William Jefferson Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton (Democrat) was the forty-first PresidentOfTheUnitedStates, from 1993-2001.

He was impeached in 1999 by the House of Representatives, but not convicted by the United States Senate, mainly? for Perjury -- lying under oath to a Grand Jury regarding matters related to his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky.

He ended his presidency granting presidential pardons which were considered highly controversial due to the nature of the felons pardoned and their alleged financial involvement with both Clinton and the family of his first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

During his time in office, he was one of the most popular Presidents in history, despite the scandals. Many people viewed the scandals as being merely sexual in nature, and not worthy of political consequences. Some partisans of this view argue that the impeachment was more about politics than any genuine concern with lying to the Grand Jury.

In 1999, in conjunction with a Congress controlled by the Republican party he balanced the US budget for the first time since 1969.

Bill Clinton was a two (more?) time governor of the state of Arkansas.

Major legislation he signed:

• Balanced budget

• Welfare Reform - vetoed twice - signed the third time just before the US Election 1996

• NAFTA - the previous president George Bush, was largely responsible for getting NAFTA enacted

• Tax increase on Social Security recipients

• Minimum wage increase

SupremeCourt appointments:

Major legislation he vetoed:

Major legislation he failed to get passed through Congress:

• Healthcare Reform - socialized/nationalized health care (similar to Canada and the United Kingdom)

Other Initiatives:

• Social Security Reform - He appointed a committee on Social Security Reform and then dismissed their recommendations without ever proposing legislation.

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/Talk

There's a great deal more to be said about him -- let's try to keep it non-partisan and encyclopedic?