Bill Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton, born William Blythe III on August 19, 1946, is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was a member of the Democratic Party and is known for his "Third Way" political philosophy, which became a major influence in the party during his time in office and beyond. Before becoming president, Clinton served as the attorney general of Arkansas and later as the governor of Arkansas.

Clinton was elected president in the 1992 election, defeating the Republican president George H. W. Bush and independent businessman Ross Perot. He was the first president born in the Baby Boomer generation and the youngest to serve two full terms. During his presidency, the United States experienced a long period of economic growth. Clinton signed important laws such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. He also worked on foreign policy issues, including helping to bring peace in Bosnia and Kosovo, supporting the expansion of NATO, and working toward peace in the Middle East.

Clinton was re-elected in the 1996 election, defeating Republican nominee Bob Dole. His second term faced challenges, including public attention on personal matters that led to an impeachment process. However, he was later cleared by the Senate. Clinton left office in 2001 with a high approval rating and has since been involved in public speaking and humanitarian efforts through the Clinton Foundation. He also helped with relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and has supported Democratic political campaigns.

Early life and career

Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas. His father passed away before he was born, and his mother studied nursing in New Orleans. She returned when Bill was four and later married Roger Clinton Sr., who owned an automobile dealership in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Bill took his stepfather's last name when he was 15.

In Hot Springs, Bill went to St. John’s Catholic Elementary School and Hot Springs High School. He loved music and played the tenor saxophone in school bands. He was also a strong student leader. In high school, he joined a group called the Order of DeMolay, which is linked to Freemasonry.

Two events helped Bill decide to go into public service. First, he met President John F. Kennedy at the White House when he was part of the Boys Nation. Second, he watched Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech on TV, which deeply moved him.

College and law school years

Georgetown University

With help from scholarships, Clinton went to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and got a Bachelor of Science in foreign service in 1968. This was the only university he applied to.

In 1964 and 1965, Clinton was elected class president. From 1964 to 1967, he worked as an intern and clerk for Arkansas senator J. William Fulbright. During his time at Georgetown, he joined the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was also part of the honorary band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi.

Oxford

After finishing at Georgetown in 1968, Clinton won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at University College, Oxford. He first studied for a B.Phil. in philosophy, politics, and economics but later switched to a B.Litt. in politics, and finally to a B.Phil. in politics. Clinton did not plan to return for his second year because of possible military service, so he changed his program. This was common among other Rhodes Scholars at the time. He was offered a place at Yale Law School, so he left Oxford early to return to the United States and did not get a degree from there.

While at Oxford, Clinton became friends with another American student, Frank Aller. In 1969, Aller received a notice to join the Vietnam War. In 1971, Aller passed away, which affected Clinton deeply. During his time at Oxford, Clinton was part of the Oxford University Basketball Club and also played for the university's rugby union team.

Vietnam War opposition and draft controversy

While in England in 1968 and 1969, Clinton got educational delays for the military draft during the Vietnam War. At Oxford, he joined Vietnam War protests and helped organize a Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam event in October 1969. He planned to go to law school in the U.S. and knew he might lose his delay. Clinton tried to join the National Guard and the Air Force officer candidate school but was not successful. He then tried to join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Arkansas.

He decided not to join ROTC, saying in a letter that he opposed the war and did not think it was right to use ROTC, the National Guard, or Reserve service to avoid going to Vietnam. He said that because he opposed the war, he would not volunteer to serve but would accept the draft if chosen. Clinton registered for the draft and received a high number (311), meaning others with lower numbers would be called first, making it unlikely he would be selected. (The highest number actually called was 195.)

Law school

After Oxford, Clinton went to Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1973. In 1971, he met his future wife, Hillary Rodham, in the Yale Law Library; she was a year ahead of him in school. They started dating and soon became very close. After about a month, Clinton changed his summer plans to move in with her in California. The couple continued living together in New Haven when they returned to law school.

Clinton later moved to Texas with Rodham in 1972 to lead a campaign effort there. He worked in Dallas at the campaign's office and worked with future mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk, future governor of Texas Ann Richards, and television director and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

Failed congressional campaign and tenure as Attorney General of Arkansas

Further information: Electoral history of Bill Clinton

After finishing school, Bill Clinton came back to Arkansas and began teaching law at the University of Arkansas. In 1974, he tried to become a member of the House of Representatives. He ran in the 3rd district against a Republican named John Paul Hammerschmidt. Many people were unhappy with Republicans at that time because of the Watergate scandal, which helped Clinton. But Hammerschmidt, who had won easily before, beat Clinton by a small margin — 52% to 48%.

In 1976, Clinton decided to run for Arkansas attorney general. He won the Democratic primary and had no opponents in the final election because no Republicans ran for the job.

