Years from now, when your own children are in school, what will their history books say about President Bill Clinton? Clinton must hope they will learn of his crusade to protect America's wilderness, his leadership in creating a strong economy and his tireless efforts as a peacemaker around the world.
But Clinton won't have the last word. Historians will, and they surely won't leave out the chapters on Clinton's failed health-care plan, personal legal troubles or the historic impeachment trial that threatened his presidency.
Successes and Disappointments
As his eight years in office draw to an end, Clinton has been working hard to rack up achievements. Here are some of the things he will probably be remembered for, for better or worse:
- The Environment Just this month Clinton declared 60 million acres of federal forests off limits to loggers and road builders. He's created national monuments to protect other wild places. Environmentalists cheer his actions, but others say they take jobs from loggers and miners.
- The Economy and Budget The Clinton years have been booming times for American business. More than 22 million jobs have been created. Unemployment reached its lowest point in 30 years. Back in 1992, the U.S. government was budgeted to lose $290 billion. This year it has a surplus of $230 billion.
- Welfare Reform Clinton kept his pledge to "end welfare as we know it." Now poor people who get money from this program must go to work.
- Impeachment History won't forget that Clinton is one of only two Presidents to be put on trial by the Senate, under threat of removal from office. He was accused of lying under oath about a personal relationship but was found not guilty.
- Health Care Congress completely rejected the plan Bill and Hillary Clinton proposed to change the way people pay for medical care.
- Legal Troubles Lawyers investigated Clinton's campaign fund-raising methods, a land deal in Arkansas and harassment complaints from women.
- Peace One of the accomplishments Clinton said he "really wanted, with all my heart," was a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. Bloody fighting since September has doomed that plan. He made better progress in Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia.
Even those who say Clinton's successes have been exaggerated can't argue with his popularity. Polls show that 65% of Americans approve of the job he's done-and he is still doing it. Clinton has promised to take a rest "starting at noon on January 20." It's anyone's guess what this tireless man will do next.
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