William J. Clinton Biography

His mother, Virginia Cassidy Blythe, after the death of her husband in 1946 moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to study nursing.

He stayed with his mother's parents Eldridge and Edith Cassidy in Hope.They played a significant role in his upbringing.

His mother returned from New Orleans with her nursing degree in 1950, when her son was four years old. She married an automobile salesman named Roger Clinton. When Bill Clinton was seven years old, the family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Bill took the Clinton family name at age 14 while in high school.

1956. Bill Clinton's half- brother, Roger Clinton, Jr., was born.

1968: Graduated from Georgetown University and won a Rhodes Scholarship which allow select students to study at Oxford University in England. He studied government

Returned to the United States. Began aw school at Yale University and worked hard. He met Hillary Rodham, whom he would later marry.

1973: He graduated from law school and he returned to Arkansas to teach law at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

1975: He married Hillary Rodham (graduate of Wellesley College and Yale Law School).

1980: Chelsea, their only child, was born.

Significant Quote: "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right with America."

"Being president is like running a cemetery: you've got a lot of people under you and nobody's listening." -Bill Clinton

"There are always going to be people who want to be president, and some days I'd like to give it to them." -Bill Clinton, in 1993

He was a remarkable saxophone player. He loved music, practiced every day. Played in jazz ensembles. In summer he attended a band camp in the Ozark Mountains. He became a saxophone player at his school. Won first chair in the state band's saxophone section.

1960: John F. Kennedy was elected President. As a delegate to Boys Nation while in high school, he met President John Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden. The encounter led him to enter a life of public service. After this encounter, he knew he wanted to make a difference in the lives of the people of America by becoming President.

1960: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Bill Clinton was fascinated. He admired Dr. Kings gift for communicating a clear vision. Dr. King became one of Bill Clinton's heroes.

His futures actions were inspired by the success of these leaders.

1973: Entered politics in Arkansas.

1974: Ran for Congress against Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt. He lost but learned a lot.

1975: October 11. He married Hilary Rodham Clinton (she too teached at the University of Arkansas).

1976: Elected Arkansas Attorney General.

1978: At thirty-two, he became the youngest governor in the United States. As Governor of Arkansas he improved the state's educational system and let build better roads.

1980: As Governor, he lost the race for a second term. He ran as the Democratic candidate in the next election. Was re-elected in 1982 (better quality of education, raise of the teachers salaries).

1986-1987: He served as chairman of the National Governors'Association. He led the governors' efforts to reform the welfare system and the educational systems of the states.

1991: Governor Clinton decided to run for President.

Clinton and his running mate, Tennessee's Senator Albert Gore Jr., then 44, represented a new generation in American political leadership. For the first time in 12 years both the White House and Congress were held by the same party. It was a brief intermezzo: the Republicans won both houses of Congress in 1994.

Governor Clinton was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. He chose Senator Al Gore, of Tennessee to be his vice-presidential running mate.

Bill Clinton and Al Gore set out by bus to meet the people of America. (Hearing about their concerns and hopes for the future. The concept of their campaign was "putting people first").

1992: November 3: Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States and Al Gore the 45th Vice President.

1996: The team Clinton-Gore ran for re-election.

1996: November 5: Bill Clinton was once again elected by the American people to serve a second term as President of the United States.

1998: Clinton was the second U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives (because of an affair with a young woman White House intern. Was tried in the Senate and found not guilty of the charges). Apologized to the nation and continued to act as President of the United States.

It is said that "throughout his life, President Clinton has worked to make a difference in the lives of others. To him, "Hope" means more than a small town in Arkansas; it means working to ensure that each American has the opportunity to fulfill his or her dream".

As part of a plan to celebrate the millennium in 2000, Clinton called for a great national initiative
to end racial discrimination.

He traveled practically all around the world South America, Europe, Russia, Africa, and China, always drawing huge crowds.