Interesting study in deficit spending. Outside of WW II there a few outstanding accomplishments.

Spending more than we make -- from 2% to 6% more:

        
1980-1984        Reagan
1985-1989        Reagan
1992-3               G.H.B.
2001-2004        G.W.B.

Spending less than we make for a surplus up to 3% of GDP:

        
1955-56                 D. Eisenhower
1969                 LBJ
1997-2001         W. Clinton

It would be interesting to see the national debt also graphed alongside of the deficit spending history, as it would quickly show where the nation's fiscal health was being eroded or improved.

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