The Presidency of Bill Clinton: The Legacy of a New Domestic and Foreign Policy

The presidency of Bill Clinton has an intrinsic historical significance: a marker of generational change, as he was the first ‘baby boomer’ to reach the White House; the first president whose personal life received no less attention than his policies; and the first Democrat to win re-election since Franklin Roosevelt. This book provides wide-ranging coverage of Clinton’s career, addressing the salient aspects of his life in politics: his governorship; the 1992 presidential campaign; the battle for health care reform; his economic policies; the issue of character, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal; his foreign policy - specifically his role in the peace process in Northern Ireland and in authorizing an aerial war in Kosovo; his handling of the issue of gay rights; and his relationship with the Hollywood film industry. Focussing particularly on the issues of character, ideology and legacy, the book argues that, given the attention Clinton’s private life received during the 1992 campaign and his presidency, and that the Monica Lewinsky affair resulted in impeachment proceedings that threatened his very survival as president, historians are compelled to grapple with the significance of Clinton’s character as much as they have with John F. Kennedy’s. Ideology was crucial to Clinton’s electoral success and it also explains his considerable international influence; his Third Way views had a striking impact on centre-left leaders in Western Europe. Finally, the book considers Clinton’s legacy and asks how he should be compared to other presidents. Based on the latest research, this volume provides important new perspectives on Clinton’s life in politics. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in American History, Politics and International Relations.