A producer at ABC recently asked if I’d be willing to be interviewed for a documentary they’re making about Bill Clinton. I agreed.
Then I asked when they’re planning to show it.
“After he dies,” they said.
“What!? Is he dying?” I asked, shocked.
“Oh, no,” they said. “It’s for the archive.”
“You mean, it’s for whenever he dies, even if that’s twenty years from now?”
“Exactly.”
“Even if you and I are long gone by then?”
“Yup.”
I was relieved, but flummoxed. Was I supposed to talk about Clinton in the past tense? Should I give only the sort of glowing tribute accorded former presidents when they pass? Would it be inappropriate to say anything even slightly critical of him or his presidency?
I just did the interview from my office at Berkeley.
At first it all seemed weirdly morbid but after five minutes or so I forgot the weirdness and just talked.
I met Bill Clinton in September 1968 on the USS United States, sailing from New York City to Southampton, England. We were 22 years old.
He and I, along with thirty other young American men, had won Rhodes Scholarships to study at Oxford. (Had women been allowed to compete then, I doubt either he or I would have won.)
We were heading to England by ship because that had been the tradition for newly-selected Rhodes Scholars. Six days at sea was supposed to give Scholars time to get to know one another.
But on this voyage, the crossing was so stormy that most of us spent a good part of the time alone in our cabins, seasick. I stayed in my bunk and tried not to think about food.
Then a loud knock on my cabin door.
I staggered over to open it. There was a tall, curly-haired fellow with a big grin, holding a bowl chicken soup.
“Hi, my name is Bill,” he said in a syrupy southern accent as the ship rolled and the soup sloshed. “I hear you weren’t feeling well. Thought this might help.”
He handed me the bowl. (He didn’t say “I feel your pain” – that came later on his presidential campaign.)
“Well, that’s awfully kind of you,” I said, taking the bowl in both my hands while trying to steady myself and not barf on him.
“I’m Bob,” I stammered. “I’d invite you in, Bill, but …”
“Oh, that’s okay. We’ll have time later… I’m from Arkansas.”
“Well, that’s really great. I’m from a little town in New York State.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” he grinned.
The soup was sloshing over the sides of the bowl, and I desperately needed to use the john.
“Er, what’s amazing?”
“Small town boys. Did you ever think you and I would be here?”
“No. But sorry, I’ve got to….”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be gettin’ on.” He turned and walked off, his hand on the wall of the corridor as the ship rolled.
“Thanks, again,” I called after him. “Very nice of you.” I was genuinely touched.
He waved as he walked away.
Despite the rough seas, the journey felt restorative — an escape from a nation that seemed to be losing its mind and moral compass.
Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated a few months before. Gene McCarthy’s presidential bid had gone nowhere. Democrats were about to nominate Lyndon Johnson’s vice president, Hubert Humphrey. Republicans were nominating the abominable Richard Nixon. Several American cities were in flames. The Vietnam War continued unabated.
My other recollection from that voyage, by the way, occurred in the ship’s stateroom, on one of my few outings from my cabin.
The stateroom was almost empty except for a pale, gray, thin man sitting at a far table, smoking a cigarette.
I sat down and introduced myself.
He told me his name was Bobby Baker.
Of all the people to be on this ship, he was the last I expected — or wanted to talk with. (If you don’t remember, Baker had been a crony of Lyndon Johnson’s. He was secretary to the Democratic Party when LBJ was Senate Majority Leader — until Robert Kennedy, as Attorney General, exposed Baker’s alleged deals with organized crime and Baker was forced to resign. Kennedy’s investigation led to allegations that Johnson himself received kickbacks from military contractors. It was rotten stuff, even worse when several newspapers found evidence that Baker had also been involved in procuring women for JFK.)
We exchanged a few words and then I excused myself, pointing to my stomach. He said he understood. I headed back to my cabin.
That Bobby Baker had chosen to travel to England on this particular ship seemed a cruel joke — as if to say there was no real escape.
Days later, after landing in Southampton and taking a bus to Oxford, Bill and I were assigned “digs” at the same Oxford college — called University College. (Legend has it that the college was founded around 866 by King Alfred. I recall a disagreement among the faculty over whether it should celebrate its 1,100th anniversary in 1966 — detractors grousing that once they began celebrating every hundred years there’d be no end to festivities.)
Bill and I spent much of the the next two years talking about Vietnam, American politics (he already had his eye on becoming governor of Arkansas), food (he liked British hamburgers, which I found revolting), and British girls. And he had an endless stream of stories about people he knew from Arkansas, Arkansas politicians, and odd and funny bits of American history he’d picked up along the way.
Oh, and we did not inhale together.
To say that Bill Clinton at the age of twenty-two enjoyed people and conversation is to understate the voraciousness of his appetite.
We were so young then — boys, really — and we were out of America for the first time in our lives. It was glorious.
That’s the start of what I told ABC about Bill Clinton. More to come.
For a long time, Bill Clinton’s been called, not entirely in jest, America’s first black president, but he was only its second boy president (the first being Theodore Roosevelt), Peter Pans in the White House who never wanted, or did, grow up entirely, and I say that in the most affectionate way.
In his recollect8on, Bob referred to Nixon as “detestable,” and that he was, but that detestableness didn’t spring from his distinctive hairline fully formed as Athena did from the forehead of Zeus. With Nixon you knew he could be childish without ever being childlike, a man born old who could never discern the wonder in anything. Bill Clinton, by contrast, clearly does see wonder in everything. He wants to turn everything over and over in his hands to see what it’s made of, how it works and whether it can be put to use in bettering others’ lives — even the Nixons of the world.
Bill Clinton’s a flawed man, no doubt about it, but who isn’t flawed? The problem is that he is an Old Testament figure — specifically King David, for obvious reasons — whose enemies insist, for their own political and economic advantage, that he be judged by a New Testament morality.
Given that Robert is the same age, there is some question who ABC s memorializing.
Clinton, like Lincoln, is not as much a David as another would be hero of a thousand faces, an archetypal fallen king. The Clinton story at this point, is less eulogy, more a dirge.
Great expectations. Opportunity lost. A classic tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Greek chorus chants . "Woe be us!"
Tried to regenerate (and save his reputation) through HRC, but things got worse.
Daniel, it is true we had great expectations for Clinton, but Clinton was not prepared for the onslaught of anger from Republicans and Democrats when Clinton didn't have the experience to clean up everything from the previous dozen years in less than two. That made him inept and brought in one of the most despicable men in politics and that is saying a lot, Newt Gingrich. He was accompanied by a bunch of what I think of as losers, but effective losers because they were able to do a lot of damage in just a few years. Clinton was partly to blame because he actually signed a lot of the bills that crew sent his way while the American people had to live with the fallout. Republicans replace Democrats, make a mess, then when Democrats get back into power because the American people are desperate, they have to clean everything up in a year or so. Because Dems are not miracle workers, voters become disillusioned and until this midterm election, vote out the people who were actually trying to right our democracy. Republicans did take over the House, though and we are in for some really tough times and with Biden's approval ratings still in the tank, it is likely little if any progress will go forward in the next few years and of course, Dems will be blamed and it is likely unless we all stay active, an inept, even destructive Republican will be elected president. We should be able to do better, but we certainly have not figured it out yet.
Ruth Sheets: If we can just get the same voters who voted for Biden to stop talking about Biden's approval ratings and how they are "still in the tank" ,and believing they are...that would be progress. Compared to what our opponents have done or offered, the approval ratings should be much higher. But who controls the message?!? And more importantly : who really does the ratings?
Laurie 🎯 👍🏼
Laurie, you are beyond right. I don't know how to get that whole "approval rating" nonsense out of our public discourse because it is just plain stupid. It is probably the reason more Dems didn't get out to vote in places where the elections were really close. I wish Dems were not so fickle and so many were not so easily manipulated by the Republican media and its made-up reports and misinformation,
Ruth : yes ; Critical thinking is taught at home, in school, or by people you meet in your life, if you are lucky. Or all those places. But so many of us are like lemmings who depend on television news, some of it not very good, and most of it massaged enough to be unrecognizable as far as information content goes. I'm glad to have a forum like this. And now podcasts are available that go outside the msm echo chamber, too. Some serious reading can guide those who seek facts.
Ruth, Laurie: Thank you for your comments ! My 'irritation' with all the
'ratings//approval ratings' coming into my - inbox - really got - overwhelming. Frankly I also got to wondering by whom and from where those ratings were collected (& whether or not a 'Donate' - click here - was included. I'll take a survey but will NOT donate, no matter who or how "honest' the sender. In fact I take all these ratings/surveys/poles with a grain of salt & use my own - critical thinking & reality - to make my decisions about who to vote for which is not that difficult here in WA with a Democratically run gov't. But there are still choices to be made based on my own preferences ~ ~ Maybe that makes me a D.O.R.C.C. = 'duty, obligation, responsibility (with) conscientious creativity (what I've had to deal with since taking over the family responsibilities when my father became disabled when I was in high school). [[ but I much prefer another acronym of mine = D.O.R.C.A.S. = Designer of Really Cool Artsy Stuff. : ]
Dale Greer -- Dagnar ; Great post from a creative artist!
