Case 255 - Who Is at the Helm? The Debate Over U.S. Funding for the United Nations

Skidmore, David

The debate over U.S. funding for the United Nations began after the 1994 elections and dragged out over the next several years. President Bill Clinton and Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) would battle to a stalemate as the issue of U.N. funding was tied to other legislation. Compromise was reached with the help of Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.), but Clinton vetoed the resulting Helms-Biden Act. This case study gives students the opportunity to explore the domestic politics of U.S. foreign policy during the Clinton administration; in particular, how domestic and international politics have become more intertwined since the fall of the Soviet Union. This case also offers insights into the intricacies of the legislative process as it relates to foreign policy.