Destiny manifested. That’s what January 20, 1993 was in most people’s eyes. It was the day that the new president of the United States was inaugurated, William Clinton, the 42nd president in American history. Clinton decided from an early age that he wanted to be in politics and pursued this throughout his entire life tenaciously despite setbacks and failures. After meeting President John F. Kennedy as a kid, young Clinton knew exactly where he wanted to be someday and he would get there, this is his story.
Early Life
Bill Clinton, born August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas U.S. originally was named Bill Bhythe. His birth father died in a car accident three months before Clinton’s birth. Virginia Bhythe, Clinton’s mother, would then go on to marry Roger Clinton. Their relationship was rocky and they divorced soon after marrying.
Roger and Virginia would however, remarry and it was at this point that Bill Bhythe would become Bill Clinton. Roger was a drinker and that was much of the problem with Clinton’s parents’ relationship. Seeing this would help shape young Clinton quite profoundly. Clinton was also partly raised by his maternal grandmother like many in the South at that time.
Bill Clinton knew from an early age who he was and where he wanted to go. At an early age Clinton decided he wanted to go into politics. This thought was made solid after meeting and shaking hands with then President John F. Kennedy in the summer of 1963.
Education
In 1964, Clinton enrolled at Georgetown University. While in college Clinton was elected student president twice, once freshman year and once sophomore year. During his junior and senior years Clinton would intern for then Senator J. William Fulbright. He would go on to graduate from Georgetown in 1968 with a degree in international affairs.
Bill Clinton was lucky enough to receive a draft deferment his first year of law school at the University of Arkansas School of Law. This was a blessing for Clinton because he very vocally was in protest of the war at hand. Clinton would then transfer to Oxford, becoming eligible to be drafted again.
Luck would strike again though and Bill Clinton wouldn’t be chosen for the draft. While in college Clinton experimented with marijuana. This would come into play in his presidency race when it was found out, but Clinton simply replied with the now notorious response that he never inhaled. Clinton graduated from Oxford in 1973. He would go on to become a faculty member of the University of Arkansas School of Law for three years.
Early Political Career
In 1974 Clinton failed to receive a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. A turning-point for Clinton happened that year when he married law attorney Hillary Rodham. She soon took a great interest in Clinton's political career. In ’75 Bill Clinton was elected Attorney General of Arkansas. Then in 1978 after a strong campaign William Clinton became the governor of Arkansas. He was the youngest governor since Franklin Roosevelt.
Clinton made some mistakes his first term as governor, like raising taxes for highway development. Many people didn’t like this and thus Clinton wasn’t reelected in the 1980 elections for governor in Arkansas. One shining light that year, however, was the birth of Clinton’s first and only child, daughter Chelsea.
Clinton heavily apologized for his past mistakes and was able to regain governorship of Arkansas in 1982. Clinton would be reelected three times after this. Clinton then turned his sights even higher. He wanted to fulfill his dream that was solidified as a child after shaking President J. F. K.’s hand, Clinton would declare his presidency candidacy while still in office in Arkansas.
Presidency
Clinton’s campaign was immediately hurt when an alleged affair with Jennifer Flowers almost sidelined his campaigning efforts. He and wife Hillary admitted that their marriage was going through trials on a televised interview. After this Clinton came back with a vengeance earning him the nickname the “Comeback Kid”.
Clinton would grasp part of his dream in 1992 after winning the Democratic nomination. Bill Clinton chose Tennessee Senator Al Gore as a running mate. The Clinton-Gore ticket would then go on to defeat the current president, President George H. W. Bush, with an electoral college vote of 370-168. Bill Clinton was inaugurated January 20, 1993 as the United State’s 42nd president.
During his first term Clinton would focus on helping the under privileged and under cared for as most Democrats tend to. He allowed homosexuals to join the armed forces under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ruling and signed the Omnibus Crime Bill in 1994. This bill would make it possible to receive the death penalty for non-death related crimes.
Clinton’s first term went fairly easily, without much scandal, but his second term starting in 1997 would be tainted by scandals. The biggest scandal would involve then Whitehouse intern Monica Lewinsky. It was found out that Clinton again was in an extra-marital affair this time with young Lewinsky. The House actually voted to impeach Clinton on two charges, however the Senate voted to acquit Clinton on all charges.
During this term Clinton and NATO would also battle world genocide and Saddam Hussein yet again. Other than this the Clinton years were relatively peaceful on the war front. The United States prospered a great deal under President Bill Clinton’s lead. The economy was great and inflation was low. Despite all of the scandal that plagued Clinton’s second term, he is most remembered for these things.
Resources
Whitehouse.Gov: Bill Clinton Biography
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