Bill Clinton – 42nd

William J. Clinton 1993-2001

Bill Clinton American Presidents List

Introduction

William J. Clinton, more popularly known as Bill Clinton, served as the 42nd President of the United States. He remained in office for two consecutive terms and served from 1993 to 2001.

Life before Presidency

Bill Clinton was born in 1946 in Arkansas. After his early education, he decided to pursue a law career and attended the Yale Law School. Upon his completion of the law studies, he returned to his home state and was elected as the Attorney General of Arkansas in 1977. In 1979, he ran for the office of the Governor of the state and won the elections. He served as the Arkansas Governor from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1992.

Election as President

In 1992, Bill Clinton received the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. He ran for the office in opposition to the incumbent President George H. W. Bush. Clinton won the elections and assumed the office in 1993.

Presidency and Important Events

The presidency of Bill Clinton was marked by a period of economic prosperity. President Clinton passed and implemented several important domestic policies. These included an increase in the taxes, and attempts to extend social health-care to a greater portion of the American citizens. Clinton successfully enacted many policies and reform programs.

However, in the 1994 elections of the United States Congress, Clinton’s Democratic Party lost majority and the Republicans won a landslide in terms of the number of seats. The Republican majority made it harder for Clinton to have many of his proposed policies or programs passed through the House.

Military Interventions during Clinton Presidency

The United States engaged in several military interventions across the world during the presidential terms of Bill Clinton. Notable among these was the intervention in Somalia and the ensuing Battle of Mogadishu fought in 1993. The battle was a failed raid which proved disastrous for the U.S. forces in the country. U.S. also intervened in the wars involving Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia in an attempt to prevent the genocide of the minority forces.

The intervention of the United States proved important in forcing the belligerent parties to a peace agreement. Clinton presidency also oversaw an expansion of the NATO forces.

Re-Election and Second Term as President

During the 1996 presidential elections, Clinton was able to win the race and was once again elected to the office. However, the Republican Party received a majority in both houses of the U.S. Congress a second time. The second term of President Clinton was marked by a budget surplus although Clinton had to face the charges of misconduct and impeachment during his second term.

Affair, Misconduct and Impeachment

In 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the House. This was done after he allegedly perjured himself and lied about the details of his affair with Monica Lewinsky, an intern at the White House. Clinton narrowly escaped the impeachment and was able to continue his term as the President. However, the Lewinsky affair would continue to shadow him during his second term and the rest of his life.

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