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), 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

1969: Budget surplus reported

In 1969, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus

1993: Appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court

In 1993, Clinton appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a justice to the Supreme Court.

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.

1994: Appointment of Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court

In 1994, Clinton appointed Stephen Breyer as a justice to the Supreme Court.

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 the scrutiny of his personal life.

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.

December 1999: Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People

In December 1999, Bill Clinton was among eighteen included in Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century.

1999: Financial Services Modernization Act Signed into Law

In 1999, Bill Clinton signed into law the Financial Services Modernization Act, also known as the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, repealing part of the Glass–Steagall Act that had prohibited banks from offering a full range of financial services since 1933.

January 1, 2000: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007, the Clintons' income tax returns show they made $109 million, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing.

January 2001: Clintons' Earnings

From January 2001 to December 2015, Forbes reported Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million, mostly from paid speeches, business consulting and book-writing.

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, sparking controversy, including the pardon of Marc Rich and allegations of payments for influencing pardon decisions.

2001: Leaves Office

In 2001, Bill Clinton left office with a high approval rating and has since been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work.

2001: Medal for Distinguished Public Service & Clinton Presidential Center Opening

In 2001, Bill Clinton was presented with the Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Also in 2001, The Clinton Presidential Center was opened in Little Rock, Arkansas.

2001: Post-Presidency Speaking Engagements

Since leaving office in 2001, Bill Clinton has given dozens of paid speeches each year, mostly to corporations and philanthropic groups in North America and Europe, earning $100,000 to $300,000 per speech. Hillary Clinton described them as financially broke upon leaving the White House.

2002: Gallup Poll on Clinton's job approval

In 2002, there was a Gallup Poll on Bill Clinton's job approval, which was used as a comparison to measure his increase in job approval by 2006.

June 2004: Official White House Portrait Unveiled

In June 2004, Bill Clinton's official White House portrait, commissioned by the White House Historical Association, was unveiled. It was painted by Simmie Knox.

May 2006: CNN poll comparing Clinton's performance to Bush's

In May 2006, a CNN poll 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 approved of the job Clinton did as president, a 10-point increase from a 2002 poll.

2007: Gallup poll on greatest presidents

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

2007: Release of "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World"

In 2007, Bill Clinton released his book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World", which became a New York Times Best Seller and garnered positive reviews.

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

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December 31, 2007: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

The Clintons' income tax returns show that, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007, they made $109 million, including almost $92 million from speaking and book-writing.

2008: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

In 2008, The New York Times reported that the Clintons' income tax returns show they made $109 million in the eight years from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing.

July 2009: Clinton Comes Out for Gay Marriage

In July 2009, former President Bill Clinton publicly announced his support for gay marriage.

2010: Gallup survey on Clinton's job approval

In 2010, a Gallup survey showed that 69 percent of respondents approved of the job Clinton did as president, including 47 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of independents.

July 2, 2011: The New York Times Editorial on DOMA

On July 2, 2011, The New York Times published an editorial describing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as an election-year wedge issue and "one of [Bill] President Clinton's worst policy moments."

2011: Gallup poll on greatest presidents

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

2011: Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

In 2011, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was finally repealed, thus removing open sexual orientation as a reason for dismissal from the armed forces.

2012: Clintons' Worth

At the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million. In 2012 the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by Bill Clinton.

June 2013: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the case of United States v. Windsor.

2013: Clinton Urges Supreme Court to Overturn DOMA

In 2013, former President Bill Clinton urged the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

June 2014: Clinton's Earnings from Paid Speeches

In June 2014, ABC News and The Washington Post reported that Bill Clinton has made more than $100 million giving paid speeches since leaving public office.

July 2014: Clinton's Net Worth

In July 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that at the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million, and that in 2012 (the last year they were required to disclose the information) the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by the former president.

2014: Quinnipiac University poll on best postwar presidents

In 2014, a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showed that 18 percent of respondents regarded Clinton as the third best president since World War II.

May 2015: Clinton's Speaking Fees and Book Earnings

In May 2015, The Hill reported that Bill and Hillary Clinton have made more than $25 million in speaking fees since the start of 2014, and that Hillary Clinton also made $5 million or more from her book, "Hard Choices", during the same time period.

Hard Choices

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December 2015: Clintons' Earnings

Forbes reported that between January 2001 and December 2015, Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million, primarily from paid speeches, business consulting, and book writing.

2015: Washington Post poll ranking U.S. presidents

In 2015, a poll by The Washington Post ranked Clinton eighth overall among U.S. presidents, with a rating of 70 percent.

2016: Clintons' Earnings

In 2016, Forbes reported Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million in the 15 years from January 2001, to December 2015, mostly from paid speeches, business consulting and book-writing. Also in 2016, CNN reported the Clintons combined to receive more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until spring 2015.

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.

March 2024: Report on the 1996 Assassination Attempt

In March 2024, Reuters reported speaking with eight retired secret service agents about the top-secret assassination attempt on President Clinton in the Philippines in November 1996, which remains classified.

November 2024: Publication of Second Memoir Volume

In November 2024, Bill Clinton's second volume of memoirs, "Citizen: My Life After the White House", was published.

Citizen: My Life After the White House

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December 2024: Earliest-serving living former U.S. president

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