Thank You Laurie. This is muchly appreciated : )
Ruth, I don’t agree with everything you say, but the “fix it all in less than two years” thing hits home. I don’t know if Clinton would have done better, if he had different people very close to advise him. I got the impression he took a measure of the weather around him before making decisions, a little bit of “going the way the wind blows.” He is described as “people person,” and sometimes that translates to liking to keep people happy and trading on an ability to be hail-fellow-well-met...
Like with Barack and Joe after him, there were too many donors and Wall Street types hanging on his elbows. The whole party is in thrall to these people -- MONEY! -- and while Republican policy makes no bones about being on the side of business and letting the largesse trickle down, Democrats also think keeping the financial sector happy is the key to national “success,” and Willy especially promoted the interests of Big Finance at the expense of all the rest of us. [Also, he helped to enlarge the War on POC and Poor People, big time, helping to grow our prison population by leaps and bounds.
Since the Citizens United case, what we all knew to be true anyway came right out in the open. Money talks. [That’s it -- just Money Talks Everything else is secondary.]
I see how we got here, and how long it took the likes of Newt to get us here, with the help of local dupes and the likes of Dubya, and The Bespectacled Turtle, and the Tea Party Mad Hatter Group, with a little help from Bannon and Miller and McCarthy all the other Toe-the-Line Republicans. They slowly used fear and Christianity to move the country over into their lane, making people fear open-mindedness and “critical thinking,” as though it were a means to invite the Devil in [that is a real fear that was expressed to me many times over the decades preceding the Millennium].
Sadly, don’t think the Left has another forty years to slowly turn things around. These jamokes will end it all long before the general public ever begins to see clearly where their interests and their children’s futures lie. So, the task is to make our options for the future clear, CLEAR, and hope we can garner enough VOTES to hold the line against autocracy, Oligarchy, and environmental destruction.
I hate being a Gloom-and-Doom, and I’m not. If I were that, I’d say give up, have a glass of wine, and watch the shit show. But I say keep up the struggle for something better as long as their is energy for the struggle left in us -- BUT NOT “fighting” [I was going to say keep up the fight, but I worry that people will think I support uproar or revolution, which I do NOT. That would NOT get us where we need to be, and that is ONLY a recipe for total destruction. Revolutions almost never deliver the world the people who wage them are after!].
In my poor little brain, I still think the only thing that can save this world is good people willing to talk and work out problems in good fatih, and willing to use their VOTE.
Oy, vey. Maybe I’m nuts.
PG, I keep up the struggle too because it IS the only way if we care about our children and grandchildren (OK, for me, grand nieces and grand nephews). The other thing that keeps me hopeful is that there are so many doing their best to stand for what is good and fair. It seems every time people start actually looking at the problem of money and its undeserved power, something comes along to make sure money gets even more power. Citizens United happened just as we were beginning to come out of the near-depression. Today it's forcing unions to go along with a flawed contract for the economy. It could have been different, but Mitch McConnell in his own extreme wealth cares nothing for what workers need and laid a filibuster on a vote to get some more essential rights for workers. Dems will be blamed, of course, but only a few Repubs, not enough to override McConnell's inane filibuster voted for it. It really is a Republican flaw. How do we get the message out when the most powerful monied media have the eyes and hearts of folks who can't imagine themselves in the place of the railroad workers, even though they, at work, are probably treated as badly. It's crazy!
Sorry, I disagree. I was "super hatched" during his presidency. However I was co-chair of ABA committees looking into stuff like Hilarycare and "welfare as we knew it" and other social issues. From my perspective, from onset, they were more interested in collaborating with donors than developing policy.
By the second term, he squandered opportunities to promote all the stuff that Robert supports,
We believed him when he said that he "never slept with that woman."
We didn't know about the other stuff.....
Daniel, I get it, Clinton wasn't close to perfect, but I must admit I didn't care a wit whether or not he had "slept with that woman." I think most women didn't care about that because we women all know men who have done worse than have sex with an intern who was clearly willing. Republicans and Democratic purists made that the center of Clinton's second term to the detriment of the American people. It was Clinton's fault for having the encounter but it is also the fault of the American people for pretending that it made a bit of a difference. As for the donors and health care, that has been a running problem throughout the decades since Truman. Unfortunately, it is not likely that without the donors' participation, members of Congress, even Democrats would have supported the healthcare plan. Even before "Citizens United," it was expensive to campaign. The members of Congress knew they had to remain in constant campaigning and donation collection mode and we the people have permitted big pharma to be major donors to candidates. Even the ACA is inadequate due to private insurance involvement and now those same insurance and drug corporations are trying to take over Medicare and of course, are screwing it up.
Perjury is a crime. My profession is dedicated to rule of law.
BTW Hilarycare was not Medicare for all or an expansion of Medicare or Medicaid. It was a paen to HMOs, which, in many cases were corrupt. Here in Baghdad By the Sea we had a scandal that implicated JEB Bush. https://madisondems.org/2015/02/20/when-dad-was-vp-jeb-bush-lobbied-the-administration-for-a-medicare-fraudster/
My experience investigating Hilarycare led me to the conclusion that the obvious solution was expansion of Medicare. That's when I realized that the elimination of the collateral sources doctrine could leas to reduced premiums, reduced litigation, not just in healthcare but in virtually all insurance. Imagine if pain and suffering damages did not take future medical treatment into account because Medicare for all provided it to everybody.
Yes, of course perjury is a crime. However, in my view, that crime was exceedingly minor because Clinton's lie was in response to a question that he should never have been asked. While I was very disappointed in his actions, and thought that whole Lewinski affair was downright sleazy, I thought then and still do to this day, that it was no one's business but three parties involved.
imagine if the entire chambers of
Commerce might be unshackled
from the $pendy yoke of
healthcare with M4A
.
would there be a
'Peace Dividend'?
jk.
"From my perspective, from onset, they were more interested in collaborating with donors than developing policy."
and that'd be My eulogy to Wild Bill
oh and the Adios to our Middle Class.
And I'm skeptical that he never inhaled.....
Yeah -- but maybe if he'd inhaled a little more, he might've overcome his addiction to donors and other stuff, had an epiphany, and become a true advocate for the people who voted for him.
damn! wish me and Bill couldda
sampled some psychedelics together
who Knows where we might Be right Now
❤️❣️
Daniel Solomon-- love the Joe Campbell classical myth allusion, but really. Clinton and Lincoln in the same breath? A bridge too far. Nobody's gonna write a "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" elegy for that Arkansas dude. Not gonna happen.
Lincoln was martyred.
Aristotle said the 6th act of tragedy is comedy. Clinton is an act in progress.
With respect to your interpretation of Aristotle's saying that "the 6th act of tragedy is comedy," I fear something might have been lost in translation. Or perhaps you're referring to Aristotle Onassis. But what do I know. Just trying to insert a bit of comedy into the tragic news of the day.
well they're not
dead yet.
Avie, what interesting observations! It is interesting that Democrats claim to want purity (whatever that is) while Republicans just want winners. When all one wants is to win, ethics, morality, and the rest are usually sacrificed. There is no wonder, only a desire to control and that those around them are obedient no matter that they are appalling human beings. Definitely different perspectives.
I think it's Republicans who broadly demand ideological purity, though whatever sense of that there may be among Democrats is entirely within the AOC faction on the left, but it's destructive irrespective of party.
For those of us who love political history this is wonderful stuff. I can't wait for the next installment!
me too! The mention of Baker reminds me how hard it is to remember, 'We are "all god's kids"'
Enjoyed this prelude to the whole testimonial. Strange isn't it that all our heroes have feet of clay, Even Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington were imperfect. Nice to know that it's ok to be imperfect as long as you are mostly good.
"...we did not inhale together."
Thanks, you made my day.
If we stop and listen carefully, we realize the richness of our lives. In our time on earth, we meet many different people, some lost to history and some either famous or destined to be so. It is ineffably sad we are so often mired in the minutiae of our mundane existence we fail to appreciate the true gift life can be.
Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Reich.
Beautiful sentiment in your comment.
Doug, you've got that right!! How do we enable people to see that and appreciate it?
Such vision as I have to see people and the world around me has come from a loving family, a job which enabled me to have an adequate working life and retirement and, perhaps paradoxically, significant illness from which I recovered through hard work (in my case, polio). If we are forced in life to keep our noses to the grindstone. living paycheck to paycheck, it is singularly hard to look up and see others and the world which we all share.
It comes down to the bedrock progressive policies of a sufficient minimum wage, universal health care and real support for all, men, women and children alike. With few of these things, we are left running in molasses, making little progress and decrying our sticky feet.
Well said. It isn't just people who can impress us. While scrambling over the scree atop Mount Washington, New Hampshire, I learned what perseverance was right at the treeline (where pine trees are one inch tall). I looked down to see a caterpillar ascending the mountain just as I was!
Doug, you are right! It is nature that can give us a perspective we were not expecting but can learn so much from.
