How did Clinton rise to power?

US History – The Presidency of Bill Clinton, 1993-2001

In this course, Professor Mark White (Queen Mary, University of London) explores the life, political career and presidency of Bill Clinton through five key questions: (1) How did Clinton rise to power?; (2) Why did Clinton win the 1992 presidential election?; (3) What was the significance of Clinton's image?; (4) How did the issue of Clinton's character affect his political career?; and (5) How successful was Clinton as a presidential policymaker?

How did Clinton rise to power?

In this module, we think about Clinton's rise to power, up to the moment in 1991 when he announces he is going to run for President. In particular, we think about: (i) Clinton's early life and education; (ii) his early brushes with politics (e.g. meeting President Kennedy in 1963, working for J. William Fulbright in 1964, etc.); (iii) the importance of Hillary Rodham (later Clinton); (iv) his early political career: defeat in 1974, victory in 1978, defeat in 1980, victory in 1982; (v) the 1988 presidential election: the reasons for his decision not to run, his nomination of Michael Dukakis at the 1988 DNC, etc.; and (vi) his decision to run in 1992.