1946年，威廉·杰斐逊·克林顿出生于阿肯色州的霍普，就在他出生的三个月后，他的父亲在一次车祸中去世。他出生时的姓氏是布莱斯。之后母亲改嫁，他随了继父的姓氏。克林顿在校的学习成绩非常好，他还是一名萨克斯手，并曾经想成为一名专业的音乐家。在高中时，他遇见了约翰·肯尼迪总统，并绝对进入政坛。

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was born in 1946 in Hope, Arkansas three months after his father died in a traffic accident. His surname at birth was Blythe. His mother remarried and he took his stepfather’s name. Clinton excelled as a student and as a saxophone player and once considered becoming a professional musician. While in high school, he met President John Kennedy and decided¹ to enter politics.

 

Clinton graduated from Georgetown University and England’s Oxford² University. He received a law degree from Yale University in 1973, and entered politics in Arkansas. In 1975, he married future Secretary of State Hillary Rodham. Clinton was elected Arkansas Attorney General in 1976, and won the governorship in 1978.He ran for President and defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 election.

 

Clinton and his Vice³ President Al Gore⁴ represented a new, young generation in American political leadership. For the first time in 12 years both the White House and Congress were held by the same party. He passedthe North American Free Trade Agreement. He also implemented⁵ the “Don't ask, don't tell” policy aimed atrecruiting soldiers into the military regardless of their sexual orientation⁶.

 

Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. Unemployment was at its lowest rate in modern times, and inflation the lowest in 30 years. Home ownership was the highest in the country's history and crime rates were dropping. Despite almost facing impeachment⁷ as a result of personal indiscretions with a young White House intern⁸, his popularity remained very high.

 

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