Total trade deficits are smaller under Democratic Administrations.
  
Total trade deficit under Democratic Administrations (in millions): 1,356,120
    Total trade deficit under Republican Administrations (in millions): 5,034,656
    Total trade deficit in the Bush II Administration (in millions): 4,068,281

Year

Balance

(in Millions)

Administration Year

Balance

(in Millions)

Administration

1961 4,195 Kennedy (D) 1981 -16,172 Reagan (R)
1962 3,370 1982 -24,156
1963 4,210 1983 -57,767
1964 6,022 1984 -109,072
      1985 -121,880
1965 4,664 Johnson (D) 1986 -138,538
1966 2,939 1987 -151,684
1967 2,604 1988 -114,566
1968 250      
      1989 -93,141 Bush (R)
1969 91 Nixon (R) 1990 -80,864
1970 2,254 1991 -31,135
1971 -1,302 1992 -39,093
1972 -5,443      
1973 1,900 1993 -70,165 Clinton (D)
1974 -4,293 1994 -98,379
      1995 -96,265
1975 12,404 Ford (R) 1996 -103,942
1976 -6,082 1997 -108,178
      1998 -164,868
1977 -27,246 Carter (D) 1999 -263,252
1978 -29,763 2000 -378,344
1979 -24,565      
1980 -19,409 2001 -362,692 Bush II (R)
      2002 -421,735
  2003 -496,508
2004 -617,075
2005 -716,730
2006 -753,283
2007 -700,258

Source: 1961-2004: www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/press.html

2005: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/ft900.pdf (Exhibit 1)