
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Perot's criticisms of Clinton
Ross Perot, a self-made Texas billionaire, was one of the most successful third-party presidential candidates in US history. Running as an Independent in the 1992 presidential election, he lost to Bill Clinton but captured 18.9% of the popular vote, about 19,741,065 votes. Perot's support came from across the political spectrum, with 20% of his votes from self-described liberals, 27% from self-described conservatives, and 53% from self-described moderates.
Perot also criticised Clinton's stance on other issues, such as free trade. Clinton supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was opposed by Perot and some of his supporters. In addition, Perot took aim at Clinton's tax policies, proposing an increase in income tax for the wealthiest households and a tax on employer-paid health insurance, which he argued created an unfair advantage for those who received it.
Perot's 1992 campaign was marked by his unconventional approach, including his decision to refer to Clinton as "the chicken man". Perot's supporters insisted that polls showing him in third place were wrong, and that there was a "large silent vote" for their candidate. Perot himself acknowledged that he had made mistakes during the campaign, such as dropping out in the summer and making unsubstantiated allegations. Despite this, Perot's performance in the 1992 election was seen as a success for a third-party candidate, and he ran again in 1996, although with less success.
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Perot's self-financed TV program
Ross Perot was a self-made Texas billionaire and one of the most successful third-party presidential candidates in US history. Perot ran for president in 1992, 1996, and 2000. He was famous for uniting socially conservative, blue-collar, anti-NAFTA voters with fiscally conservative but socially moderate voters.
Perot's 1992 campaign was notable for its unconventional and innovative strategies. He utilised television and media to reach voters directly, bypassing traditional political channels. Perot's campaign gained significant support, with polls showing him leading at one point with 39% of the vote. However, he ultimately received 18.9% of the popular vote but no electoral college votes. Despite this, Perot's performance as a third-party candidate was impressive, making him the most successful non-major-party presidential candidate in terms of the popular vote since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
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Perot's loss to Clinton
Ross Perot, a self-made Texas billionaire, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1992 US presidential election. Perot ran as an independent, and despite not winning, he captured 19% of the popular vote, making him the most successful non-major-party presidential candidate since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
Perot's campaign was notable for its unconventionality and his use of the media landscape to bring his political message directly to the American public. He was the first candidate in the modern era to utilise this strategy. Perot's campaign was also marked by his criticisms of then-President George H.W. Bush and his opponent, Bill Clinton. Perot referred to Clinton as "the chicken man", alluding to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas, where he was governor. Perot questioned whether "the chicken man [was] the best qualified man" to address the country's economic issues and create jobs.
Perot's performance in the 1992 election was influenced by several factors. Firstly, he had a broad base of support across the political spectrum, with votes coming from liberals, conservatives, and moderates. Additionally, Perot's performance in the debates likely contributed to his substantial share of the popular vote. Frank Newport of Gallup concluded that Perot "convincingly won the first debate", outperforming both Bush and Clinton.
However, Perot's campaign also faced challenges. He faced criticism for his decision to drop out of the race during the summer, only to re-enter later. Additionally, his allegations of GOP "dirty tricks" were viewed as unsubstantiated. Perot's performance in the polls varied, with some showing him leading with 39% support, while others placed him third. Ultimately, despite his significant share of the popular vote, Perot did not carry a single state and received no electoral college votes.
Perot ran for president again in 1996, as the nominee of the Reform Party. However, he garnered significantly less support in this election, receiving only 8.4% of the popular vote against Clinton and Republican nominee Bob Dole. This was Perot's last campaign, as he did not seek public office after 1996.
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Frequently asked questions
Ross Perot called Clinton "the chicken man" in reference to Clinton's efforts to develop the poultry industry in Arkansas. Perot criticised Clinton for creating jobs in the poultry business when he was Governor of Arkansas.
Yes, Ross Perot ran for president in 1992 as an Independent. He ran again in 1996 as the nominee of the Reform Party.
No, Perot did not carry a single state in the 1992 election and received no votes in the Electoral College. However, he did finish second in two states: Maine and Utah.
Ross Perot received about 19,741,065 votes, which amounted to 18.9% of the popular vote.
There were widespread claims that Ross Perot acted as a ""spoiler"" in the 1992 election, taking votes from both Clinton and Bush. However, post-election analysis suggested that his presence in the race likely did not affect the outcome.
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