American Presidents

A Site to Complement C-SPAN's 20th Anniversary Television Series, American Presidents: Life Portraits
March-December 1999

Bill Clinton: Life Portrait

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    • LIFE FACTS

    Personal

    First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife

    Number of Children: 1

    Education Level: Graduate

    School Attended: Georgetown University, Oxford, Yale University

    Religion: Baptist

    Profession:
    Professor, Lawyer

    Public Service

    Dates of Presidency: 1/20/1993 - 1/20/2001

    Presidency Number: 42

    Number of Terms: 2

    Why Presidency Ended: End of 2nd Term

    Party: Democratic

    His Vice President(s): Albert Gore

    Governor of a State: Arkansas (1979-1981), Arkansas (1983-1992)

    Other Offices: Attorney General of Arkansas


    Did You Know?

    • He was elected Governor of Arkansas for five terms.
    • He is known for appointing minorities and women to high-level positions.
    • Warren Christopher and later Madeleine Albright served as his Secretaries of State.
    • He was the second president to be impeached, and was acquitted by vote counts of: Article 1 - Yea 45; Nay 55 Article 2 - Yea 50; Nay 50
    • His wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is known for her support of her husband and her pursuit of the causes in which she believes.
    • During his term, the federal budget was balanced.
    • "If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."

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    • Other Bill Clinton Resources and Activities

    C-SPAN in the Classroom
    Bill Clinton: Life Portrait Video Clip List

    Now it is easier to find a short video clip for your classroom! Use the clip list below to search for short, relevant segments from the featured American Presidents: Life Portraits program.

