William Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton was born August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. In high school in Hot Springs, Ark., Clinton considered becoming a doctor, but later decided to turn to politics, after attending a meeting with President John F. Kennedy in Washington, DC.

As a child, playing the saxophone is one of William's favorite pastimes. He practiced everyday and played in jazz ensembles. He attended band camp, every summer, in the Ozark Mountains. He finally became a top saxophone player at school, and won first chair in the state band's saxophone section.

While attending Yale Law School, he met his future wife, Hillary Rodham. The couple has one daughter, Chelsea Clinton. Clinton ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 1974. He also ran unopposed for state attorney general in 1976. In 1978, Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas, and became the nation's youngest governor.. Clinton lost his bid for reelection in 1980 to Frank D. White, but he won back the governorship in 1982, and won again in 1984 and 1986. In 1992 Clinton and his running mate, Senator Al Gore, were elected President and Vice President with 43% of the popular vote, to 38% for President George Bush and 19% for independent candidate Ross Perot.

Clinton became the 42nd U.S. president in 1993. He overcame robust personal attacks on his character and on his actions during the Vietnam War, which, obviously, he denied.

During President William Clinton's term, the United States enjoyed more peace and economic prosperity than at any time in its history. Although, it doesn't mean he was the greatest of all presidents.

He was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the highest home ownership in the country's history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare rolls. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus. As part of a plan to celebrate the millennium in 2000, Clinton called for a great national initiative to end racial discrimination.

The Clinton Administration expanded international trade and also launched peace and trade initiatives in Africa and in the Middle East. William Clinton hoped that, during his term, we must offer opportunity, demand personal responsibility, and come together as a national community.

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