Indeed. All my life (71 now) has been an observation of nature and natural processes, which is why I got into the Horticultural realm and have been a life long gardener. When in college I signed up for a mountain climbing class and we
climbed to the - original - summit of Mt. St. Helens here in WA. It was not a 'walk in the park' experience, but I will never forget it & it's - difficulties and hardships, and it's beauties & views from the summit (before the great eruption in 1980). Life for me has seen more difficulties than joys, but I don't regret any of it/them ~ they all have made me who I am ~ ~ ~ ' a cranky ol' dottard' - LOL ~ ~ ~
Hey Dale, I think one who has faced a difficult life has the right to be an "ol dottard" or whatever. climbing Ms. St. Helens must have been worth some special rights in the later years. I hgave seen pictures of the before times of the volcano and have visited the after eruption mountain and found the latter life-changing. I have also seen the jar of ash that my sister-in-law collected from her car a couple of days after the eruption. One can't be the same after that. We all need to keep being who we are and use that to keep doing the best we can.
Ruth, Thank you for this : ) During that time of Mt St Helens eruptions, I lived in a house in Bellevue, east of Seattle, and watched one of the ash cloud eruptions from my front porch.
Awesome AND scarry. I also collected a bottle of the ash and sprinkled it on the picture frame around the photo of the eruption as if I'd had an ash fall inside my house. lol cough cough ~
When a kid, my family traveled all over the western U.S. tent camping and experienced a lot of
what the weather & environment can do = blizzard in CO, tornado in TX, hiking, climbing and
exploring - the great outdoors and into western Canada. All of these experiences have shaped my life and take on life and (I suppose) contributed to both my sense of humor and irreverance
for most of what - modern civilization has had to offer ~
Dale, seeing the eruption must have been incredible! Just hearing about it and seeing the results were pretty profound for me. You have experienced a lot. I have been in a tornado (not a great experience), gotten sick when an earthquake hit my town just south of Philadelphia, and lived through numerous hurricanes. These events were all awesome and have made me realize I do appreciate modern tech even though I have enjoyed camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. I just want ways that other people around the world can get to have as much of modern tech as they wish. We need to get that renewable energy thing going fast!
Hello Ruth, I agree with most of what you say, but I have my doubts about 'how and for what purposes' all this modern tech will be used. I - fear - that way too many people who have access
to this tech will use it for - opportunistic if not outright diabolical - reasons. And I have been - target - of some of this -diabolicalness, but caught it in time to not be -a victim.
I've also been through 3 major earthquakes with 1 when in 8th grade in which we students watched as a wall in the school cracked from ground to roof during the quake. "Ain't nature amazing ?"
Loved your share. Ten years earlier I also sailed off to England on a ship full of college students bound for study in Europe and England. I was headed for the University of Edinburgh. That year abroad shaped my World view for the rest of my life and I will always be grateful for the opportunity.
after learning yesterday that christine mcvie died suddenly, your headline almost gave me a stroke.
Me as well!!!! Stunned!
Ditto!!
That wasn’t nice of him, but it sure got our attention!
Same here.
Great story! I think America misses the kind of entertainment Bill Clinton brought to the White House. It was kind of the Democratic standard...more highbrow and cultured than Reagan and Bush, sharing a little of Obama and Kennedy, far more engaging than Carter and Biden, our least entertaining along with Bush 41. Of course, Billary has been overshadowed by that master of stage and screen, DJT! It should be obvious by now that earnest and experienced men and women - think Gore, Kerry, Mitt, and HRC - just aren't wanted when you can have a good ole boy or a showman.
Kerry, and those "good ole boys and showman are always inept and leave serious messes others have to clean up while they are not held accountable.
Americans don't want accountability. They have short memories, anyway. They want entertainment, villains, self-assurance, and mythology. They'll vote against competence and integrity over and over again.
Wow, actually, that all sounds about accurate!
I lived in Peru 2013-2021. And not in any glamorous place, believe me...off the beaten path.
I enjoy you so much Mr Reich!!!
Wow! Great rehash and what a memory
Bill Clinton had so much promise; I looked at him at the time as the 1st replacement for the lost JFK 30 years prior. That is, it took that long for the U.S. to regain political stature, again. Political hope. He turned out to be a better politician than benefactor.
It was an enjoyable read, but one line in particular made it great: Oh, and we did not inhale together.
yep!
Fortunate meeting for both of you!
"I met Bill Clinton in September 1968 on the USS United States." If this were the opening line of a novel and I were the editor, I would say, "Oh, come on. At least change the name of the ship."
But these days, when someone says "Bill Clinton", I can only think of the scandals - selling out the labor movement and repealing the Glass-Steagal act. No doubt he thought he was being very clever.
You have a better memory for his flaws than most. All I usually hear about is Monica, as if anyone should care.
Most of them have been pigs, I care about far more consequential things than sex when it comes to high office politics.
I agree he was charismatic and basically kind. But what he did to labor is hard to overlook. It set a precedent for the “wealth” gap that’s killing the Republic.
100%!!
Hear! Hear!
I still grieve for the Democratic Party and for democracy, felled by his libido.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgMzY8yNDY
His libido is the very least of what has caused problems on our government.
In fact I’d argue that most presidents have been utter pigs, sexually speaking.
Clinton couldn’t begin to keep up with Kennedy, for example. Nobody ever accuses him of toppling democracy. 🙄
Far more dangerous and damaging choices have been made fully clothed in that house.
I am a Democrat. He "demoralized" everything we supported. He should not have lied under oath. He should have resigned.
"Nobody ever accuses him of toppling democracy."
Here's one.
I have voted Democrat since I’ve been able to vote. Mostly as a protest vote against republicans because we’ve had no other choice.
Bill Clinton has a lengthy list of sins behind him, his libido of which is the least of it (at least during his tenure in the White House, as far as we know). I don’t care who the president gets naked with as long as they’re consenting adults- that’s between the president and their spouse.
I care about the poor, homeless, immigrants, minorities, and most of all, people who can’t get the healthcare they deserve. I care about selling out the working class. I care about corporations owning our legislature.
I wouldn’t care of the president had orgies in the Oval if ONLY they’d act like they cared about people who make less than $500k/year even half as much as they do the ruling class.
Animal Farm? 🙄Yes, I’ve seen your litany of comments come up in my notifications.
It may surprise you to know that in the US, there are millions of people (including elderly and disabled) who also fight for survival every day, without enough to keep a roof, food, and meds. Just because we have a “thriving” economy and a rich country doesn’t mean that all (or even most) of us have access to all that lovely housing and medical care.
Very nice, thank you for sharing such wonderful memories from your youth. Was the soup good?
I was curious if he ate it at all! 🤣
During a lot of his presidency I was a young 20’s traveling the world. I never disliked him then but as I have grown older I realize that he was basically center right. He put men in jail and created a for profit prison system that has destroyed lives. He militarized the police forces and I basically don’t think he did much for this country but keep us on the path that Reagan started. We will not recover from these soft on corporate greed politicians. Clinton being one of them. Great story but I have no love for any of these guys.
Let's hope Clinton's obituary is not needed until long after Trump has been planted, and hope that nothing but weeds sprout from Trump's planting.
I hope he gets planted next to Ivanna. Soulless bastard.
Skunk cabbage would be appropriate.
My favorite view of Bill Clinton is in the documentary, "Wordplay," a 2006 film about the New York Times Crossword. While covering the annual competition, the filmmakers also interview famous puzzlers and give them the same puzzle to do -- Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, Bob Dole, the Indigo Girls, and Bill Clinton, among others. I've always remembered Bill's approach, when he says that starting at the beginning is not always the best way into a solution. Sometimes if you come at it from the middle or end you are way more successful. He is smart as a whip and always looking to get smarter. Wish every president were like that. BTW, I'm at 1443 consecutive days for solving the NYT puzzle online, but I bet he has me beat by a long shot.
Loved this memoir.
I don’t just like this; I love it.
That’s a great story, Robert. Strange how media operate, btw. I once had someone dog me...a mere former county elected...said because I was sick( yes, with my first cancer) his “editor” made him call me for my obituary. Unfortunately he died first. I’m still around.
I’ll share your story with a couple friends...Jerry who you might recall from Yale, and Richard, a 90’s Oxford fellow. They will find this story most interesting.
I am very glad you mentioned the more recent admission to Oxford. Interesting how time changes, yet, does it? It’s fun that you shared this media encounter. Makes one think of how life ambles on...Thank you!
the more recent admission “OF WOMEN, AND MINORITIES...”
I cannot wait to read the rest of your stories about Bill Clinton. I loved how HUMAN he was. He could relate to so many people and he CARED, a lot. He was vilified by the the same idiots that had taken Trump as their leader. They were worried about Bill Clinton lying about an affair yet thought Jeffrey Epsteins buddy was the best? Bill and Hillary both wanted universal health care long before Obama was able to cobble together ACA. That put the money grubbing insurance companies up in arms and the GOP to lead the chants of fear of socialism again, because that is all they know how to do. The Clinton's were way before their time.
He was a corporate schill and continued pushing corporate greed. How about his stance on crime and for profit prisons? How about his militarization of the police? NAFTA? He was right wing dressed up as a Dem. Nothing more.
I see what you’re saying and agree with it in my skull. But he was also more.
