- Category: Features
- Written by Alex Greer
-
25 Things To Know About Bill Clinton's Presidency
With former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vying for the presidency in 2016, there’s a real chance Bill Clinton could return to the White House.
It’s unclear what Bill Clinton’s new title would be — “first gentleman” is a leading contender — and even less certain is how he would approach the role. A charismatic leader, Clinton rarely shies away from media attention. For the time being, it’s likely he will remain in the national spotlight at least through the election.
With that in mind, InsideGov decided to look back at some of the key moments of Clinton’s presidency. We’ve gathered 25 numbers that define his tenure in the White House and ordered them from smallest to largest.
1 Child
Bill and Hillary Clinton's only daughter, Chelsea, has worked with both of her parents at the Clinton Foundation, and currently serves as its vice chair.
2 Judges
… appointed to the Supreme Court. Both of Clinton’s appointees, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer, are still serving on the court today.
2.9 Percentage Points
The decrease in the national unemployment rate during Clinton’s presidency. When Clinton left office, the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent.
4 Percent
The average annual GDP growth rate under the Clinton administration.
5 Terms
Before becoming president, Clinton served as governor of Arkansas for five terms. During this period, he emerged as one of the most prominent leaders in the Democratic Party.
5th Most Popular
Clinton's average approval rating of 54.8 percent makes him the fifth most popular president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, when approval ratings were first recorded. Even with the Lewinsky scandal, Clinton left the White House more popular than when he entered.
$5.15 per Hour
In 1996, Clinton successfully raised the national minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour.
8 Years
Clinton’s eight years as commander in chief were sandwiched between two different Bush administrations.
14 Percent
The decrease in the total number of active duty military personnel during the Clinton administration.
15 Speeches
Bill Clinton made 15 addresses from the Oval Office to the American public throughout his presidency.
March 24, 1999
The date on which President Clinton announced the U.S.’s involvement in NATO airstrikes against the Serbian government. Prolonged ethnic conflicts in the Balkans were a major test of Clinton’s foreign policy.
31 States
Clinton handily won re-election against Bob Dole in 1996, winning a total of 31 states.
37 Days
The length of President Clinton’s impeachment trial, which lasted from Jan. 7, 1999, to Feb. 12, 1999. Although Clinton was found not guilty on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, the Lewinsky scandal still tarnished his legacy.
40 Years
Bill and Hillary Clinton have been married for over 40 years. They met when they were students at Yale Law School.
43.01 Percent
Despite winning just 43 percent of the popular vote in the 1992 election, Clinton still managed to defeat incumbent George H. W. Bush. Ross Perot, an Independent candidate out of Texas, received 18.9 percent of the popular vote.
46 Years Old
Bill Clinton’s age at inauguration. He was the third-youngest president in U.S. history.
60 Congressional Seats
... lost to the GOP in the 1994 midterm election. Known as the Republican Revolution, the 1994 election was a major setback for Clinton and the Democratic Party, which lost its majority in the House.
103 Percent
The percentage increase in total imports (in U.S. dollars) under the Clinton administration. Total exports also increased over this time period, but were outpaced by imports, resulting in a growing trade deficit.
364 Executive Orders
President Clinton issued more executive orders than either former President George H. W. Bush or former President George W. Bush. But Clinton's count falls short of former President Ronald Reagan’s total of 381 orders.
33,500 Tons
According to the Clinton Foundation, 33,500 tons of greenhouse gasses are reduced annually across the U.S. due to the foundation’s climate initiatives.
69,203 Military Personnel
When Clinton left office, there were 69,203 U.S. military personnel stationed in Germany, more than any other country.
12.3 Million Deportations
There were more deportations under the Clinton administration than any other modern president in U.S. history. Note that as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, total deportations include both “removals” and “returns.”
$290 Billion Surplus
One of Clinton’s most notable accomplishments during his presidency was leaving office with a surplus of $290 billion. This is especially impressive given that he started with a …
$354 Billion Deficit
In total, Clinton increased the federal budget by about $644 billion.
$6.9 Trillion
The federal debt when Clinton left office. Although Clinton managed to control the budget deficit, the national debt still remained an issue.