Tim Who 's (Pawlenty) goal of 5 percent annual growth in the gross  is pie in the sky, Ronald Reagan achieved 4.9 percent growth between 1983 and 1987 and that Bill Clinton achieved 4.7 percent growth between 1996 and 1999. Both of those results came after recessions. Reagan’s GDP growth per year: –2.0%, 4.3%, 7.3%, 3.8%, 3.4%, 3.4%, 4.2% and 3.5% (average of 3.5 percent). Clinton’s GDP growth per year: 4.0%, 2.7%, 3.6%, 4.4%, 4.2%, 4.9%, 3.8% and 0.3% (average of 3.5 percent).