My Life

I enjoyed reading this book, the latter half of which was sort of like a flashback to my watching of CNN Headline News on a daily basis throughout the 90s. I found the first half of the book most interesting, from Clinton's early life growing up in Arkansas, to college, to working on various political campaigns, to the Rhodes Scholar years, to running for governor of Arkansas, etc. These were the chapters in his life that I knew the least about.

The years as president were covered in probably too much detail. It was sort of like reading a laundry list of every single thing he did on every single day as president. There were some interesting insights here that I had not been aware of before, but I think the book probably could have been boiled down a bit and shortened by a couple hundred pages or so.

Having said that, I really did enjoy reading his take on setting the record straight on the bogus, contrived Whitewater/Paula Jones/Lewinsky investigation by Kenneth Starr and the vast right-wing conspiracy. These people are not Americans and do not care about the welfare of our country and our citizens. They only care about "winning" and power.

Clinton also does a great job setting the record straight on the 2000 election, and the disingenuous, calculated decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to throw the election to George W. Bush. Again, these people do not care about democracy or the genuine welfare of the country, they only care about "winning" (even if they have to openly cheat to do it), and accumulating power.

The incredibly frank autobiography "My Life by Bill Clinton" is good reading and give great insight into the man. Where was this president when we needed him? His time is now. Unfortunately he ran up against a hostile Congress that really diminished his effectiveness while President. However, he is one of the greatest orators of our time.

Honest and sincere. He was one of our greatest presidents. Regardless of what bad press he got this book tells all. How times have changed since he was president. This book is a testament to his wit and candor. He was a great politician, the real deal, but they just would not let him get the job done. Read this one.

As I read this passionate memoir it felt like that the author opened the door of his life and led me through his memory lanes (Bill Clinton is obviously gifted not only recollecting his childhood events but also in mental strength). By the time I finished the tour I had known him well, met his parents and other family members. When I came out of the door I no longer saw Clinton as a politician but as a man who upheld his family values by adopting his step father's name; I no longer saw him as the 42nd president of the United States of America but as a man symbolizing the American spirit.

When faced with impeachment after Monica rumor became The Story, President Clinton, to whom ambiguity was never part of his nature, took the worst situation to mean retreat from Office, which would not have relieved his soul.
This autobiography is informative and tender in every corner. At times the ex-President aggravated his bitterness and despair; not a pleasing prospect for a vigorous man with an appetite for distinction. His excessive passions, one for his wife and the other for his daughter, at the end of the day had caused Miss Lewinski and partners to be removed from the White House. I believe the young lady was also a victim of irrational exuberance (Excuse me Mr. Greenspan)
At times there is always some sort of melancholy demeanor than can grow daily more somber in high offices. President Clinton is telling us he could not possibly have been entirely impervious to the mounting evidence against him, such signs were motivated by political reasons from rival factions with nefarious ends - to hurt the Democrats from within.

Clinton, once known for his vivacity, was now showing the strain of the shameful events.

Clinton, the deep-rooted optimist who found it temperamentally difficult to resign from trouble, has had his face already sagging with worry as daily attacks compounded his sense of doom...

At 55 he left office with a 65% approval rating. (One of the highest after WWII)
However, the charismatic President looked a narrow-chest man with the face of a person much older in age. That did not at all resemble him nine years ago when he took that Office.