Clinton was raised by his mother and stepfather, rising from poverty to attend [Georgetown University]? and [Yale Law School]?. He also attended England's prestigious Oxford University, on a Rhodes Scholarship.
Clinton was the first Democrat to serve two full terms as President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. His election ended an era in which the Republican party had controlled the Presidency for 12 consecutive years, and for 20 of the previous 24 years. That election also brought the Democrats full control of the political branches of the federal government, including both houses of Congress as well as the Presidency, for the first time since the administration of Jimmy Carter.
After two years of Democratic party control under the leadership of President Clinton, the mid-term elections in 1994 proved disastrous for the Democrats. They lost control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years. This result was in large part the result of a failed attempt to create a comprehensive government-controlled health care system under a plan developed by the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
He was impeached in 1999 by the [House of Representatives]?, but not convicted by the Senate, mainly for perjury -- lying under oath to a [Grand Jury]? regarding matters related to his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky (uncovered by an investigation into the unrelated [Whitewater Scandal]?).
Most of Clinton's presidency was overshadowed by the [Ken Starr]?-led Whitewater investigation. The investigation, which originally dealt with a failed land deal years earlier, eventually expanded to include the suicide of his friend Vince Foster, an alleged sexual encounter with a woman named [Paula Jones]? (who later admitted to taking money from extreme-conservative political groups), "Troopergate"- in which an Arkansas State Trooper claimed to have arranged sexual encounters for then Governor Clinton (claims the State Trooper later recanted among admissions he had taken money from the extreme-conservative tabloid "[American Spectator]?") and his sexual encounters with Monica Lewinsky.
He developed a close working relationship with Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, when he was elected in 1997.
He paid a personal interest in The Troubles in Northern Ireland and paid three visits there while he was president in order to encourage peace. This helped both sides in the divided community there to begin to talk, setting in motion the process that lead to the Provisional Irish Republican Army commencing disarmament on [October 23rd]? 2001.
In 1999, in conjunction with a Congress controlled by the [Republican party]? he balanced the US budget for the first time since 1969.
Bill Clinton was governor of the state of Arkansas for six terms, one from 1978 to 1980 and the rest from 1982 to 1992.
He ended his presidency with approval ratings in the high 60%, despite granting [presidential pardon]?s which Republicans considered highly controversial.
There's a great deal more to be said about him -- let's try to keep it non-partisan and encyclopedic.
William Jefferson Clinton
/Talk (go ahead and be partisan there)
See also:
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