Clinton

Abstract

This fine documentary is in keeping with the overall excellence of pbs's American Experience series. It therefore displays both the strengths and the weaknesses of the documentary medium. An obvious plus is that it reminds us of the events of twenty and more years ago that put Bill Clinton in the White House. He ran as a “New Democrat,” who would promote opportunities for all while insisting on responsible behavior from the people who received benefits, but this message tended to get lost because of the scandals that surfaced during his campaign. On the one hand, charges that he had dodged the military draft in the 1960s surfaced once again; on the other, Gennifer Flowers came forward to allege a twelve-year relationship with him. He got past the draft crisis by publishing a letter he had written at the time turning down a chance to avoid the draft by joining a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (rotc) unit at the University of Arkansas. He had correctly judged that the new draft lottery system instituted by President Richard M. Nixon would allow him to remain a civilian. He survived the charge that he had had an affair with Flowers, although it was true, thanks to the support of his wife, Hillary Clinton. Smarter than Bill (or so most of their joint friends thought), tenacious, and self-disciplined, she was a tremendous asset in life and on the campaign trail. He also helped himself by being the best orator of his generation and by his performances in presidential debates. A notable moment came when a woman asked the candidates how they, or people they knew, had been affected by the national debt. This question baffled President George H. W. Bush because the debt had no impact on individuals as such. Bill Clinton understood that what she meant was not the debt but the current recession, which though technically over had still left many people unemployed. This enabled him to give one of his trademark “I feel your pain” responses and win the debate.