What most likely accounts for the difference in the debt level in the last year of the Bush presidency (1992) and the last year of the Clinton presidency (2000)? Clinton supported government-funded social programs, while Bush minimized them.
Clinton introduced more open-trading policies, while Bush increased military spending.
Clinton enacted more regulations, while Bush only enacted the Clean Air Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.
Clinton presided over economic growth with higher taxes, while the economy under Bush did poorly.