1990s All-American Politics Trivia Quiz

Answer: To not create new taxes

Bush delivered the famous "Read my lips: no new taxes" promise at the 1988 Republican Convention during what became known as the "points of light" speech. The delivery of the phrase was so impactful it became a central point of his campaign and may have contributed to his victory in the presidential race.

While technically there were no NEW taxes, Bush did sign legislation raising existing taxes. Bill Clinton capitalized on this controversy during the 1992 Presidential campaign which led, in part, to Bush's defeat.

Answer: Au Bar

Smith, a physician, was acquitted of the charges, though later similar accusations were made by two other women. On the night of the Palm Beach incident Smith was accompanied to Au Bar by his uncle Ted and cousin Patrick Kennedy.

Answer: Simi Valley

Though the arrest and alleged crime took place in the city of Los Angeles, heavy media coverage forced the judge to change the trial venue to the mostly white city of Simi Valley in Ventura County. The jury of 10 whites, one Asian and one Hispanic was taken from a pool of residents in the San Fernando Valley.

More than 50 people died in the rioting that erupted following what was perceived as an egregious example of racial injustice. Simi Valley is also the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Answer: Janet Reno

A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School, Reno had previously served as the Attorney General of Florida. Her nomination followed those of lawyer Zoe Baird, who had hired undocumented migrants without paying required taxes, and Judge Kimba Wood, who also hired an undocumented worker at a time when it was not illegal to do so (although Wood had paid the required taxes). President Clinton withdrew their nominations when the potential problems came to light.

Answer: Medgar Evers

Two all-white juries deadlocked on a De La Beckwith verdict in 1964. New evidence came to light in 1994 and De La Beckwith was found guilty. He died in prison in 2001.

Answer: Robert Packwood

Packwood was accused by staff members, volunteers and lobbyists of sexual harrassment and assault. He sought to prevent his diary's publication citing Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination but was eventually forced to turn it over to prosecutors.

The Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to expel him from the Senate for ethical misconduct; he resigned shortly thereafter.

Answer: Mother Teresa

The other individuals who were granted Honorary Citizenship during their life were Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, otherwise known as the Marquis de Lafayette (received in 1824) and Sir Winston Churchill (1963). Posthumous citizenship has been awarded to Holocaust hero Raoul Wallenberg (1981), William Penn and his wife Hannah Callowhill Penn for their leadership in running the colony of Pennsylvania (both received in 1984).

Answer: Strom Thurmond

In 1954 Thurmond became the first write-in candidate to win a US Senate seat. At his retirement in January of 2003 he became the only sitting Senator to reach the age of 100 after serving a total of 47 years, 6 months in the Senate. Robert Byrd broke Thurmond's tenure record in 2006.

Answer: Perjury and obstruction of justice

Tripp was a government employee who famously recorded conversations with intern Lewinsky in which the younger woman confessed to a sexual relationship with Clinton. Tripp later moved to northern Virginia and battled breast cancer.

Answer: The Panama Canal

The US gained control of the building of the Canal in 1903. In 1977 American President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian President Omar Torrijoss signed the treaty that began the process of turning control of the Canal over to Panama. One of the elements of the treaty was that Panama agreed to permanent neutrality of the Canal. Full control by the Panama Canal Authority became effective at 12:00 noon on December 31, 1999.