Well written, you’ve captured my imagination. Such a fortunate meeting for both of you. Not, wanting to take any air out of your story, it made me think of my fortunate meeting with Harry Truman. That story is for another day. I’m looking forward to more about your relationship with Bill.
Well, hell... now I wanna here that story too! 😆
I will tell that story soon at Steven’s Newsletter on Substack or at PaPac on Mastodon. A newbie at both sites.
Thanks for sharing this
Great storytelling prof.! It is curious to me that the legal profession is rife with internal moral turpitude! Lots of substance abuse and other kinds of moral turpitude. Bill, as you said, has a voracious appetite for people. He gobbles them up and spits them out when he is done with them! Character flaw on steroids. I have never met him! Most great men have voracious appetites for people. Yes, it is a sickness born in the seeking of power and success in getting power. From titans of industry, to Popes, to politicians, to visionaries. What makes Sammy run? The answer is: lack of a healthy self image. This voraciousness is not necessarily a bad thing. But sadly, as in the case of Jeffery Epstein, it’s all too common among brilliant men and women. This is what makes great men and women great. We all know that Bill could never get enough enough women or men to love him. Character flaw: I’m not so sure. Who among us has never sinned! I guess we have to balance the good with the bad. On balance Bill did lots of good. In my hometown, a Doctor sexually abused many women. He was caught and served time in prison for his moral turpitude. The town was sharply divided! So much so that the two factions became pretty violent. He had started and had funded a popular church and those were his staunch supporters. The against faction was composed of his victims, their families and those who were outraged! The debate was that he had done so much good as a Doctor, he could not be punished. A medical Doctor is a very precious resource in small rural areas. The question is answered by the application of the “moral turpitude” legal statutes. If not actual laws then, the application of the legal concept. This area of law is troublesome to say the least and cannot be fairly enforced. If we were to prosecute everyone who has ever committed a sin, our legal system would become nonfunctional. Yet, the rules of conduct really have to be enforced or we have no rule of law. My local police department and D.A. will not prosecute cases unless the case resounds with the public. The police are afraid of the publicity that enforcing laws brings. A citizen must present a damn good case to get the police to take any action. On the one hand, the police are too timid to arrest people. On the other hand, they are frustrated that can’t. Sorry to say! The various incidents of police brutality and injustice have not led to more justice but less! Friends! This is a helluva situation!
Moral turpitude, indeed! Problem one: who becomes the arbiter of what’s moral? I’m not sure this system could get any further!!
Many would argue that our justice system is so broken *now* that it will take decades to repair and generations to get anywhere near the people’s faith it once had!! And that doesn’t even touch on our broken penal system.
Sigh.
Now I’m sad and tired. 😢
Agreed, but we have to find renewed strength to see our democracy and Supreme Court bloom again but let’s shorten your timeline from decades to ?
I genuinely hope that’s possible. Given the current political climate and the lack of desire for people in power to do ANYTHING decent for those making less than $500k (rail workers, anyone? So much for the “party for labor”) or owning corporations, I don’t hold much hope. I want to, but I can’t find it.
Waiting for your next installment!
Fascinating. Being a Brit, I would love to hear more about your time at Oxford with Clinton.
This is juicy goodness ... can’t wait for more !
I wish I had been there with you guys! Must have been great for both of you to be hanging out together--young and brilliant, with great senses of humor, and on a new adventure abroad. And you can BOTH tell a story! (I love Lost in the Cabinet.) In our house, we refer to Clinton as the "Explainer in Chief"--President Clinton's 2012 DNC comes to mind. He can explain things--complicated policies, the budget, global politics, etc.--so well. But he's got competition. Thank you for being our Explainer in Chief as well!
The characteristic of Bill Clinton that is so very different than many other people (let alone, presidents) is his genuine interest in other people. He’ll sit down with anyone, listen and discuss, not in a pedantic of condescending way, but like neighbors over coffee. That’s how he learns. That’s what endears us to him and the characteristic his enemies hate (think Ted Cruz!).
As an Oxonian, myself (Said Business School, Jesus College), I don’t have half the brain that Bill or Bob has. What I’m certain about is that that compassion and care for others, community and valuing incredible richness of spirit we have (and that owe take for granted) in America goes a long way toward making up for intellectual shortfall.
After hearing what Kanye West said on the Alex Jones Info Wars show yesterday, Clinton's foibles seem minor indeed. Just 25 years ago the President having an affair gripped the nation through endless news cycles. Now TFG obviously staged an insurrection and we can't get him convicted, while others openly advocate Nazism and Warnock barely leads Walker. Shocking, and incomprehensible. I can't agree with Daniel Solomon that Clinton should have resigned. I couldnt understand all the outrage then, or now. Other crimes, the crimes against Democracy we are seeing now, are so much more consequential.
What a great story, Bob. You've lived an amazing life. I appreciate that you're still fighting for the country that you so clearly love.
As an American, we have all lived 'complicitly' amazing lives. Every so often, like now, I reawaken to that notion. Thank you Dr Robert.
William Clinton, a disappointment as a president while in office & as an ex-president potential wasted!!
More......
Looking forward to part 2. Enjoyed your first memories. May they not be publicly used for years. You, Bill and I are all same age. I hope We all have at least 20+ more viable years.
that was a fun glimpse
I am really enjoying this. Keep telling the story!
Wow, you really fleshed him out as a young man! I want more!
Your anecdote about Bill bringing you chicken soup reveals why Hillary chose to stand by her man. He may have many flaws, but he is a kind, caring person.
I can’t help it: i truly, unabashedly enjoy everything you write! Intelligent, witty, and erudite. You are a joy in my news feed every day. Just to be reaffirmed that my ideas aren’t totally crazy or off-the-wall and that there’s one super “aware” guy who fills in not only numerous blanks but a behind the scenes view of what’s really happening underneath the headlines. I love my husband but you’re a close second!
I, too, look forward every day to Robert's column!
Bob, this tale is as much about elite olde school ties as it is about Bill Clinton. Power in American seems to be either inherited or due to associations/networks. People go to great lengths to inject their offspring into elite schools where they will meet the "right" families and start their careers on a much higher rung of the American Success ladder due to "connections." Of course, your school ties extend well beyond Clinton to many of the politically-powerful of our era. One could call it a "Deep State" as some have. It seems that the majority of appointed leaders in government, as well as judges, went to law school together at one of a very few elite universities. Of course this arrangement seems to fly in the face of the very meritocracy which most Americans conflate with democracy and capitalism.
Nevertheless, people probably overlook that merit is a factor in getting to Oxford, Yale, Harvard, etc. Most of your pals were very bright and we are better off with intelligent and well-educated leaders than we are with the occasional clowns like Reagan or Trump. Probably the only weakness in our political system is that elite institutions intellectually "groom" our future leaders, which ensures a conservative, pro-business government. It also tends to create some barriers for people with more diverse educations and experiences.
While you and Bill were discussing the evils of the Vietnam war, some of us were involuntarily inducted to risk our lives to enable a few elites in the White House who had the right connections to play at dominoes with China. That is/was sick. It is sicker if America knew at the time that the Vietnamese historically have prided themselves as never having been conquered by China - they pretty much loathe the Chinese. Thus, there never was a dominoes game to be won. I just offer that as evidence of how grooming can have undesired consequences. I thought you were outstanding at DOL. Alas, the data are in, and Clinton naively set a downward course for the US economy. Can't win 'em all.
Everybody has a story to tell and Mr. Reich's stories are very interesting indeed. :D I wanted to note that Clinton's Presidency also attempted to address the inequality that still exists in healthcare here in the USA. While President Obama's administration was successful at passing the Affordable Care Act, (even though it FAILED to remove the PROFIT from American style "health"care), I still count Clinton's effort as a "positive" for Clinton and his administration as it was an attempt at supporting the Common Good.
As usual, the only politicians that I pay attention to, (and support with my hard-earned $$$), are the ones who actually work to DO something to support the Common Good for all Americans. I'm not impressed by the over 50 years worth of GOP supported Federal, State and Local governmental defunding of mental health care and public education and destruction of labor unions that I have witnessed in my lifetime. Add to that the governmental deregulation of enormous UNTAXED Corporations and the UNTAXED Oligarchs who own them and I'd have to say that the GOP certainly has no plans to improve the Common Good for average American Citizens - at least none that they've "cared" enough to even TALK about as yet. To me, that means Oligarchs around the world will merely plan to continue to increase their profits at the expense of average American citizens from Sea to Shining Sea by using the Dark Money Bribery which was invented by our OWN Supreme Court. Sad.
Jeez. You scared the hell out of me with your title to this piece.
I’m 68. Bill Clinton was my generation’s first president. Up until then, it seemed they were my grandparents’; older than dirt and with a stick up their butts, post-Kennedy (who I kind of remembered). I remember the night he won the presidency, his theme song, Don’t Stop (Believing), by Fleetwood Mac, was a little old but still relevant. He played his sax and treated his wife like a real person. It seemed like the world was shiny and bright and we would finally have peace and harmony.
