Lasting Legacy of Bill Clinton: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Bill Clinton—a timeline of influence.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001), served as Arkansas's Attorney General (1977-1979) and Governor (1979-1981, 1983-1992). A Democrat, his "Third Way" centrism, dubbed Clintonism, shaped his presidency. Key achievements include economic prosperity, NAFTA, and welfare reform. He faced impeachment proceedings related to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, but was acquitted. His presidency is viewed as a period of relative peace and economic growth, though marked by political polarization and scandal.

Sections (7)

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

1998: Toni Morrison Calls Clinton "the first black president"

In 1998, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison called Clinton "the first black president," citing his background and personal characteristics.

1998: The Lewinsky Scandal's Enduring Impact

In 1998, the Lewinsky scandal impacted Clinton's legacy, leading to his impeachment and later reassessments of the affair as an abuse of power in light of the #MeToo movement.

January 20, 2001: Clinton Issues Pardons on Last Day in Office

On January 20, 2001, Bill Clinton issued 141 pardons and 36 commutations on his last day in office, leading to controversy surrounding Marc Rich and allegations of payments for influencing pardon decisions.

2001: Kosovo Supreme Court Ruling

In 2001, the UN-supervised Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that genocide did not take place, but recognized "a systematic campaign of terror, including murders, rapes, arsons and severe maltreatments" with the intention being the forceful departure of the Albanian population.

2002: Gallup Poll on Clinton's Job Approval

In 2002, a Gallup poll on Clinton's job approval showed it was lower than the 2006 poll by Gallup.

June 2004: White House Portrait Unveiled

In June 2004, Bill Clinton's official White House portrait, painted by Simmie Knox, was unveiled.

2004: Clinton Presidential Center Dedicated

In 2004, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas, was dedicated.

May 2006: CNN Poll on Clinton's Job Performance

In May 2006, a CNN poll comparing Clinton's job performance with that of George W. Bush found that a strong majority of respondents said Clinton outperformed Bush in six different areas questioned.

June 2006: Gallup Poll on Clinton's Job Approval

In June 2006, a Gallup poll found that 61 percent of Americans said they approved of the job Clinton did as president, a 10-point increase from the 2002 poll.

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 in The Hague.

2007: Gallup Poll on Greatest Presidents

Gallup polls in 2007 showed that Clinton was regarded by 13 percent of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history.

2010: Gallup Survey on Clinton's Job Approval

In 2010, 69 percent of respondents in a Gallup survey said they approved of the job Clinton did as president.

2011: Gallup Poll on Greatest Presidents

Gallup polls in 2011 showed that Clinton was regarded by 13 percent of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history.

2014: Quinnipiac University Poll on Best Presidents

In 2014, a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll of American voters regarded Clinton as the third most popular among postwar presidents.

2015: Ranking by American Political Science Association

In 2015, a poll by The Washington Post asked 162 scholars of the American Political Science Association to rank all the U.S. presidents in order of greatness. According to their findings, Clinton ranked eighth overall, with a rating of 70 percent.

December 2024: Earliest-Serving Living Former U.S. President

Following Jimmy Carter's death in December 2024, Bill Clinton became the earliest-serving living former U.S. president and the only living president to have served in the 20th century.