Governor of Arkansas (1979–1981, 1983–1992)

Main article: Governorships of Bill Clinton

In 1978, Bill Clinton ran to become the governor of Arkansas. At just 31 years old, he was one of the youngest candidates ever for this role in the state. He won the election and became governor at the age of 32, the youngest governor in the country at the time. During his first term, he focused on improving education and road maintenance. However, some people were unhappy with a new tax he introduced and with how he handled a situation involving refugees. He lost a re-election bid in 1980 but won again in 1982 and served for ten more years.

During his time as governor, Clinton worked to improve Arkansas's economy and schools. He helped make medicines cheaper for older citizens and supported policies that aimed to make government smaller and more effective. He also became a well-known leader among a group of Democrats who wanted more moderate policies.

Clinton made improving Arkansas's schools a major goal. With the help of his wife Hillary, who led a committee on education, many changes were made to improve schools, such as increasing funding, offering more courses, and raising teachers' salaries. These changes were approved in 1983 after Clinton called a special meeting of the state legislature.

In 1988, there was talk that Clinton might run for president, but he chose to stay as governor. He supported another Democrat for the presidency and spoke at the national convention that year, though some thought his speech was too long.

Presidential campaigns

1992 presidential candidacy

Bill Clinton began his journey to become president by competing in the first primary contest, the Iowa Caucus, where he finished third. During the campaign for the New Hampshire primary, stories about a personal matter surfaced, but Clinton and his wife addressed these concerns on a popular TV show. This helped him recover, and he finished second in New Hampshire, which was seen as a success.

Clinton then won important states like Florida, Texas, and many others in the South on Super Tuesday, giving him a lead in delegates. He also won in New York City, showing he could appeal beyond the South. Eventually, he secured the Democratic Party nomination and became their candidate.

During his campaign, Clinton faced questions about possible conflicts of interest, but he defended his actions. He also focused on the economy, which was struggling at the time, and promised a "new beginning" for America. Clinton won the 1992 presidential election with 370 electoral votes, defeating the incumbent president and another candidate. His victory ended twelve years of Republican leadership and gave Democrats control of both the presidency and Congress.

1996 presidential candidacy

Leading up to the 1996 election, Clinton's chances of being re-elected seemed uncertain due to some public distrust and recent election losses for Democrats. However, as the economy improved and people became less happy with the Republicans in Congress, Clinton's popularity increased.

Clinton's position as the current president helped him, as many Americans felt the country was moving in the right direction. He faced his previous opponent and another candidate, but this time he was expected to win easily. On election day, Clinton won with 379 electoral votes, becoming the first Democrat to win two consecutive presidential elections since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidency (1993–2001)

Main article: Presidency of Bill Clinton

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Bill Clinton presidency.

Clinton's "third way" of moderate liberalism helped build the nation's fiscal health and strengthen its position abroad during a time of globalization and new challenges.

During his time as president, Clinton supported many laws and programs, most of which became law or were put into action. His policies, especially the North American Free Trade Agreement and changes to welfare, showed a centrist "Third Way" style of leading. His careful handling of money helped lower deficits. Clinton led during the longest time of peace-time economic growth in American history.

The Congressional Budget Office reported budget surpluses of $69 billion in 1998, $126 billion in 1999, and $236 billion in 2000, during the last three years of Clinton's presidency. Over these years, the national debt still went up each year. At the end of his presidency, Clinton and his wife moved to a home in Chappaqua, New York.

First term (1993–1997)

After becoming president in 1993, Clinton faced many challenges. His first choice for a top legal job had to step down because she used someone who was not allowed to work in the U.S. His second choice also had to step down for the same reason. He tried to allow people who liked each other to serve in the military, but faced strong opposition and had to agree to a compromise where they could serve only if they kept it private.

He signed a law that lets people take unpaid time off work for family or health reasons. He also changed rules to make it easier for women to get health services abroad. He planned to raise taxes to lower the budget deficit and showed a plan to Congress about this.

His attorney general allowed a police action that led to a building catching fire and many people, including children, dying. This action was planned before Clinton became president.

He signed a law that cut taxes for low-income families, helped small businesses, and raised taxes on the very wealthy. He also spoke to Congress about a plan to cover everyone with health care, but this plan did not succeed. He signed a law to check people’s records before they buy guns and also helped low-income workers with a tax credit.

Second term (1997–2001)

In his second term, Clinton worked on providing health coverage for children and succeeded in passing a law to help families adopt children and support those in foster care. He also worked with Congress to balance the budget.

Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for giving false information and trying to hide his relationship with a young woman who worked in the White House. The Senate later decided not to remove him from office.

Clinton made many changes in how the country handled laws and judges, appointing the first two women to the Supreme Court in many years and choosing more women and minority judges than any president before him.

Public opinion

When Bill Clinton was president, people often asked how they felt about his work. During his first years as president, many people were unsure about him, with ratings between 40% and 50%. But later, more people liked his work, with ratings between 55% and 65%.