In 1968 I was in the Amazon as a Peace Corps volunteer, beginning a 5 year learning process that uncovered the USA’s policy of replacing democratic governments with those favorable to US business interests. See (“Confessions of an Economic Hitman” by John Perkins; “Killing Hope” by William Blum.). I bumped into the likes of Dan Mitrione, teaching torture techniques. I left Brasil and travelled by motorcycle up the Pan Am, hearing similar accounts in every South and Central American country. I wrote to Bill Clinton among others. Noone seemed able to care. I took a PhD in ecology and work on climate change and biodiversity loss; “shop till you drop” takes on new meaning as we deforest the Amazon for oil and burgers.
Oh lord yes Robert....write more. You, Bill Clinton and I are the same age. So true, at 22...60 years ago...we were boys. At times I struggled with the emotional contrast of duty and disgust regarding Vietnam. A WWII Air Force veteran who had spent three years as a POW, and who was the CEO of the organization that employed me, solved the mental conflict for me with the words, "I need you more than the Army does." With those words he set my life on a new trajectory as I became determined to excel...to earn his words. That determination led to a worldwide career.
Write more Robert. Your words bring back so many memories while stimulating thought of what I can do, in this day, to fulfill the duty I feel to the country that has given me so much. My grandkids are now in their early 20's. As they approach their own adventures I have attempted to encourage them to read your work as part of understanding our era.
This reminds me of a wonderful skit starring Dana Carvey, probably written by Robert Smigel, for his short-lived "Dana Carvey Show." It was eventually repeated when Dana hosted SNL, and involved Dana hilariously impersonating Tom Brokaw, videotaping one ridiculous obituary after another for former President Gerald Ford into the camera, as a contingency in case he died while Tom was on vacation. https://youtu.be/1tX6jdoruH8
I ADORE Dana Carvey. Whoooooo I needed that laugh, and the reminder! Thank you!
Interesting what you said about "British hamburgers". If you mean frozen beefburgers in packets from supermarkets, I ate those as a small child and thought they were all right (likewise fried skinless sausages). I believe Wimpy's was available in London in the late 60s (no complaints) and McDonald's first showed in the 70s, exciting at the time, but now I don't go there if I have better alternatives.
I did not like hamburgers in London when I visited in during the 80's. Not even from same corporate chains like McDonalds or TGIFridays,... The beef is (was?) different. In terms of health and safety, it was probably "better" in the UK than in the U.S., but for what I was accustomed to, it didn't taste as good to me.
Aside from the subject matter in the title, there is some insight here that might help...
Of course that’s assuming we weren’t doing the same thing here in America. I genuinely don’t know, but I remembered this immediately when I read your comment.
https://youtu.be/Cli673N5fUQ
So just learned I could very well be a victim of a potential second wave. Thanks for that insight. LOL
I'm grateful Bill exists. I'm thrilled Hillary does.
Being from central Arkansas myself, I had three in-person though brief encounters with Bill Clinton. My sister, one encounter. Two of the four encounters showed us his humanity and wit, and all, his gregarious nature. I know he has flaws. But I hope in time history weighs on the side of the good in him, and in his accomplishments. I’m a lot more embarrassed of my Arkansas roots with its current slate of politicians than at the darkest days the GOP exacerbated in the Clinton Years.
Robert, your writing style has always moved me and taught me, but is even more poignant and meaningful when applied to people. YOUR humanity shines through, and you help us see the many layers of a subject--philosophical, political, economic, and human. Thank you, dear Robert, for continuing to be the teacher I always wished I'd had...and I had some good ones!
Delightful! Makes me feel like I know both of you better. Thanks!
Bill an Robert have more brains in their feet than the whole spineless gqp today ...
Clinton was a once in a lifetime politician. He loved people and they loved him back. I always believed he was well-intentioned and that he and Hillary worked hard for our country. His "impeachment" was purely political and another example of the uselessness of Republicans. Nobody cared about his affair with an intern except his wife which was why he lied about it. I never understood the hatred people had for him and especially for Hillary!
Thanks, today's article is refreshing change from the current disasters we are dealing with daily.
Bill Clinton was far more popular overseas than he was in this country. When the Lewinsky debacle hit the fan, many Europeans didn't have a problem with it and had difficulty understanding why it was such a big deal in this country.
You are a fine writer. Glad you said yes to this interview. The human side is always the most important.
Robert,
You obviously have had an amazing life. To have that connection with a future president with whom you ended up working for is amazing.
Bill & Hillary have been vilified by the GOP for years. I think they were smart and unfortunately all too human, with many human weaknesses.
Those are the kinds of stories I like best about history. The human ones that don't make the history books. You must have many more, not just about Bill Clinton. I hope you'll share them Thank you :-)
Secretary Reich I particularly liked your comments about your class at Yale with Hillary, Bill , yourself and Clarence Thomas many months ago. It spoke volumes and gives us personal look at very powerful people. Appreciate your insights.
I enjoy it when you give us the "inside edition" of your encounters with people like Bill Clinton, Alan Greenspan, et al. Like you, I was coming of age in those "interesting" years of the late 60's and early 70's, which were just as turbulent as the current times we live in. Maybe more turbulent. I made my first venture out of the country in 1971 when I went to study in Rome. It gave me a more honest perspective about the country I live in and love. I strongly urge anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to take advantage of it. You might not meet a Bill Clinton along the way, but you'll meet a lot of interesting people.
Wonderful story and a prelude to what seemed to be a charismatic personality. I liked him and voted for him. And even though I'm a woman I did not hate him for the Monica thing though did feel awful for Hillary.
I loved the perspective and the image of the two of you meeting as boys together over chicken soup. And the lively style
You are spot on R. I admire you so very much and you came into view in the Clinton Pres. Era, I have nothing but RESPECT FOR YOU and your LEADERSHIP you have shown America. I look forward to the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. Keep up the great info which you so very well share with those of us who follow you.. Too bad they won't listen to your take on inflation causes that they have missed the mark as to the real reason.. with respect, you are brilliant..
What an irony you should bring up Bill Clinton today. Talking with a friend years ago I thought the Defense of Marriage Act was done by GW Bush. My friend corrected me and I was stunned to see it was Clinton (and the Democrats) who pushed that through. (I was living in London at the time, it went over my head) This week The Respect for Marriage bill signed this week will now supersede the D of M Act. Bill Clinton did, I now believe, a lot of damage to the country and the Democratic Party. Where to start? Clinton adopting "triangulation" to compete with the GOP particularly attracting big money and, Clinton believed, that representing middle America was a losing strategy long term for the Democrats. In 1993 the Democrats with Clinton decided to abandon the American worker. You can see that in the devastation of unions today. Clinton opened the flood gates to welfare reform signing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act devastating the safety net and resulting in the resignation of Peter Edelman in his cabinet. I could go on....but the point is this week Democrats forced a contract on railroad workers without SICK LEAVE. One news statement said it was 'too expensive" in an industry whose profits are astronomical. THIS IS the Democratic Party today and they are responsible for the sorry state this country is in now, rife with corruption, poverty and violence right down to our Supreme Court. I left the Democratic Party years ago and this week, they confirmed again, why I won't return.
Looking forward to the next installment. In the meantime, I met Bobby Baker in the summer of 1962, at which time he bragged that he was LBJ's right-hand man and knew the skeletons in every legislator's closet; therefore, LBJ could control Congress...which he pretty much did through much of his career. Baker scared me then, and I still get chills when I think of that encounter.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm sure the folks at ABC will find plenty of unflattering things about Bill Clinton to "balance" your story, Professor, but it demonstrates for me the great appeal Clinton had after the lean Reagan/GHWBush years. I can't imagine either one of them bringing you a bowl of soup, and I recall after 9/11 how I longed for the reassurance of Clinton rather than W's exhortations to go shopping. Policy aside, Democrats at their best pick candidates with emotional intelligence.
yes. emotional intelligence. Key secret ingredient for chicken soup.
Wonderful story. You both are two of my favorites. Despite his apparent shortcomings with appetite, he's a brilliant man and has always inspired me with his vision, compassion and work ethic.
How rich with pure humanity...so high (no, not that kind) profile, yet so down to earth - two young men finding their true footholds in the world. Thank you for sharing!! I look forward to hearing the entire interview - but not yet! :)
Thank you, that was great.
Sax Man . .
Tho he once said Depends on "is" . .The boy was a genuine whiz ..
Did the Times Cross in ink . .and tho Down there a kink . .
the gals really went for his Fizz #from Hope
A k a The Triangulator . .Could talk to Princes and waiters ..
Brain made for the game . .and got blessed with a dame ..
who went Young FreeDumbs, see you later . . .
How did Bill Clinton lose his way? After the tragedy of Monica Lewinsky, did Clinton still go to the Jeffrey Epstein "Paradise Island"? How did Robert Reich manage to serve the common good, so faithfully?
It’s genuinely curious to me how so many people view the Monica nonsense as such a “tragedy,” but always fail to mention his betrayals of the working class and the black community.
This country’s Puritan “value” system is the real tragedy. No wonder politicians have sold us out to the highest bidders while pandering to our basest fears and prejudices. It breaks my heart.