    Directions:   Click on the streamed video link to the left and view the program online; use the start and end times in the list below to cue up and watch the segments of your choice. The clips shaded in gray are those recommended by C-SPAN's education staff.
    Bill Clinton Program
    Video Clip List
    Clip # Start Time End Time Description
    1 0:00 2:40 William Jefferson Clinton from childhood to Georgetown University. Watch Clip 1
    2 2:43 3:34 Clinton meets his future wife, Hillary Rodham at graduate school, and becomes attorney general of Arkansas.
    3 3:35 4:28 Clinton's road to the presidency.
    4 4:29 5:44 Ken Starr investigates White Water, and the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
    5 5:45 7:36 A look at Clinton's hometown and birthplace home.
    6 7:55 12:22 David Maraniss, author of First in his Class, A Biography of Bill Clinton, discusses Clinton's political career, Hope vs. Hot Springs.  Information about Clinton's father, William Jefferson Blythe.
    7 12:30 15:04 Video of Hope, Arkansas with description of Clinton's birthplace home.
    8 15:05 16:36 Bill Clinton discusses the personal significance of his birthplace home.
    9 16:37 18:53 Bill Clinton's commitment to serving the public, and how that will affect his legacy.
    10 19:10 21:28 Discussion about Clinton's involvement with Harding College.
    11 21:28 23:18 Comments on the public sentiment of Bill Clinton.
    12 23:20 26:03 Public support for Bill Clinton.
    13 26:04 27:42 Video footage of the kitchen, photos of Clinton, and his grandparents.
    14 27:42 29:30 Bill Clinton's policy on gays in the military.
    15 29:31 33:12 David Maraniss comments on video footage regarding Clinton and the draft.
    16 33:13 35:29 A viewer calls in to show his support of Bill Clinton
    17 35:29 36:16 What residents of Hope, AR think of Bill Clinton.
    18 36:16 38:24 Clinton's personality traits and how they affected his presidency
    19 38:25 39:37: What happened to the members of Clinton's Cabinet?
    20 39:38 41:26 Clinton leaves a positive impression on a young man.
    21 41:30 42:40 Are there any other sites in Hope, AR dedicated to Bill Clinton?
    22 42:44 44:51 Details surrounding the impeachment process.
    23 44:52 45:14 Clinton family gravesite.
    24 45:14 48:25 Reasoning on why Bill Clinton changed his name. Watch Clip 24
    25 49:18 50:39 Should Congress have the right to investigate anyone's personal life?
    26 50:40 52:31 Reasoning behind the various ways Americans avoided the Vietnam War draft. Is college a legitimate draft deferment?
    27 52:34 54:55 Discussion on what people abroad think about American politics, and scandals.
    28 55:29 56:57 Tour of the dining and living rooms in Clinton's birthplace home. Discussion of fundraising for the upkeep of the home.
    29 56:58 57:33 How many of Clinton's relatives still reside in Arkansas?
    30 58:30 59:39 A comment on the continued support from Americans to Bill Clinton after the scandal.
    31 59:55 1:00:40 David Maraniss shares opinions about the expectations of Bill Clinton's foreign policy.
    32 1:03:31 1:05:26 Views about how changes in media, and culture affect presidents are expressed.
    33 1:07:24 2:47:05 Video of Clinton's boyhood home and surrounding areas.
    34 1:10:07 1:11:49 Gary Johnson, owner of the Hope Visitor Center answers a young student's question about Clinton's impeachment.
    35 1:11:50 1:14:41 Gary Johnson answers basic questions the Hope Visitor Center.
    36 1:14:42 1:16:22 Discussion about Clinton's draft notice.
    37 1:16:26 1:18:58 Comments on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
    38 1:18:59 1:22:20 Discussion with Masako Christian, a school teacher at William Jefferson Clinton school in Sherwood, AR.
    39 1:22:21 1:25:21 Questions about the validity of several rumors about Bill Clinton's immediate family.
    40 1:25:24 1:26:35 Comments on Bill Clinton's, and Ronald Reagan's faults.
    41 1:26:36 1:27:36 More commentary with Gary Johnson about the Hope Visitor Center.
    42 1:27:36 1:29:53 A caller expresses disapproval of Bill Clinton's behavior regarding his private life.
    43 1:29:36 1:32:57 Tour of the nursery, backyard and photos at the Depot and Visitor center.
    44 1:32:59 1:34:08 A caller talks about citizens overseas and their opinions about political scandals in the U.S.
    45 1:34:10 1:35:40 Has David Maraniss ever met Bill Clinton?
    46 1:36:28 1:37:38 Tour of Bill Clinton's grandparents' bedroom.
    47 1:37:39 1:38:27 How many Supreme Court appointments has Bill Clinton had?
    48 1:40:11 1:42:49 Tour of Clinton's mother's bedroom. Prices of touring the Hope Visitor Center and the Clinton Center.
    49 1:43:32 1:44:42 A clip of the 1992 debate with Bill Clinton and George Bush in St. Louis, on the topic of patriotism.
    Watch Clip 49
    50 1:46:26 1:48:08 Timeline of Clinton's public service, listing of his cabinet members, and significant events that occurred during his administration.
    51 1:48:14 1:50:20 Introduction of Georgia Sorenson, co-author of Dead Center: Clinton-Gore Leadership and the Perils of Moderation.
    52 1:50:53 1:53:41 Comments on the achievements of Bill Clinton.
    53 1:53:47 1:55:50 A comparison of Juan Peron and Bill Clinton.
    54 1:56:02 1:56:40 Georgia Sorenson describes the program, The Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland.
    55 1:59:03 1:59:56 Georgia Sorenson explains why she thinks Bill Clinton is a centrist, which is a key concept in her book.
    56 1:59:59 2:01:03 What Bill Clinton quotes will we remember?
    57 2:01:44 2:04:00 Maraniss and Sorenson compares and contrasts characteristics of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
    58 2:04:02 2:05:00 Tour of the McLarty room at the Depot and Visitor Center.
    Watch Clip 58
    59 2:10:45 2:10:56 Sorenson talks about Hillary Clinton's decision to continue her marriage to Bill Clinton.
    60 2:10:57 2:12:25 Gary Johnson talks about a photo in the Hope Visitor Center.
    61 2:12:26 2:15:23 Sorenson responds to a viewer's comments about the integrity of our lawmakers.
    62 2:15:21 2:19:58 Why Gary Johnson and his family have dedicated themselves to the Hope Visitor Center; as well as Beckie Moore to the Clinton Center.
    63 2:20:04 2:22:40 Sorenson discusses the leadership qualities that Bill Clinton possesses. Also, some commentary about James McGregor Burns as a role model, and the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland.
    64 2:23:37 2:25:55 Video of four different speeches of Bill Clinton announcing military action; Maraniss and Sorenson analyze the clips.
    65 2:27:01 2:28:04 A caller shares his opinions about Clinton's relations with foreign countries.
    66 2:28:05 2:30:18 Discussion about leadership qualities in our presidents.
    67 2:30:20 2:33:18 The authors discuss their next projects, what it takes to write an unbiased book. Contact information for educators interested in using C-SPAN in their classrooms.
    68 2:33:19 2:36:59 A caller discusses possible conspiracies involving Bill Clinton.
    69 2:37:00 2:38:50 Maraniss talks about the working relationship between Dale Bumpers, a senator from Arkansas and Bill Clinton.
    70 2:38:33 2:40:52 Beckie Moore shares interesting facts about the oval office rug.
    Watch Clip 70
    71 2:40:53 2:42:16 More discussion about leadership qualities in our presidents.
    72 2:42:17 2:43:56 Guests discuss the timing of the Iraqi bombing and Clinton's impeachment.
    73 2:43:57 2:45:14 Comments about the geographical location of the presidential library.
    74 2:45:15 2:47:12 Thoughts about Clinton's focus during the last year of his presidency. Also, questions about Clinton's core beliefs.
    75 2:47:15 2:50:39 Video clip of Clinton addressing the scandal with discussion.
    76 2:50:40 2:54:04 Discussion about the Rhodes Scholarship and Clinton's time at Oxford.
    77 2:55:12 2:57:09 A video clip of Hillary Clinton discussing her role as first lady.
    78 3:00:28 3:02:09 Comments on military procedure.
    79 3:02:10 3:05:44 Last words from all guests.

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