BillClinton

William Jefferson Clinton was presidentOfTheUnitedStates from 1993-2001.

He was impeached by the HouseOfRepresentatives, but not convicted by the SenatE, for lying under oath to a GrandJury regarding matters related to his sexual affair with MonicaLewinsky.

He is also known for granting the PresidentialPardons 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. Partisans of this view might argue that the impeachment was more about politics than any genuine concern with lying to the GrandJury.

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

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

Indeed, and statements like "the most controversial PresidentialPardon in US history" should probably be left till more than 4 weeks after the event. -- Gareth Owen

RE: Controversial Pardon. Excuse me for being an ignorant European, but what exactly happened?? -- WojPob

The UnitedStatesPresident has the power, under the UnitedStatesConstitution, to pardon people for crimes committed.

Clinton critics argue that Clinton's many last minute pardons were more political than those of the past, and in some cases are baffling except in light of large donations to Clinton campaigns.

Clinton supporters can no doubt point to many other highly political pardons in history, including for example GeraldFord's

pardon of RichardNixon. I'm sure that in the entire sordid history of politics, there have been many other cases of apparent pardons for money.

Clinton was considered by some to be the most Macavalenistic (that isn't a word: Do you mean Machiavellian?) president of the United States often using presidential powers to decrease the focus on troublesome scandals. He ordered the bombing of Kosovo the day of the Monica Lewenski impeachment vote and bombed an asprin factory in Sudan to conver up ? He used whatever was politically expedient to further his policies such as observing Confederate Day while govenor of in Arkansas and then condeming Confederate flags while president.

Bill Clinton was a two time governor of the state of Arkansas.

Didn't he also create (have something to do with creating) the AmeriCorps. These people do good stuff, imho. Then there is all the stuff about national health care, nafta, welfare reform, increasing money for student loans ... lots more than the scandal happened. He was also the governor of Arkansas a few times. (this page entails lots of hmwk) --PhillipHankins