President Bill Clinton recalls the lessons his mother taught him, the impact of briefly meeting John F. Kennedy at the age of 16, becoming Governor of Arkansas at the age of 32, and how he felt when he became president in 1992. President Clinton discusses his belief in second chances, gives his thoughts about his 1998 impeachment hearing, and how he believes historians will look back at his time in office.

William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States was born in 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. He graduated from Georgetown University and in 1968 won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. He received a law degree from Yale University and entered politics in Arkansas. In 1975, Clinton married Hillary Rodham and in 1980 Chelsea, their only child, was born. Bill Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1978, but lost a bid for reelection in 1980. He regained the governorship two years later and served until 1993. During his time in office, Governor Clinton earned national recognition for his progressive programs, especially his efforts to improve the quality of public education. He defeated Republican President George Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot in the presidential election in 1992. When President Clinton won reelection in 1996, he became the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. Following the early failure of his health care reform initiative, President Clinton pursued a moderate but progressive domestic agenda. During his tenure, the welfare system was reformed, the sale of handguns was restricted, environmental regulations were strengthened, and a massive federal budget deficit was turned into a surplus. Internationally, the Clinton Administration expanded international trade, intervened militarily to end “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia, launched peace and trade initiatives in Africa and the Middle East, and promoted a framework for peace aimed at ending the strife in Northern Ireland. In 1998, his relationship with a young White House intern resulted in the President’s impeachment by the House of Representatives. A trial in the Senate found the President not guilty of the charges brought against him. President Clinton apologized for his conduct and vowed to keep working as hard as he could for the American people.

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Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. President
Interviewed By: Hugh Sidey
Interview Date: March 31, 1999

© Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Life Experiences Preparing for the Presidency (0:20)
The Enormity of the Presidency (1:57)
Early Years (3:41)
Meeting Kennedy (5:09)
Lessons From His Mother (7:28)
A Young Politician (8:00)
Defeat in 1980 (9:04)
"The God of Second Chances" (11:06)
Religion (13:01)
On Being "Fit to be President" (14:24)
First Entering The White House (16:46)
Thoughts on Other Presidents (19:05)
Being President of a Divided Government (20:44)
Partisanship in America (23:26)
The Impeachment Process 1998 (25:15)
How the Media Has Altered the Presidency (30:48)
His Legacy (34:37)
The Future of the Presidency (36:12)
A Child of the 60's (37:42)
Hillary Clinton (40:19)
How the Presidency Has Changed Him (42:32)
Summing Up the Presidency (45:15)

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