Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Clinton on August 19, 1946) served as the 42nd President of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he grew up in Arkansas and took the surname Clinton from his stepfather, Roger Clinton Sr. He pursued a career in law and politics, serving as Governor of Arkansas before winning the presidency.
Clinton's two terms in office coincided with a period of significant economic growth and federal budget surpluses. Early priorities included a push for universal healthcare reform — which ultimately failed — and efforts to allow openly gay individuals to serve in the military. His administration is widely associated with moving the Democratic Party toward a more centrist position, a political philosophy often called the "Third Way." His presidency also drew criticism over the U.S. response to the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
In 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached Clinton — making him only the second president in American history to face impeachment at that time. The proceedings arose from his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and related accusations of perjury and obstruction of justice. The Senate acquitted him, and he completed his second term in office.
Following his presidency, Clinton has faced scrutiny over his relationship with convicted *** offender Jeffrey Epstein. A House Oversight Committee has moved to depose him as part of a broader probe into the Epstein files, following testimony already given by his wife, Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton served as First Lady during his presidency and later became a prominent political figure in her own right, including as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 2016.
