Looks like Dean now has the nomination clinched.

[Kuciwalker]

The spikes were because of the Civil War, WWI, and WWII probably: also, the data only goes to 1997. But it's the first image I could find, and last major Repugnantcan administration (Reagan) appears to have merely kept gov't spending SLIGHTLY lower with Clinton's first few years continuing that.

There was also a spike at the War of 1812 though its smaller.