To be clear, I’m referring to the Monica scandal, *not* Epstein. THAT one is another genuine concern on my list.
You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own set of facts. Did Clinton "betray the working class & the black community"? If Clinton did, & Robert Reich would know, The GOP alternative, would have been far worse. Don't trust me, read "To Make Men Free" by American Historian, Heather Cox Richardson.
Don’t “what about republicans” at me, please.
I have voted Democrat my entire life. I know who I vote for (or don’t) and why.
To save myself some typing, read this comment, and don’t call me a liar.
Thanks.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/abc-asks-my-help-with-bill-clintons/comment/10872118?r=1s5r3p&utm_medium=ios
Another:
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/abc-asks-my-help-with-bill-clintons/comment/10866732?r=1s5r3p&utm_medium=ios
I have also voted for Democrats my entire life. I believe that in a more just America, ALL citizens can better flourish. Economics & American History have proven this right, read "A Brief History of Equality" by economist Thomas Piketty. If the economy is the primary issue, citizens who pay attention should & will vote Democratic. Consider the Great Depression (Hoover), the S& L crisis (Reagan), the Great Financial Crisis (George W. Bush) & now Trump who exacerbated income & wealth inequality, while increasing our deficit more than any President in our history. All are Republicans who advocated the theory of trickle-down economics, which has been falsified, read "After the Music Stopped".
Interesting to hear about the early days.
Charming recollection
What an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing it with us. I hope our “ship” will be made steady one day soon.
What a comparison and contrast!
Loved your recollection and looking forward to the next installment. Thank you!
Great stories: I read Berlin's Hedgehog and the Fox. Maybe this way is the best way to promote insight in history
I always enjoy listening to you.
Lovely comments about a super friendship!
I thoroughly enjoy your walks down memory lane, it’s both very informative and entertaining.
“I did not inhale” gave me a good laugh, thank you for that Mr Reich.
I love reading your observations’. Keep writing.
Thank you. This was amazing to read. Waiting for more...
Delightful
Thank you, sir, for taking a moment away from saving democracy to share your memories of innocence past.
Interesting. We all have our eclectic memories.
My first flight to Europe when moving there for a over a decade was on the day (August 13--but may years later but when the wall was still in operation) that the Berlin Wall was started as barbed wire and later to go through may versions.
Interesting!
Really enjoyed this "obit piece" ... only sorry that with the added knowledge that you and Bill Clinton both traveled on the USS United States it is a shame none of the Clinton Presidential Library could be housed on the USS United States. What a shame that a such a proud ship sits in near total disrepair on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
Good stuff ! I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you for recounting that wonderful experience which helped cement your journey with Bill Clinton.
😊🫒🫒🫒🫒🫒
I always wondered what you thought of Bill Clinton, as you probably know him better than almost anyone. You couldn't possibly think he was wonderful, but beyond that I don't know, and would very much like to. I'm hoping that the next blog will tell us. I am sure you will be diplomatic, but I will be sure to read between the lines! I mean, come on, compared to Trump, he was gold!
Very Interesting Take On The Personable Bill Clinton. When I Worked For The ABC Radio Network Back In The 1970's We Often Did "Obits" Of Famous Folks For Use When The Time Came. In These Days Of The 24 /365 News Cycle Coupled With Media Staff Reductions It's Hard To Believe That They Still Have Resources To Prepare A Program For Use At An Unknown Future Time.
Dear Robert,
Can we skip the trip down memory lane about Bill Clinton. I detest that lying, degenerate, philanderer and think that he was possibly the second worst president we ever had. (nothing tops Donald Trump in the bad president department.)I do not care whether he slept with a snake in the oval office-the fact that he lied to the American Public on national TV about it says it all-he thinks he can do anything and get away with it. So, can we please dispense with your thoughts about him? I could really care less.
Very nicely done!!! Quite insightful, and especially touching. Bill must be so proud to call you a true friend, compadre (sp?), cohort, and/or long-term loyal associate. Though I must say, I too was immediately concerned when I read your article title -- like omg, what happened??? So am glad to learn that 'it' is NOT the case, but thanks for the great read and background scoop.
"..didn't inhale together." LOL!
What about reversing Glass Speigall? Didn't that lead to the 2007 economic collapse?
good read want more!
It was his vacuous smirk!
Thank you for sharing. Look forward to reading your next installment.
You said "Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated a few months before." obviously that should say John or Jack. Of course I'm likely the thousandth person to note this.
I had read the "chicken soup" story somewhere before, and I love it. Despite his many failings, it was impossible not to LIKE Bill Clinton. He had a great heart. (Didja ever see the movie Primary Colors? I really liked the performances and the script.)
Now did he ever mention his plan to get caught cheating on his wife with a Jewish Mossad agent in the whitehouse with a cigar tube? Did he ever mention selling out thousands of Americans who died in the towers even though Israel knew in advance, just to go to war for Israel and Jews, while destroying America at its core? Did he happen to mention that all of his perversions have now become an American way of life thanks to his kind abusing this countries legal system? Did he happen to mention all the kids he was with on Epstein‘s island? That’s of course what 9/11 was all about, and JFK. But we’re the crazies right? Everyone knows who’s the problem in America and this country is going to solve it with a bunch of showers. We’re done. This is America not iseral, too bad Clinton was too busy with kids instead of protecting a nation he was getting blackmailed and taking the entire country down with him. Yay democrats! Now let’s go trans some kids!
Please publish the rest of your interview. It does seem maudlin to be considering what should be said of Bill Clinton when he dies, but major newspapers have file cabinets full of elegant obituaries for famous people who are still living, and writing/updating those obituaries remains an important job in print media. Likewise, your recorded personal recollections, and the vignettes of Clinton as a young man, are priceless. Glad ABC asked you to open your memory bank for this purpose.
I enjoyed this article; and look forward to those that come.
When I started reading your post, I was a bit puzzled about ABC‘s request. However, you met this request with poise and true mastery. I was intrigued by your personal and entertaining approach to the subject matter. And as always, you were able to come full circle and put your anecdote intonation bigger political context—of the person (Bill Clinton) and the time. Signature style RR.
Dr.Bob, you are an excellent story teller.
What? Is that evil fool Clinton losing his marbles enough to allow a fit of guilt to cause a suicide? Gee, there’s nothing like being ready with a handy obit!
This is a prime example of exactly how far astray the fourth estate has gone in our country. I haven't seen any recent statistics, but there can't be many if any truly independent news organizations remaining in any of our major metropolitan markets. They have been gobbled up by a few syndicates or companies that immediately assume editorial control over the organization and censor what they dislike and thereby hope to dumb down the population to make them ignorant and more pliable to the nefarious political aims of the parent company.
In my own backyard we once had a great local paper, the Nashville Tennesseean, which had one of the foremost editors of the day, John Siegenthaler and his amazing staff, running the day to day operations, as well as directing the editorial portion of the paper to educate the citizenry as to what was happening in their city and state and shine the light of investigative journalism on those issues and persons that required and deserved that level of scrutiny.
Today, however, after being absorbed by the Gannett corporation some decades past, the paper isn't even a shell of its former glory. There are a few good reporters, but the true journalism that I took for granted when I was coming of age is now gone, and we have a Republican theocracy running amok in the state of Tennessee.
As for you particular situation, Dr. Reich, I'm not sure quite how I'd reply to such a request. An obituary, like a eulogy is, after all, a snapshot in time, giving those who hear the eulogy or read the obituary a reflection of how the author perceives the place in history as well as of the accomplishments of the deceased. What if, for example, the obituary was written 20 years ago, and many unsavory, criminal, or execrable personality traits were revealed in the time before the death occurred?
But this is what we have become; a society that places all its value in wealth and the accumulation of more wealth. Everything else is secondary, and there are few if any rigid standards because everything is negotiable depending upon the circumstances. One wonders what the future historians will observe and write about us, How will our obituaries read?
Please no more of your sycophantic remembrances
Back during late July to early August teaching break of 2010, I lived in the Pocono Mountain area of PA, and resolved to revisit East Texas where I lived 1987-1988 to investigate the horrible BP oil spill in our Gulf of Mexico.
As a musician, I made a stop at Nashville then decided to further augment my journey to visit Austin and New Orleans too. My 3rd day driving began on a Sunday morning at NE/no place Arkansas after a delectable plate of biscuits-n-gravy, eggs, and hash browns when I noticed how close I’d soon be to Hope, AR.
I think I arrived at Hope ~11 AM, and boy-howdy it was HOT. I reckon it 95-F already? The town streets were near absent of traffic and I saw no one out walking. I saw a sign directing to the ‘visitor center’ and went for it. I was the lone visitor.
An elderly amiable octogenarian African-American woman greeted me and proudly walked me all about that place. Hope is home to ‘watermelon-growing contests’ some of such weigh in heavier than typical heavy hog livestock! She loved music too and directed me to pictures of Duke Ellington’s Band playing the theater at Hope. I remember Wm. J. Clinton featured more prominently around but she also directed me to a Mike Huckabee feature; I had to tell her I was not a fan of Mike, however, she seemed about as proud of him as she was of Bill. Perhaps Hope’s mayor employed her, or attended her church?
