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Bill Clinton
Forty-second president, 1993-2001
The first of the post-World War II baby boomers to sit in the White House, Bill Clinton came to national political attention when, at age thirty-two, he claimed the Arkansas governorship. He later served an additional ten years as governor. Clinton's political resilience earned him the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination and the presidential victory in November.
During his presidency, Clinton's resilience continued to be his mainstay. In the face of several controversies, he maintained his credibility with the electorate. The most ambitious initiative of his presidency was an attempt to overhaul the nation's health care system. That effort failed, but Clinton could claim accomplishments on other fronts, including a role in reshaping the nation's public welfare system. His administration also played a crucial part in curbing the massive federal spending deficits that had soared out of control in the 1980s; during his second term the government had a surplus in revenues for the first time since the late 1960s.
Nelson Shanks, 2005 |