Wife: Hillary Rodham (1947- ), on October 11,
Kids: Chelsea Victoria Clinton (1980- )
Pets: Socks the cat; Buddy, a chocolate Labrador
Bio: William Jefferson Clinton, (1946- ), was
the 42nd President of the United States. Born William
(Bill) Jefferson Blythe IV on Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope,
Arkansas, he had a difficult childhood. His father had
died in an automobile accident three months before he
was born, and his mother left him with grandparents
when he was just two years old so she could attend nursing
school in Louisiana. After his mother married Roger
Clinton, Bill adopted his surname. Bill excelled in
academics and once met Pres. John F. Kennedy on a trip
to Washington DC. This inspired him to enter politics.
He earned a B.S. in international affairs at Georgetown
University in 1968, then won a Rhodes scholarship to
Oxford University. Clinton completed his education in
1973 after graduating from Yale Law School. On Oct.
11, 1975, he married Hillary Rodham, a fellow law student
he had met at Yale.
Within 3 years he ran for governor of Arkansas and was
elected the nation's youngest governor. When he was
voted out of office 2 years later, he redoubled his
efforts and gained back the office in 1982, a position
he retained for five consecutive terms.
Then in 1991, he began a revolutionary campaign which
included town meetings, a country-wide bus tour and
many television talk show appearances. With Americans
anxious for a solution to the recession, he was voted
Although Clintons first term was plagued by scandal,
including accusations of corruption and adultery, he
was reelected in 1996 after the economy showed a great
deal of growth. His second term was inundated with scandals.
His troubles in court led to an accusation of plagiarism
and Clinton became the second president to be impeached
and convicted by the House of Representatives. Clinton
finished his term however, and continued to make headlines
long after he had left office.