I left there to find Bill Clinton’s boyhood house. It was easily 100-degrees F by then. Oh, how he must’ve loved the climate at England, and the music and culture of the late 1960s, huh?
I see the S. S. United States docked, probably beyond decrepit in the Delaware River, near to where Shunk St. would cross Delaware Ave. South Philly near every day.
What a stupid and unfeeling request!
I should ad, re Bob's initial feelings of reluctance to participate in putting together the obituary for a still-very-much-alive Bill Clintn that it's something that all news organizations do: write obituaries of notable figures years and decades in advance, updating them as necessary so that, when the day of those notables' demise inevitably comes, it can be posted immediately, with scarcely a tweak necessary.
Rest assures, too, Bob, that your obits have also surely been prepared and are resting safely in any number of filing cabinets and hard drives because you, too, are notable enough to rate one.
Looking forward to more .
I believe Bill Clinton could have been a much better president for workers and the "underclass" in this country had he not decided to adopt some right-wing ideas. Some of his policies made things worse rather than better for many of the less fortunate people in this country.
Thanks for sharing those memories, Bob. You made them so vivid that it was almost as if I was on that ship with you and Bill, heading for England.
If the Democrats abstained from triangulation, would the good fight while being out of the Oval Office have had a greater effect on American voters’ values and kept Republicans truer to their core values? If not, how imperfect instruments are were the Clintons as HRC is essential to WJC’s story?Did WJC really earn a Rhodes, or was it his connections? Not saying he’s without genius.
We see people on the news and read the stories and forget that politicians poop too.
Thank You Robert!
When I worked for the Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, GA, the Editors had pre-written obituaries for many famous people just to make sure that when the time came, whether they were present or not when it happened, it would have the most updated information and only a few more lines would need to be added like date and place of death, and/or the cause and some more recent quotes. Those were pretty standard and stayed on file.
You should write your own book, on this.
Baker eh? That would have been an experience. I’m a history buff and currently (last 5 years) researching LBJ, J. Edgar Hoover, JFK etc. Its amazing how much of the actual historical record finally gets told 50+ years and yet how much still is untold because there are “important” people living. I guess that’s why I don’t focus too much what is happening now because it is so glossed over…filtered, etc. that most citizens don’t have access to the truth until years later.
Bill Clinton cut off poor women from public assistance after five years. He also bent over backwards to please the rich capitalist class in the USA. But he does give a hell of a speech and you can almost believe he cares about something when he does his "I feel your pain" act. And he brought you a bowl of soup in a stormy sea. He was vilified by the Republicans for doing something that was nobody's damn business - shades of things to come - and they proved they were a zillion times worse than he was. So, when his time comes and the lights go out on his enigmatic self, I'll just say good night old Bill.
We knew how bright Clinton was/is and yet we voted for him as a vote for Al Gore. Earth in the Balance had been published and Gore was speaking our language. Clinton was a little sleazy but Gore was the draw for most of us... Shame he didn't prevail over the fruitcake W in the 2000 election.
The reason for the story is somewhat morbid, but your first encounter with Bill Clinton was quite charming, despite the nausea.
What a weird coincidence that I just learned about the nefarious Bobby Baker. He's a major scourge on Kennedy Assassination conspiracy sites. I never realized LBJ was a Texas mobster -- as well as a prime suspect in JFK's assassination plot and subsequent cover-up.
Perhaps you'd like to weigh-in.
I would clearly have preferred Bernie Sanders to Hillary. I was quite active in his first campaign and saw a lot of things that some might call "politics" but I felt was outrageous cheating.
I believe that Bill Clinton moved the Democratic party very far to the right, and that the Clintons have continued to fight progressives. I could give you a list of who I'd prefer right now, but I don't want to argue about an individual candidate, rather the notion of progressive versus "centrist". One place I found support for my fears about the Clintons was in Roberts' class on the economy and the way that Hillary and Bill worked to fight against his attempt to keep financial support for economically disadvantaged children in place
I’m the same age as you guys. Probably the one thing that kept me halfway sane in that crazy time was my son, who at age 54(😳) just thinks he had a crazy life.
fabulous, keep going--
He is or was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein so what else can one say.
„In an letter (to Thomas Jefferson), James Madison wrote in 1798: “The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war in the Legislature.” The executive decision may hinge on personal or other irrelevant motives. Bill Clinton’s belligerent acts appeared to illustrate that.” Let's look at his wars.
Well?
Foreign policy based on force leads to new wars. Isn't that maybe what he wants? What about diplomacy? Democracy cannot be expanded with the help of militaristic violence.
Thank you for your memories. I look forward to what your next installment is especially in light of being in the difficult position of this being an obituary.
This was refreshing and interesting...we were all young and innocent once...
Sorry for the typos in my post. Sometimes I think that the iPhone speaks a language of its own!
Corrections: (and that often take for granted); pedantic or condescending; scratch the first "that" in "that that compassion"
I didn’t know-but am not surprised-you were both Rhodes scholars. That was an intriguing opener and I will look forward to more.
When I think of Bill Clinton, I think of Arkansas Little Rock Arkansas. The home of the flying Jack. It didn’t get taken down until after Obama became president. A wake up call to radicalism then and today.
There’s one thing I can say about Bill Clinton towards the positive is that he had a reckoning of the radical white elements in his state and the Society of Arkansas. I have no foundational proof other than the FBI in Corsicana TX taking out a white radical evangelistic group steadfast on self sacrifice to get their way armed to the teeth during the Clinton administration . About four clicks from where my father used to live. I vividly remember the news articles that I followed about the shootout this was way after Allentown in Mexico that sacrifice poisoning themselves in an evangelistic climax. This particular group was not so potent and only a few were killed after an long drawn out ordeal surrender by the leader leaving the hostage children alive and well I think if I remember right. This all happened within the first two weeks of the Clinton administration and not a word of radical white ISM surface that much after that, as an example.
We too often forget that we are all simple human beings and will never be more than that. The world will pass us by, and we will be forgotten, no matter whom we became in our short lives. We all came from 'little' towns . . .
...good words....srs
This comment has nothing to do with Bill Clinton.
It has to do with the congressional act to forestall a railroad strike. Questions for Robert Reich, as ex-Labor secretary:
(1)how it is legal for the government to force unions to not strike and have to work?
(2)what happens to the workers if they refuse to show up for work?
(3)how could Biden and the Dems agree to a contract (or whatever it is) that does not give the workers paid sick leave?
Interesting snippet looking back on both of you — enjoyed it.
Thank you. I could listen to you for hours. So much interesting history you can share with us.
A bravura performance!
Nora Klein,MD
I once thought highly of Bill Clinton - a refreshing new take on politics, a bright, eager young voice. But I fear his legacy will be forever tarnished by his lamentable ethical and moral lapses. They will overshadow the good he did as president. The latest and worst so far was his "relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein. Now, someone please list all the good things he did as president that will be his lasting legacy. Not as bad as Nixon, but not as good as Obama and Biden. I'll wait.....
Tops in my bucket list is a trip by ship--if any still have passengers--across the Atlantic, to get an idea of what those who went west centuries ago had to endure. No storm=full refund ..
For all the good Clinton did, his legacy has to include the massive damage he caused with his ‘crime bill’ and welfare reform - disastrous sell outs to gain GOP support. Watching him and HRC regurgitating the crap about ‘super predators’ is sickening. Bill owns a significant piece of the mass incarceration problem we have today. I don’t understand how he gets a pass on this.
So Bill has been out of office for 23 years now? How many sessions of Congress have been called to order where that bill could have been amended to be more just?
Some of it has, like the cocaine/crack sentencing disparities. But one isn’t let off the hook for causing massive damage simply because others didn’t clean up their mess.
I cannot reconcile him being a great president for people of color when he’s personally responsible for a massive growth in incarceration of people of color. And for gutting the welfare safety net. He vigorously championed both.
Go ahead with your hero worship. I pass.
Absolutely beautiful!
So far so good.
A very peculiar request, to write about someone while they are alive, to be aired after their death even if that’s 20 years later.
At least it would be peculiar to those if us eho aren’t known nationally.
Like Bill Clinton, you have the great gift of effective speaking.
It’s quite interesting do far.
Revealing; Thanks…..
Entertaining read. Hope you both have years to add some P.S.s.
Beautiful story, Robert Reich, told in your inimitable way. About Clinton, the moment in your life, in the context of the broader national and world history, and about the particular experience on the ship and as a Rhodes scholar. Thank you.
What a great story. Please keep them coming!
Wonderful glimpse into your young lives
Whoo whoo whoo ... and I was deep underground on the West Rand!
Thank you for sharing this. I found this story fascinating. I’m aware that Bill has his faults, but I remember his presidency fondly-at least until Newt Gingrich -hypocrite-was elected by his “values voters” and made it his mission to destroy President Clinton, however he could. Ugly mess, that.
Thank you Dr. Reich. I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to the next. I am aware that Bill Clinton is a Rhodes Scholar. I did not know that you were also. Although I’m not surprised. I remember hearing once (I don’t remember who was being interviewed) that Bill Clinton has a photographic memory. (Always recalling the slightest of details). I would be curious of your comments. Note: I found myself writing in the past tense.... I made the corrections.
