President Bill Clinton

On August 19, 1946, William Jefferson Blythe IV was born in the small town of Hope, Arkansas. William never had the opportunity to meet his father who was a traveling salesman. William’s mother was still mourning the loss of her beloved husband who died only three months earlier in a tragic car accident. “As a small child, Bill lived with his mother, Virginia Cassidy Blythe, and her parents in Hope, Arkansas” (Maraniss, 1995). When Bill was a year old, his mother moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to study nursing. While his mother was away, Bill was being raised by his grandparents. Four years later, in hopes of a better life, Virginia remarried to Roger Clinton. Roger turned out to be an alcoholic, which lead him to become violent towards Bill and his mother Virginia. At age 14, young Bill had enough of the abuse. He finally stood up to his stepfather. After gaining the respect of his father figure, Bill decided to take the last name of Clinton.

Clinton’s high school years were just as all teenagers wished for. Clinton was a popular guy with lots of friends and even then he had a drive to be successful in life. Clinton’s passion for playing saxophone led him to consider a life as a professional musician. However, after having the opportunity to meet President John F. Kennedy at the White House Rose Garden during his senior year in high school, Clinton’s previous musician dreams came to a halting stop.

After graduated from High School, he knew that the only way he would accomplish all his goals would be to attend college. Clinton did understand that attending college would be expensive, but he also knew that it would be well worth the expense. Clinton’s hard work in school, combined with his music ability, earned him many academic and music scholarships. With the assistants of those scholarships and loans from the government, Clinton decided to attend Georgetown University located in Washington, D.C. He decided to attend Georgetown University because the school had an excellent Foreign Service program and also because it was located in the nation’s capital.

Clinton earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in International Affairs and worked as an intern in the office of Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright. After graduating from Georgetown University, Clinton continued his education by attending Oxford University in England and Yale Uni...

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...0,000 for giving false testimony by the U.S. District Court Judge.

Controversy followed Clinton throughout his presidency and even after he was out of office. His last minute pardon of fugitive Marc Rich was not welcomed by many. Till this day, Clinton remains in demand as a speaker and Democratic fund raiser. In 2001, Clinton opened his office in Harlem in New York City.

People will always remember Bill Clinton, for what reason, however, might be different. Some might remember him as a wonderful president who helped our country pull through the millennium unscathed. Others might remember him for being involved with numerous scandals. Which ever it is, he will always be known as this country 42nd President.

References

Allen, C., Portis, J. (1992). Bill Clinton: The Comeback Kid. New Jersey: Carol

Cohen, Daniel. (2000). The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton. Connecticut: Twenty First Century

Maraniss, David. (1996). First in his Class: The Biography of Bill Clinton. New York: Simon & Schuster

Moore, Jim. (1992). Clinton: Young Man in a Hurry. Texas: Summit

Tyrrell, Emmett. (1996). Boy Clinton: The political Biography. Washington D.C.: Regenery