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

Preview the first eight minutes of CLINTON.

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.

[titansfan]

The thing I always admired about Bill is that (aside from his slimey personal life issues) he always had an answer to every question. I really mean it. So many times, politicians don’t directly answer the questions they’re asked and they stick to rhetoric. But Bill never seemed caught off guard, it’s like he’s an expert at just about everything. Exceptionally intelligent individual.

[alysiamerdavid-wasser]

I had the biggest crush on Bill Clinton. I graduated from h.s. and cast my first ever ballot for him. I loved that he made "back to work" training programs available & balanced our budget. I will DEFINITELY be tuning in to Smoky Hills PBS for this tonight!💗

[leebedford]

In 1998 bill clinton came to Birmingham (uk) for the G8 summit. Me and my mate went to the swallow hotel where he was staying and stood outside with the press, when he arrived in his presidential limo, he got out and I shouted “bill” he looked and waved at me. Then maybe 10 minutes later, two of his security dressed exactly like men in black asked us where was the best place to get something to eat locally. We walked them onto broad street and told them brannigans at the end of the street but they went into McDonald’s 😂 I was 13 at the time, looking back it was the most surreal 15 mins of my life I think.

[lovely-mkrt]

Learn from the past. Understand what happened, then we ( together) make America better, for our future. LEARN

[kimhurst]

I love him so. This guy had me heart and soul from moment one.

[johnbarnett]

He was one of the Best of Us, Semper FI!

[NameName-yckv]

Best pres in my lifetime, wish we couls have him back.

[pratikkatkar]

He is both bad and good mixture
He made personal mistake in life
But record level of economic prosperity in america he bring 21 century bridge of both ideological revolution american way of life

[roberthouston]

Is the the Timex Ironman watch he's wearing? I had one of those?

[milhouse]

Record low unemployment. Balance the budget. Reformed social welfare. The guy rebuilt what Reagan and Bush destroyed for twelve years.

[lukedaniell]

He was definitely a talented politician and a big part of why the 90s were as great as they were.

He benefited a lot from events and developments he had nothing to do with -- the fall of the Soviet Union and communism before he took office, the growth of the internet and attendant economic promise, etc. But he also did his part. He was able to work with a Congress controlled by the opposing party to enact legislation intended on spurring economic growth. Plus, he did quite a bit to try resolving long-running international tensions, such as in Ireland and Israel/Palestine.

If only he didn't have a thing for heavyset women...

[eowawrzkiewicz]

He was the best President ever. If only he could have had more terms. Thank you Bill!

[johnbland]

Greatest political leader of the last 50 years.

[bohkhuj]

I don’t care about the affair they were grown but he was a damn good president and he put the country on a good track

[mgithaiga]

Bill Clinton kinda looks like Elvis Presley

[kimberblack]

Watch Clinton Body Count. That was always the best one.

[christaelindsay]

5:01 Kennedy also had King Charles. History is full of sinners and yes we should hold them accountable!

[imaginator]

You can see in his eyes that he was deeply apologetic for what he did ! You can not see now days people who belongs to that kinda of highly power status held accountable themselves honestly .

[ZizenaniShongwe]

I'm a South African though I must say. President Bill and Secretary Hillary Clinton are darlings of the world

[kelseyheckman]

One of the great presidents of my lifetime. Fighting agenst things like aids, helping build everything Ronald destroyed, and pulled the nation into the 21st century all while the world wanted to know his personal business with his secretary.