Clinton signs Don't Ask, Don't Tell into law after Senate threatens to codify complete gay ban

President Clinton signed the National Defense Authorization Act of 1994, which included the Don't Ask, Don't Tell provision, on November 30, 1993. The law barred service members from disclosing their sexual orientation and prohibited commanders from investigating it. Clinton had promised to lift the existing ban on gay service members by executive order; when he tried, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn threatened legislation codifying a complete ban. DADT passed with 84 Senate votes as a compromise that satisfied no one fully.