Bill Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton (born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Born in Hope, Arkansas, Clinton was raised by his mother after his father's death and was deeply influenced by his Baptist faith and his mother's resilience. A Rhodes Scholar who attended Oxford University, Clinton earned a law degree from Yale and returned to Arkansas where he served as the state's attorney general and governor before his presidential run. His presidency coincided with a period of economic expansion following the Cold War, and he championed initiatives including NAFTA, the reduction of government spending, and welfare reform. Clinton's foreign policy involved military interventions in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo, as well as efforts at Israeli-Palestinian peace through the Oslo Accords and Camp David Summit. His presidency was marked by significant conflict with Republican-controlled Congress, particularly Speaker Newt Gingrich, leading to a government shutdown in 1995-1996. In 1998, Clinton was impeached by the House on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, but was acquitted by the Senate. Despite the scandal, he left office with high approval ratings. Post-presidency, Clinton has remained active through the Clinton Foundation and in elder statesman roles, while his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton became Secretary of State and later ran for president.