U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SIGNS THE FIRST LINE ITEM VETO, 1997-08-01 (photo)

U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) signs the historic first-ever line-item veto, which strikes down two special interest tax breaks and a provision that would have reduced New York state's Medicaid expenditures, August 1, 1997. Behind Clinton L-R are: Chairman of Council of Economic Affairs Janet Yellen, Secretary of Treasury Robert Rubin, Vice President Al Gore, Director of Management and Budget Franklin Raines, and Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. Clinton is the first president to have the power of line-item veto, though the provision has been sought for more than 100 years. REUTERS/Rick Wilking MA