What a wonderful story. Loved it! But, Bill Clinton should have kept his pants zipped.
I love it. Please do tell us more.
What a story book life you've led . Great stuff.
1968 was the first year I could vote for President & my choice was Gene McCarthy. I thought he was far & above the superior candidate who would represent the people! When he lost that was the last time I called myself a Democrat. From then on I have been an Independent! Each election cycle I research the candidates & choose the one that represents my interests best. Bill Clinton wasn't one of them nor was George H.W. Bush.
Good story Mr. Reich .
-Nate
Except for JFK, who would surely have been thrown out of office for a second term had his philandering become known to the public, Clinton was probably the greatest sexual predator ever in the White House. In spite of his obvious charm and charisma, it was his fatal flaw, and the Lewinsky scandal likely prevented Al Gore from becoming president after Clinton left office.
Great story. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely story! I loved your opening
My generation, I was doing a degree in Medical Technology. There were rumors of drafting nurses and technicians, If that were to happen I decided I would flee to my Aunt's home in Canada. Vietnam was so wrong.
Wonderful article.
Ops, I meant the Bush years and the stolen election of 2000, not Reagan (who was, yes, dreadful).
Interesting memories. Thanks .
Thanks for this- it must have been fun to go to England for the first time this way. I went myself for the first time right around then, but not for such an illustrious purpose! I think the reason the Republicans hated Clinton's tenure so much was that he genuinely cared about the country and, especially, other people. And that he was hugely popular. Nothing scares an authoritarian more than straight talk, and Clinton was a straight talker. I alway love the way he actually answers a question, after thinking about it, instead of blathering some party line. It's useful to remember that Move On was created to counter the smear by Republicans over the whole blue dress / Ken Starr fiasco, obviously manufactured to divert attention from the legislative progress he was accomplishing for the country. In retrospect, it was pretty successful, paving the way to the dreadful Reagan years, and ultimately Gingrich and Trump. I look forward to reading more.
I absolutely love this recounting of two great men who were destined to help change our world. I can't wait for episode two! Thanks for sharing this!
I loved this piece. It is good to hear about the personal side of politicians, which might not have been included in their campaigns.
Baker?a vicuña coat? Or was it another crook in d.c. then?
Minor point, the name of the ship was SS United States. Only military ships carry the designation USS.
I'm loving the front row seat to our modern history; thank you!!
Delightful, Robert! Thanks for sharing the memories!
Wow! I am just a few years younger but all that was happening at that time seems like yesterday. So interesting on how future relationships are formed.
An Iowa State SAE fraternity brother of mine from 1965, Jim Cunningham, was among y'all, too. He and I have reconnected after all these years and he has brought both the young Robert Reich and the young Bill Clinton into my not so young life, just sayin'.
Outstanding read. Looking forward to the next chapter.
What a great story! It is interesting the way a simple encounter may tremendously impact one's life. A freshman talent show at my college more than 50 years ago, introduced me to one of the most amazing women I know, and we have stayed friends despite living on opposite sides of the country. Since then, I have tried to pay attention to the people I meet and understand who they are. I don't understand how those first meetings that stick, happen and find it an interesting mystery. I'm glad the chemistry or whatever it was worked for Dr. Reich and Bill Clinton.
Marvelous and well state recollections of that time.
Just musing Robert has led a wonderful life. Makes me happy.
Unstoppable.
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
9:24 AM (2 minutes ago)
to
Bill seems to be OK so lets consider this.
There seems to be mixed feelings surrounding the averted rail strike. I feel for anyone that is being held captive by an incentive employer. Without a mutual understanding between labor and management, it's only a matter of time before the contents of the pot begin to boil over. A level of respect must exist between the two factions in order for a healthy working relationship to develop within a company. Labor wants monetary considerations and benefits while management desires productivity, it's like a scale that is constantly seeking some form of balance. I don't know the entire story but if an employee fears losing his or her job because they take time off due to an illness, something is very wrong. It's one thing to make an elevated hourly wage rate that will allow an employee to miss time because of an illness and it's quite another to be fired because of the decision to do so. With a doctor's note to verify an illness, management should understand the absence of an employee when they call in sick. Being ill isn't grounds for termination in any working relationship.
If the conditions stated above do exist in the railroad industry a drastic change is in order. It's a basic fact that people do get sick and management must have provisions in place to adjust for just such an occasion. To expect people to show up for work while being sick exposes the workplace to a devasting wave of contagion that is neither good for the employee nor the company.
My gripe with the rail unions is this. The working conditions that the rail workers contend with must have existed for some time. At present, our country is dealing with a very fragile economy and an elevated level of inflation brought about by world problems beyond our control. It's the holiday season and we as a society need some sort of relief from the erratic conditions being thrown at our people from every direction. To choose this time, with all that is involved, to threaten a national strike that would further cripple our economy is as out of place as a company that doesn't give paid sick leave. The railroad unions are squeezing the American people in order to further their member's financial needs. Personally, when I find myself being used as leverage in order to further someone else's finical situation I find my position on the provable fence unattainable. There is a time and place for everything, and to consider a national rail strike that would equate to a body losing its circulatory system, to me this wrong on so many levels. I really feel the entire railroad concern and its's associated unions should be placed under federal control, similar to that of the air traffic controllers and the postal system. The logistical necessities provided by this entity are too important to leave in the private sector. Onward and upward, we have an entire country that is in need of assistance
Love this! Love you both too!
Wow. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to more.
Please do continue this story! I may not be around to see/read the final piece as I am about the same age as you and Bill. I'd rather read your remembrances in the present.
As a strong liberal, I grew to dislike Clinton for his almost encouragement for businesses monopolizing all of American business. I find him second to Reagan for hurting the poor, although he charmed the African American by having offices in Harlem.
Wonderful memory— thank you!
After reading your first memories of meeting and befriending President Bill Clinton I can't wait to read the rest. He sounds like he's just as awesome as I've always thought he was.
It is not morbid for a news agency to prepare a post-mortem documentary, nor an obit. When Gorbachev died recently, do you think the NY Times did that massive obit in a day? It had been in the files for years.
Sorry, Robert, but you and Bill Clinton sailed on the SS United States, *not* the USS United States. The USS prefix is only used for commissioned ships in the U.S. Navy, the same way that HMS is only used for commissioned ships in the British Royal Navy. In American usage, civilian passenger ships can use prefixes such as MS [motor ship], MV [motor vessel], SS [screw steamer], or TS [turbine steamship], or may choose to skip the prefix altogether.
This is a wonderful reminiscence! I look forward to the rest.
Thank you for your wonderful memories.
Hi Mr Reich,
Can’t wait to read the follow up on Bill Clinton’s Obituary.
You really wet my appetite…..😂
Thanks for the good work.
While I too would be taken aback by the request, this is a wonderful remembrance. Glad Mr Clinton will get to read it now.
Thanks for this professor Reich. The future secretary of labor gettin' high with the future president - that's a history lesson for the books.
Hope you'll pardon me for having minor heart attack when I read "obituary.". The relief of your explanation was so profound I'm still shaking.
After losing so many of our wonderful leaders, I don't think I could process another one of the good guys, and to me he IS, despite his flaws. I hope he is with us for years to come. His leadership and statesmanship were and are an inspiration.
Your anecdotes about him were amazing to read.
Thank you for sharing and I’ve enjoyed your walk down memory lane. 🤔💓💕💞
YOU WERE ON THE SS UNITED STATES?
I'M JEALOUS :(
Not only was it fast, it was a beautiful ship. In the late '50s in land-locked St. Louis, I had a plastic model of that ship. A shame is docked, gutted and rusting instead of being preserved.
I took a trans-Atlantic cruise from Miami to Southampton in May 2016 thru ruf seas and discovered I don't get seasick. Got pix of the pool waves splashing about 20 feet in the air.
As for Bill Clinton, I made a couple of non-flattering political cartoons of him.
In Dec '94 captioned "Maybe it Can't be Appeased" Bill is up a tree throwing bones to a vicious dog labeled "Conservative Agenda." The broken bones on the ground are labeled "Gays in Military-Sane Drug Laws-School Prayer," and the one in his hand about to be thrown "Joycelyn Elders."
In May '96 one captioned Strange Bedfellows, he and Bob Dole in bed holding a book titled "Bob's Bill - Defense of Marriage."
I didn't really care for President Clinton but of course voted for him as there was no better choice.
thanks, that was so much fun to listen to.
Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming memory
Thank you Robert
Military kickbacks - Ramparts worked on that story. I don't know how it got from Ramparts to Bobby but it wouldn't have been difficult. Brown & Root come immediately to mind. And per Wikipedia, they never changed.
Good memories and of a complex man who seemed so open. I got out of high school in 64 so I remember those days as being, politically, far better than what we see today.
Unfortunatley Bill Clinton will be remembered for his affair with Monica. She has done an incredible job putting her life back together. We all make mistakes when we are in our 20's. Her only mistake is she fell in love at a young age and paid the price.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_8y0WLm78U