Challenges Faced by Bill Clinton: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Bill Clinton. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001), is a prominent American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he served as Arkansas's Attorney General (1977-1979) and Governor (1979-1981, 1983-1992). Clinton's presidency was defined by centrist 'Third Way' policies, establishing him as a 'New Democrat'.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1974: House of Representatives Campaign

In 1974, Bill Clinton ran for the House of Representatives but was defeated by incumbent John Paul Hammerschmidt, despite the anti-Republican sentiment due to the Watergate scandal.

1978: Alleged Rape by Clinton

In the spring of 1978, Juanita Broaddrick alleges that Bill Clinton raped her. She told multiple witnesses in 1978 she had been raped by Clinton, something these witnesses also state in interviews to the press.

1980: Cuban refugee crisis and primary challenge

In 1980, Bill Clinton's term as governor was marked by an unpopular motor vehicle tax and public anger over the escape of Cuban refugees detained in Fort Chaffee. Clinton also faced a primary challenge from Monroe Schwarzlose, who polled 31 percent of the vote. These events foreshadowed Clinton's defeat by Republican challenger Frank D. White in the general election of 1980.

1991: Alleged unwanted advances towards Paula Jones

In 1991, Clinton allegedly made unwanted advances towards Paula Jones, which later led to a sexual harassment lawsuit in 1994.

1992: Draft Controversy During Campaign

In 1992, during his presidential campaign, it was revealed that Clinton's uncle attempted to secure him a position in the Navy Reserve to avoid deployment to Vietnam.

1992: Holmes' Statement

In 1992, during the presidential campaign, Colonel Eugene Holmes issued a notarized statement suspecting that Clinton tried to manipulate the situation to avoid the draft.

April 19, 1993: Waco Siege Operation

On April 19, 1993, under President Clinton's attorney general Janet Reno, the FBI used tear gas on the Branch Davidian community near Waco, Texas, leading to a fire and the deaths of 75 residents, including 24 children.

May 19, 1993: Firing of White House Travel Office Employees

On May 19, 1993, Bill Clinton fired seven employees of the White House Travel Office, leading to the White House travel office controversy.

September 22, 1993: Health Care Reform Plan Speech to Congress

On September 22, 1993, Bill Clinton addressed Congress to present his health care reform plan, aimed at achieving universal health care coverage through a national health care plan. Hillary Clinton led the task force responsible for creating the plan, but despite initial positive reception, it ultimately failed due to opposition from conservatives, the American Medical Association, and the health insurance industry.

November 1993: David Hale's Allegations Against Clinton

In November 1993, David Hale alleged that Bill Clinton, while governor of Arkansas, pressured him to provide an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, the Clintons' partner in the Whitewater land deal.

1993: Trade relations with China

In 1993, Clinton aimed to increase trade with China, minimizing import tariffs and initially conditioning most favored nation status on human rights reforms. He ultimately extended the status despite a lack of reform.

1993: Kathleen Willey's Allegation

In 1993, Kathleen Willey alleged that Bill Clinton had groped her in a hallway. An independent counsel determined Willey gave "false information" to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation.

1993: Battle of Mogadishu and Shift in Somalia Policy

In 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu, two U.S. helicopters were shot down, leading to a deadly urban battle that resulted in a drop in support for American intervention in Somalia. This occurred during the Clinton administration.

April 1994: Genocide in Rwanda and Clinton's Decision Not to Intervene

In April 1994, genocide broke out in Rwanda. Clinton, fearing a reprisal of events in Somalia, chose not to intervene, a decision he later regretted.

August 1994: Failure of National Health Care System

In August 1994, the effort to create a national health care system failed when compromise legislation by George J. Mitchell failed to gain a majority of support. This marked the first major legislative defeat of the Clinton administration.

1994: Paula Jones initiates sexual harassment lawsuit

In 1994, Paula Jones initiated a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, claiming he had made unwanted advances towards her in 1991.

1994: Republican Takeover of Congress

In 1994, after two years of Democratic control, the Republican Party gained control of Congress in the mid-term elections for the first time in forty years.

1994: Lopsided defeat of national Democrats in the elections.

In 1994, there was a lopsided defeat of national Democrats in the elections. This, in addition to the Whitewater controversy led to President Clintons approval rating dropping as low as 40% in early 1995.

June 1996: White House FBI Files Controversy

In June 1996, the White House FBI files controversy arose concerning improper access by the White House to FBI security-clearance documents.

September 21, 1996: Signing of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

On September 21, 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law. This defined marriage for federal purposes as the legal union of one man and one woman and allowed individual states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Critics cited the act as discriminatory towards the LGBT community.

November 1996: Assassination Attempt in the Philippines

In November 1996, President Clinton narrowly escaped a possible assassination attempt in the Philippines, involving a bridge bomb planted by al-Qaeda and masterminded by Osama bin Laden.

1996: Chinese Contributions to Clinton's Reelection Campaign

In 1996, it was discovered that several Chinese foreigners made illegal contributions to Bill Clinton's reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee with the backing of the People's Republic of China.

