William Jefferson Clinton POTUS #43 turns 66 today.

Ten Notes On Bill Clinton

1. In 1991 President George H.W. Bush was riding high in the polls after Gulf War I and looked unbeatable. The top potential Democratic candidates were announcing on a daily basis it seemed that they would not run. Bill Clinton, the Governor of Arkansas was the top democrat who didn’t bail. A couple of moments when I thought George H.W. Bush was in trouble. In the summer of 1991 he went back on his “Read my lips no new taxes” pledge from 1988. The moment I heard that I felt he was in deep trouble. The moment when I thought the election was over was in one of the debates where Bush looked as his watch. Also Clinton did so well in the debates. The moment when he was asked a question from the crowd and he left the podium and walked toward the questioner. It was over. Bush to me acted like a man who was tired. I know he wanted to win but I don’t think the fire was in the belly that year. I don’t think he was heartbroken to be able to go back home. Also how something can change history If Lee Atwater had not gotten brain cancer and died it would I believe had been a different story. Atwater would have went for the throat. Bill Clinton had a lot of baggage. Atwater would have known how to have went after him. Another thing going for Clinton in that election was people were wanting change. George H.W. Bush had been Vice Daddy for 8 years and POTUS for 4. He was older. Clinton was younger. I think that had something to do with it and also the feeling that Bush had kind of lost touch.

2. Bill Clinton’s father William Blythe III drowned in a car accident six months before Bill was born. He took the last name of his step-father at the age of 15. As a teenager Clinton’s major interests were religion and music. Some thought he would be a Baptist Preacher, others thought he might have a career in music. He would have an experience that would change the course of his life.

3. When he was 16 he went on a trip to Washington, D.C. with Boys Nation. He saw all the monuments, met the Senator from Arkansas William Fulbright [or William Halfbright as LBJ called him} but the most important moment was the famous meeting President John Kennedy in the Rose Garden. The picture of the young Clinton shaking hands with his hero Jack Kennedy was well used during the 1992 campaign. That moment changed Clinton’s life and his interest turned more towards politics.

4. Bill Clinton was 46 when he was elected president. He is 6’1. 200 pounds [I think heavier at times} he was a fast food junkie. Blue eyes and brown hair. He was born in Hope, Arkansas {another thing that was run into the ground in 1992- The Man From Hope} I remember passing through Hope, Arkansas in 1993 and at the gas station they had stickers that read “I didn’t vote for the Dope From Hope”  Also saw the house he lived in there. It was up for sale then. I have no idea what has happened to it. His religion is Baptist. Nicknames- Slick Willie/ Bubba

5. Bill Clinton can be a charmer. I do not think it was just some political trick he used. I think it is how he is. He seems like a guy who wants people to love him. I think he really likes people. {Where as POTUS #39 I don’t think really likes people close up but likes the concept of loving the world }Whereas his wife has none of his charm and when she tries to act like she does it comes across as an act. Someone said years ago if not for Hillary, Bill would have been a successful law professor at the University of Arkansas. You can see the ambition dripping off of Hillary. I have no idea how she is with people one on one. People like Bill. The reason Hillary lost to Barack H. Obama and the reason she will never be POTUS herself is people just don’t like her. Same with Newt Gingrich. Newt is a jerk. I’ve seen his act. He’s not a nice man and he can’t act like he is and fool anyone. A brilliant man he is but a very flawed man.

6. One of President Clinton’s big problems [his big problem is of course women} is his lying. During the 92 campaign while other candidates then and in 1988 admitted to have smoked pot in their lives. {Gore said it in 88 and it wasn’t much of a story} Clinton says he did but he didn’t inhale. This became a big joke. Also the Monica Lewinsky thing. One of the moments of his presidency is when he shook his finger and said “I didn’t have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky” Later he admitted he had. I think the American people are pretty forgiving of their public figures. If he had just told the truth as hard as it was to do, he would have been a lot better off. His stock in the polls would have feel for a bit but he would have recovered quickly. He would have been forgiven. People make mistakes. He danced around this forever and only ‘fessed up when he had no other option.

7. He had a pretty rocky beginning as POTUS. The general assessment is his second term was better than his first. When he left office his approval rating was higher than any post World War II POTUS when leaving office. From some of the comments you get from him the past 4 years you get the feeling that he thinks Barack H. Obama is a bumbling amatuer and that he wishes he were still in office. I think in ranking Clinton he would fall in the average range. He does look a lot better in retrospect. The last two POTUS we have had I do not think will rank well. Still too early to tell though. Years from now the historians will figure it out. Some past POTUS have seen their status go up and down over the years. I have the feeling that #43 and #44’s stock will never be too high.

8. The Bill Clinton-George H.W. Bush friendship is interesting. I think it says something about both men. No one likes bitter #39 POTUS.  George W. Bush had joked about  Clinton being his new brother. I can see Bush and Clinton being friendly towards each other. I don’t think Bush took his defeat personally. He got over it quick. Some people never get over it like when #39 was beaten like a gong in 1980. He’s still bitter. I’ve heard stories of Clinton in recent years calling up in the dead of night old political enemies and shooting the bull about the old days. I am trying to recall who it was, a Congressman I think who was an opponent of Clinton’s during his presidency. In recent years Clinton would call him on the phone and they’d talk. When Hillary found out the calls stopped.

9. Another fault Clinton had and most presidents have, reading too much into what the polls say on an issue. I would love to have a POTUS who just does what he thinks is right, damn the polls. American needs you Harry Truman.

10. He was the first Democratic President since #39 Jimmy Carter. He hated when Carter would call the White House with his wonderful advice. He didn’t want to talk to Carter, Carter was a nuisance who just couldn’t go away. Clinton at times would do the “Say I’m not here” I can’t blame him. I don’t answer Jimmy Carter’s calls either.