- Democrat Bill Clinton was president in 1998, when the government finally recorded a surplus. - There also were budget surpluses in 1999, 2000 and in 2001. 2001 was the last year the Clinton administration proposed the budget. - Republican George W. Bush succeeded Clinton in 2001. read more
Dwight Eisenhower was last Republican President to preside over a balanced budget. He had a balanced budget in 1956 and 1957. Since then, there have been two presidents to preside over balanced budgets, LBJ in 1969 and Clinton in 1998 through 2001. read more