Personal trauma aside, Bill Clinton remained ambitious and was inspired to seek office while he was in high school after meeting President John F. Kennedy at the White House. Prior to his own time in the Oval Office, Clinton graduated from Yale University Law School and served in Arkansas state government, both as attorney general and as governor. At the time that he was elected in 1978 to lead Arkansas, Clinton was the youngest U.S. governor in 40 years, as Britannica notes.
After winning the White House for the first time in 1992, Clinton’s two terms in office were notable for many reasons. He was the first Democrat to win reelection since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s and ’40s. His administration also saw low unemployment, low inflation, and high home ownership, as the White House website explains. Among other positive impacts Clinton’s leadership had on the country, crime rates were down during his time in office. The story of Bill Clinton goes to show that despite a tough childhood, individuals can overcome personal challenges and succeed at the highest level of their chosen profession.
