Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Civic Brief • Us Presidents

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton is an American politician and attorney who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001, overseeing a period of economic expansion and major domestic legislation. He was impeached in 1998 and acquitted by the Senate in 1999.

What it is

Bill Clinton is an American politician and attorney born William Jefferson Blythe III in Hope, Arkansas, on August 19, 1946. He studied at Georgetown University, attended Oxford University, and earned a law degree from Yale Law School. He served as governor of Arkansas before winning the presidency in 1992 and being reelected in 1996.

Why it matters

Clinton's presidency is associated with the longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history, along with significant domestic policy changes. His impeachment in 1998 over perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal marked a notable political event, though he was acquitted by the Senate in 1999 and completed his term.

Key details

After leaving office in 2001, Clinton founded the William J. Clinton Foundation and focused on global health, poverty reduction, and economic opportunity initiatives. He remains active in public speaking, writing, and political campaigning. His presidency also affected Canada through North American trade and diplomacy during the NAFTA era.

In short

  • Bill Clinton was the 42nd U.S. president (1993–2001).
  • His presidency saw strong economic growth and major domestic policy.
  • He was impeached in 1998 and acquitted in 1999.
  • After office, he led the Clinton Foundation and global initiatives.
Canadian angle

Bill Clinton’s presidency affected Canada through U.S. trade and diplomacy, including North American economic relations during the NAFTA era.

Quick questions

Who is Bill Clinton?
Bill Clinton is an American politician and attorney who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001.
What is Bill Clinton known for?
He is known for presiding over a period of economic expansion, signing major domestic legislation, and for his 1998 impeachment and 1999 acquittal.
What happened to Bill Clinton after presidency?
After leaving office, he founded and led the William J. Clinton Foundation and worked on global health, poverty, and development projects.

Sources

  1. Clinton Presidential Libraryhttps://www.clintonlibrary.gov/research/clinton-biographies
    Supports: Birth name, birthplace, marriage, and post-presidency foundation work.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Clinton
    Supports: Presidency dates, role as 42nd president, economic expansion, impeachment, and spouse.
  3. PBS American Experiencehttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/clinton-bill/
    Supports: Presidency achievements and post-presidency foundation work.
  4. University of Virginia Miller Centerhttps://www.millercenter.org/president/clinton
    Supports: Biographical details, marriage, presidency, and major themes of his administration.
  5. The White Househttps://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/william-j-clinton/
    Supports: Official presidential service dates and biographical overview.