After some tough times in 1998 and 1999, even more people approved of him. When he left office, 68% of people said they liked how he did his job. This was as high as other famous presidents like Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many thought he did a very good job, even though some felt he wasn’t always honest.

Years later, in 2006, more people said Clinton did better than the next president, George W. Bush, in several areas. By 2010, 69% of people approved of Clinton’s work as president. In 2014, many thought he was one of the best presidents after World War II, ranking him behind only John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Scholars also ranked him eighth among all U.S. presidents.

Public image

Main article: Public image of Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton was the first president to belong to the baby boomer generation. He was known for his clever use of simple, catchy phrases, his charm, and his ability to connect with people, which helped him stay popular. One famous moment was when he played the saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show. Some people nicknamed him “Slick Willie,” starting in 1980, because they thought he was changing policies too much. Others called him “Bubba,” and later “The Big Dog.” During the 2012 election, he helped campaign for Obama and gave a well-known speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Clinton had strong support from the African American community and said improving relationships between different racial groups would be important during his time as president. In 1998, writer Toni Morrison described Clinton as “the first black president,” noting similarities in how both he and black people were treated and judged. Some people thought this comparison was unfair to both Clinton and the African-American community.

Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Main article: Relationship of Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein

Clinton knew a man named Jeffrey Epstein, who was later found guilty of serious crimes against children. Clinton spent time with Epstein and flew on his plane for charity trips between 2002 and 2003. There were stories that Clinton visited Epstein’s private island, but Epstein and others said this was not true. No proof was found to show Clinton was on the island.

Post-presidency (2001–present)

Main article: Post-presidency of Bill Clinton

Activities until 2008 campaign

In 2002, Clinton said that going to war with Iraq might cause problems, and later said he was against the Iraq War from the start. In 2005, he talked about better ways to take care of the environment at a big meeting in Montreal.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas opened in 2004. Clinton wrote a very popular book called My Life that same year. In 2007, he wrote another book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World, which people liked a lot.

After a big ocean wave caused trouble in Asia in 2004, Clinton helped with relief efforts. After Hurricane Katrina, he worked with another former president, George H. W. Bush, to help people affected by the storm. They even appeared together before a big football game and visited places that needed help.

Clinton started the William J. Clinton Foundation to help with important problems around the world, like health and poverty. The foundation also works on peace between different groups of people. In 2005, Clinton helped make a deal to sell medicine for malaria at lower prices in places that need it most.

2008 presidential election

During the 2008 election, Clinton worked hard to help his wife, Hillary, become president. He spoke at events and helped raise money for her campaign. Some people thought he was too eager and said hard things about the other candidate, Barack Obama. Later, Clinton gave a strong speech saying Obama was ready to be president, and helped bring the party together after Obama won.

After the 2008 election

In 2009, Clinton went to North Korea to help two American women who were stuck there. After talking to the leader, they were allowed to leave.

Clinton also helped after hurricanes in Haiti and other places. He worked with other leaders to get money and support for people who needed it. In 2012, he gave a well-liked speech helping Obama get re-elected as president.

2016 presidential election and after

In 2016, Clinton again helped his wife, Hillary, in her campaign to become president. After the election, he and other former presidents worked together to help people affected by hurricanes in the southern United States.

Clinton also spoke up for Joe Biden when he was running for president in 2024, even after Biden decided not to continue. After Biden left the race, Clinton supported the new candidate, Kamala Harris.

Clinton wrote another book in 2024 called Citizen: My Life After the White House.

Wealth

After leaving office, Bill and Hillary Clinton made a lot of money from speaking and writing books. They said they had little money when they left the White House because of legal costs, but worked hard to earn more. By 2012, they had made millions from speaking engagements and books.

Personal life

Bill Clinton was baptized at Park Place Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas when he was 10 years old. When he became president in 1993, he and his wife joined Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.

He married Hillary Rodham in 1975 after meeting her at Yale University. They had one child, Chelsea Clinton, in 1980. He is now a grandfather to Chelsea's three children.

Health

Bill Clinton faced some health challenges over the years. In 2004, he had surgery to clear blockages in his heart. In 2005, he had another surgery for a lung problem. In 2010, doctors placed small tubes in his heart to keep it working well. He changed his diet to follow advice from his doctors. Later, he added some fish and lean meats to his meals.

He was treated for an infection in 2021 and had COVID-19 in 2022. In 2024, he was hospitalized with a fever. In 2025, he used a portable device to help his heart stay healthy.

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and honors received by Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton has received many awards and honors. Several schools and universities gave him special degrees called honorary degrees. He was also given a special award called the Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2001. A big building called the Clinton Presidential Center opened in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2001.

In 2011, the president of Haiti gave Clinton a special award for helping the country after a big earthquake. Clinton was chosen as Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1992 and again in 1998. He has won many other awards, including a Grammy Award for a children’s audiobook he read. In 2013, President Obama gave Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom.