Chapter 1 | Part 2 | Clinton | American Experience | PBS

After an admonishing midterm election, the Clinton administration focused intently on diagnosing strengths and weaknesses. It wouldn't spare them from tumultuous highs and lows of the next six years.

Clinton tells the story of a president who rose from a broken childhood in Arkansas to become one of the most successful politicians in modern American history and one of the most complex and conflicted characters to ever stride across the public stage. From draft dodging to the Dayton Accords, from Monica Lewinsky to a balanced budget, the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton veered between sordid scandal and grand achievement. Clinton had a career full of accomplishment and rife with scandal, a marriage that would make history and create controversy, and a presidency that would define the crucial and transformative period between the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11.

A four-hour film, part of the critically acclaimed series of presidential biographies, Clinton follows the president across his two terms as he confronted some of the key forces that would shape the future, including partisan political warfare and domestic and international terrorism, and as he struggled with uneven success to define the role of American power in a post-Cold War world. Most memorably, it explores how Clinton’s conflicted character made history, even as it enraged his enemies and confounded his friends.

[sarahuber]

It’s amazing that he balanced the budget! Something that hasn’t been done since.

[williamj.dovejr.]

Lifelong republican here. I strongly believe that if Clinton wasn't barred by law against serving a third term, he could have beaten George W. Bush, Obama, and he would have given Trump a real run.
Bill Clinton was and is the most talented politician of his generation. Period.

[MariaLuisaLatorre]

I live in Spain and unfortunately I can't watch these wonderful documentaries from here. I am referring to the complete versions posted on your website

[Hatmua-Bazan]

I love how this video periodically gets recommended to us when the title is exactly right

[brettfavreify]

"The Contract with America" Yeah, that certainly changed things.
I think Gingrich had stacks of it as kindling for his fireplace.

[italiancapo]

What’s the music? Is the composer Joel Goodman? What’s the name of the song?! Cannot find it anywhere!

[rainblaze.]

Always remember the theme music for this series tto raise the hairs on the back of my neck and give me goose pimples. Both stirring and moving in equal measure.
Only vangelis theme to cosmos comes anywhere near as close
If anyone knows it's name and where I can find a recording I would be eternally greatfull

Thank you

[iamseamonkey]

why aren't they avaliable anymore?

[gturcott]

WOW this is a great edit job. Maybe let the bling guy do other jobs?

[isabellaereshki]

8:03 in many ways they had a true equal partnership. Most marriages are supposed to be like that but almost none ever stay that way even the few who start that way don’t often stay that way. In many ways Hilary broke the mold and even now many are still not ready to handle that amongst the public.

In some ways I think it would have been great if she’d have become a senator in her own right while Bill was President or even Governor. Then the collaboration would have been viewed much more positively if they were more on an equal footing to begin with in the public eye. Or she could have just done things behind the scenes. It’s common belief that Nancy Regan ran the White House for much of the better parts of the Regan years and that Eleanor Roosevelt Teddy’s favorite Niece was the power behind FDR in many cases.

I still am upset she won but didn’t get elected by the electoral College in 2016.

Al Gore should have won in 2000, 2008 should have been either Hilary Clinton or John McCain though Barack Obama turned out great in many ways in the end, 2016 should have been Hilary’s time for sure. Somewhere in there I’d have liked to see Condoleeza Rice as VP or President make a run for it.

[Markdfadf]

I happily voted for Bill. Great president. Time for Democrats to elect someone who adheres to centrist mainstream economics again instead of the hard left turn the party has taken.

[garymclaughin]

I will respectfully take a pass because I don't fricken know busy at the rebuild no time for American Politics but the economic policies were spot on. Sawadee 🤠

[inquisitive.lurker]

5:00-6:30 was hilarious and just goes to show how bad voters are at judging elected officials, that the president has to resort to PR campaigns and strategies to appeal to small-minded dipshits who don't focus on political policy. In one sense it's an ancestral instinct to judge people that way but it's sad af.

[davidshirley]

no way this guy is just showing how smart he is, because they all know his lies and criminal record and yet people voted for him and congress allowed him to be sworn in.

[Blue.]

1996: Bill Clinton re-elected.
2000: George W. Bush elected.
2004: George W. Bush re-elected.
2008: Barack Obama elected
2012: Barack Obama re-elected.
2016: Donald Trump elected.
2020: Joe Biden elected.

[justinkassinger]

Im a Republican. I would vote for trump over Biden. But I would vote for Clinton over trump anyday of the week. We desperately NEED to get back to civility. We need a president like Clinton.

[arunavadasgupta]

My Biography realsed By Former Governor and present Vice President of India
My name included in Indian Constitution

[toddlooney]

Who American?NAFTA, MFN, PTRN, CHINAGATE, ETC...CEO'S, Etc...

[MirtaDeLaCruz-kohb]

Baskin robbins ice cream gate not pizza gate. It’s Barack Michelle and Biden the ice cream
Stories.

[MirtaDeLaCruz-kohb]

Yo Michelle Obama tried to
Make a version of their story what is that things problem. You see how Hilary still was. Mommy ❤️