Bill Clinton in A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton, by Carl Bernstein
On Abortion:
1993: Undid draconian family planning policies
of business, the president and, worse, Hillary, would be perceived as governing from the left. But Hillary regarded the prohibitions in question as a powerful symbol of
Reagan-era policies, and an opportunity to declare boldly that the Clinton era had begun. There was an additional appeal: it was fiscally neutral, monetarily cost-free, and not subject to a drawn-out legislative process.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.256
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Despite critics, fervent believer in policy solutions
For as long as I can remember, I have wished to ease the burdens of life for those who, through no fault of their own, are weak or needy, and I will try to help them.“ Over the next two years,
Clinton would find himself walking a thin line between implementing policies that could dramatically contribute to the lives of his fellow Arkansans, and attempting not to rattle of the establishment and the good ol’ boys who ran the legislature.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.145-146
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Founded “New Democrat” message in 1980 Convention speech
WWII, and would never break down again. But the hard truth is that for ten long years through Democratic and Republican administrations alike, this economic system has been breaking down. We have seen high inflation, high unemployment, large government
deficits, the loss of our competitive edge.“That synthesis would be the foundation of the ”New Democrat“ movement in politics that Bill Clinton would come to symbolize over the next ten years.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.158-159
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
1982 theme: “My daddy never had to whip me twice”
Bill a framed picture of the three of them, with the engraving, “Chelsea’s second birthday, Bill’s second chance.” The 1982 campaign became the model for their political future, with Hillary assuming a far more direct, hands-on role in terms of
policy, strategy, and staff. Hillary was never bashful about telling you when she thought you made a mistake. Bill Clinton would never tell you that, though he might think it. He was the good guy. Hillary was the one that laid the law down.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.165
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Monica affair was “inappropriate” but not sex in legal terms
was not trying to give you a cute answer to that.“Clinton read from a prepared statement in which he admitted ”inappropriate intimate contact“ with Lewinsky, which ”did not consist of sexual intercourse,“ and did not ”constitute sexual
relations“ as defined in a long list of terms he had read at his deposition. He said, ”I’ll bet the jurors, if they were talking about a sexual relationship, they meant they were sleeping together; they meant they were having intercourse“--not oral sex.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.514
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
$52M Whitewater investigation began on real estate; not sex
governor of a state who had regulatory authority over a savings-and-loan was in business with the owner of an S&L, jointly owning a piece of land. But in retrospect, it’s shocking how much was made out of that mistake.After 6 years of investigation,
$52 million, and a Senate trial, the special prosecutor was forced to acknowledge that there had been no violation of law by either Hillary or Bill surrounding the land transaction. The allegation that stuck was that Bill Clinton lied about sex.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.348-349
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Promise of ethical reform invited harsh unceasing scrutiny
investigation--most notably those related to the so-called Whitewater matter--were often contextually misleading, exaggerated in significance, and sometimes factually off-base.Yet there can be no question that the Clintons had invited unusual scrutiny
by their impassioned promises of probity to voters in the campaign of 1992, and an unwavering inaugural theme that stressed the ethical reform they said they were bringing to Washington. There was something of an implicit challenge in their manner.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.233
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
1987: Declined chance to run; some say due to affairs
Bill announced he would not be a candidate in 1988.Bill would later say of the decision, “Finally I felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders.
I was free to be a father, husband, and governor and to work and speak on national issues unencumbered by immediate ambitions.”
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.179-180
Jun 5, 2007
On Budget & Economy:
First modern Pres.to use fiscal discipline to balance budget
new presidency, the course was actually set for a historic economic recovery and boom.Clinton alone among contemporary presidents grasped the possibilities of the global economy, and what the explosive power of America’s technical invention &
new industries could do for the domestic economy. He became the first modern president to actually exercise, as opposed to merely talk about, the fiscal discipline necessary to cut and even balance the federal budget.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.253-254
Jun 5, 2007
On Civil Rights:
1978: Supported ERA peripherally in first Governor race
In 1978, Hillary’s presence next to Bill at campaign events--and their vigorous support for the equal Rights Amendment--further inflamed the Moral Majority right, still in its infancy. At a campaign stop, a woman started hollering at Bill, “Talk about
the ERA!” Bill said, “Okay, I’ll talk about it. I’m for it. You’re against it. But it won’t do as much harm as you think it will or as much good as those of us who support it wish it would. Now let’s get back to schools and jobs.”
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.142
Jun 5, 2007
On Environment:
1981: Dumbest mistake: paid for roads by car tag fees
registered vehicle. Thus, in a state full of old pickups & junkers, the less-well-off generally paid higher tax fees than the swells who drove around in faster, newer, lighter, costlier cars. “I could sign the bill into law and have a good road
program paid for in an unfair way, or veto it and have no road program at all. I signed the bill. It was the single dumbest mistake I ever made in politics until 1994 when I agreed to ask for a special prosecutor in the Whitewater case,” said Bill.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.156
Jun 5, 2007
On Health Care:
1993: Advisers urged scaling back Hillary’s healthcare role
returned after Labor Day. Before leaving, the president had been besieged by advisors who continued to warn that the deficit would be in danger of exploding if he listened to Hillary. They saw the plan she was developing as too big and too costly. The
Clinton presidency would historically succeed, they advised, only if he would scale back his wife’s grandiose ideas about reform and settle on a more manageable and incremental approach. Clinton had said he would make a final decision after his vacation.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.346
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Monica & impeachment propelled him to highest approval
59% believed that “Clinton’s political enemies are conspiring to bring down his presidency.” Bill had achieved the highest approval ratings of his presidency--67% of Americans approved of his performance.
The impeachment locomotive was gathering steam. Hyde would have doubts about the wisdom of continuing down the impeachment track, especially because Bill’s popularity remained high, but Gingrich had no hesitancy.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.498-505
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
When he set the agenda, he won; but scandals interfered
American. His perseverance in winning the major achievements of his presidency were extraordinary.From its outset until Clinton’s acquittal in the Senate trial, the terms of the national debate were more often set by the press, the
Clintons’ enemies, the Republican opposition, and the special prosecutor. The best efforts of the Clintons, their aides and lawyers were spent in response to investigations. The Clinton presidency was sapped of its almost limitless potential.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.350-351
Jun 5, 2007
On Principles & Values:
From mother Virginia came stamina & gregariousness
Georgetown. “I got my stamina from my mother,” Bill said.Clinton’s gregariousness, his fun-loving nature, his glad-handing, his hugging, his empathy, his ability to focus on whomever he was talking to, all those were traits he shared with his mother.
Hillary believed that Bill and Virginia shared great optimism, along with a tendency to repress unpleasant thoughts. He had nearly photographic recall, yet for decades had blocked out painful scenes involving his abusive stepfather.
Source: A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein, p.369-370
Jun 5, 2007
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