1996: Failure of Employment Non-Discrimination Act

In 1996, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which Bill Clinton lobbied for, failed to pass the Senate by a single vote. The bill aimed to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in the private sector.

1996: State Department warning about bin Laden

In 1996, the State Department issued a warning regarding bin Laden, prompting Clinton to order unsuccessful military missions to capture or kill him.

1996: United States campaign finance controversy

In 1996, there was a United States campaign finance controversy, which was an alleged effort by China to influence the domestic policies of the United States, before and during the Clinton administration, and involved the fundraising practices of the administration itself. The Chinese government denied all accusations.

February 1997: Controversy Over Donations and White House Stays

In February 1997, it was revealed that 938 people stayed at the White House, with 821 of them donating to the Democratic Party and receiving stays in the Lincoln bedroom as a result.

April 1998: Dismissal of Paula Jones lawsuit

In April 1998, Judge Susan Webber Wright initially dismissed Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton on the grounds that it lacked legal merit.

August 1998: Admission of affair with Monica Lewinsky

In August 1998, Clinton admitted to having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, which gained traction for Paula Jones' sexual harassment suit.

August 1998: Cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets

In August 1998, President Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan, including the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, suspected of assisting bin Laden in making chemical weapons, and bin Laden's terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. The Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory was destroyed in the attack.

October 1998: Tentative settlement offer in Paula Jones case

In October 1998, Clinton's attorneys tentatively offered $700,000 to settle the Paula Jones case, which was then the $800,000 which Jones' lawyers sought.

December 1998: Impeachment Hearings Begin Against Clinton

In December 1998, impeachment hearings against President Clinton began in the House of Representatives before the mid-term elections.

December 19, 1998: Clinton Impeached by the House of Representatives

On December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, making him the second U.S. president to be impeached.

1998: Impeachment proceedings begin

In 1998, Clinton's impeachment proceedings began, though his job approval rating reached its highest point during this period.

1998: Juanita Broaddrick's Allegation

In 1998, Juanita Broaddrick alleged that Bill Clinton had raped her in the spring of 1978. She had earlier filed an affidavit denying any "unwelcome sexual advances" and later repeated the denial in a sworn deposition, stating she had denied being raped only to avoid testifying publicly.

1998: Lewinsky Scandal Impact

In 1998, the Lewinsky scandal led to Bill Clinton's impeachment, and has had an enduring impact on his legacy. The affair has been revisited as an abuse of power, given the power differential between a president and a 22-year-old intern.

1998: Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal

In early 1998, the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal came to light, revealing an affair between President Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

January 1999: Impeachment Trial Begins

In January 1999, Bill Clinton's impeachment trial began in the Senate, following his impeachment by the House of Representatives in December 1998.

March 24, 1999: Start of NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia

On March 24, 1999, Clinton authorized the use of U.S. Armed Forces in a NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, named Operation Allied Force, in response to the crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.

May 1999: American bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade

In May 1999, relations between the U.S. and China were damaged when the American bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade occurred. Clinton apologized for the bombing, stating it was accidental.

June 10, 1999: End of NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia

On June 10, 1999, the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, known as Operation Allied Force, ended with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. This resolution placed Kosovo under UN administration and authorized the deployment of a peacekeeping force to the region.

1999: Impeachment proceedings continue

In 1999, Clinton's impeachment proceedings continued, though his job approval rating remained high.

1999: Criticism of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Implementation

In 1999, President Clinton criticized the implementation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, stating that it was "out of whack". He originally signed the bill into action in 1993, as a compromise after his proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military met staunch opposition.

December 2000: Attempt at Bolling Air Force Base

In December 2000, Clinton made another attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Bolling Air Force Base, offering the Clinton Parameters, but the situation broke down after the end of the Taba Summit.

January 19, 2001: Clinton's Law License Suspended

On January 19, 2001, Bill Clinton's law license was suspended for five years after he acknowledged engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in the Jones case.

2001: Supreme Court of Kosovo ruling

In 2001, the UN-supervised Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that genocide did not take place, but recognized "a systematic campaign of terror" against the Albanian population.

2006: Death of Slobodan Milošević

In 2006, Slobodan Milošević, the president of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo conflict, died before the completion of his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

November 2017: Brazile urged Clinton to campaign despite criticism

In November 2017, former DNC interim chair Donna Brazile urged Bill Clinton to campaign during the 2018 midterm elections, in spite of New York U.S. senator Kirsten Gillibrand's recent criticism of the Lewinsky scandal.

2018: Clinton Addresses Resignation Question

In 2018, Bill Clinton was asked in several interviews about whether he should have resigned due to the Lewinsky scandal, and he stated that he believed he made the right decision in not resigning.

2018: Revisiting of sexual misconduct allegations

In 2018, in light of the #MeToo movement, allegations of sexual misconduct against Clinton have been revisited, with many commentators and Democratic leaders now saying Clinton should have been compelled to resign after the Lewinsky affair.