Bill Clinton Turns 76: What Did His Presidency Contribute to Science, Technology?

The 42nd POTUS paved the way for a technology-driven economy ahead of the 21st century.

When President Bill Clinton first came into office on January 20, 1993 alongside Vice President Al Gore, one of his goals was to use the burgeoning tech revolution of the 1980's to 1990's to drive the economy and improve the lives of Americans. It became the mission of the Clinton administration to build the New Economy, which would be one of the main focal points of his eight-year presidency.

President Clinton, who celebrates his 76th birthday today, was just 46 years old when he entered office, making him the second-youngest elected President of the United States after John F. Kennedy, who was 43 when he took over the White House. Clinton's youth and understanding of the need to adopt new technologies spurred the US government to establish a strong research and development strategy that would heavily invest in science and technology.

President Bill Clinton Increased Funding Research and Development in Universities

The 1990's saw the continuation of the personal computer boom, as well as the advent of the Internet. President Clinton acknowledged these advancements and the lack of support for technology research, leading his administration to increase funding in civilian research and development by as much as 43%. The Clinton administration also increased research and development support for universities by up to 53%, US government archives revealed.

Clinton's contributions to technology over his two terms as president between 1993 to 2001 included a massive $10 billion investment in several science and technology programs. During a speech at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, President Clinton announced the Twenty-first Century Research Fund, a $675 million US National Science Foundation's (NSF's) annual research budget that became the largest increase ever in this department, Nature reported.

Clinton's Contributions to Technology: Ensuring Households Have Computer and Internet Access

One of the legacies of President Bill Clinton was the way he fostered growth in technology throughout the 1990's. The Democratic leader recognized the importance of access to computers and the Internet to the lives of Americans, which is why he made it a mission to close the gap made by the "digital divide," US government archives showed.

President Clinton not only expanded high-speed internet access, but also provided a $25 million program to hasten the deployment of broadband networks in under-served urban and rural communities. By August 2000, there was a 51% increase in the number of American households with computers as well.

In 1997, the US saw a massive increase in the exports of computer equipment, growing to up to $41.4 billion in 1997. Patent applications also increased by 40% since 1992. Because of these changes in connectivity and communication, President Clinton signed into law the first comprehensive telecommunications reform in more than 60 years, which aimed to decrease prices and add more options for customers, while accelerating the deployment of new technology.

President Bill Clinton Allotted Budgets for Tech Start-ups and Trainings for the Education Sector

The Clinton administration saw great potential in the private sector's quest to improve technology in America. This is why it tripled the funding for the Technology Opportunity Program (TOP), which allocated $45.1 million for start-up companies specializing in innovative projects that used advanced technology.

During an address at MIT in June 1998, President Clinton called upon the graduates to "focus on the challenges of the Information Age." He also highlighted how his administration made education a top priority by creating more scholarships, expanding Pell Grants, passing tax credits and improving the student loan program.

Acknowledging the importance of education, President Clinton's contributions to technology includes an increased investment in education technology from $23 million in 1993 to $769 million in 2000. In 1997, the Clinton administration also established the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, which provided software and Internet access for students and allotted budgets for schools to have more technology training for teachers, computers in the classroom, and Internet-enabled libraries.