Bill Clinton

Many great people have had their roots in Arkansas. Singer Johnny Cash, basketball player Scottie Pippen, and Daisy Bates are just a few people off the great list of Arkansans that made a significant impact in history in their own ways. Another person who made a lasting imprint in Arkansas is Bill Clinton. He overcame many life obstacles and succeeded in numerous things such as his studies, being governor of Arkansas four times, and even becoming president of the United States.

Bill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas on August 19, 1946 to Virginia Blythe. He never knew his real father because he died four months in a car accident before Bill was born. When he was three years old, his mother left him with her parents while she went to train to be a nurse anesthetist in New Orleans, LA. While living with his grandparents, Bill grew up in lower-middle class neighborhood that consisted mostly of black Americans.[1]

When he was four, Bill’s mother married a car salesman, Roger Clinton. They had Bill’s younger half-brother, Roger when he was ten years old.[2] His stepfather was an alcoholic who was also fighting cancer. Having this addition and trying to overcome the cancer led to disputes with Bill’s mother that occasionally ended in violence. When Bill was finally taller than his stepfather, he had had enough. During an argument with Virginia one night, Bill came into the room and threatened that they would leave if his stepfather did not straighten up. Virginia and Roger divorced when Bill was 14, but they were remarried a year later. Despite this dark family side, Bill was able to accept, forgive, and was very close to Roger.[3] He had changed his name from Blythe to Clinton when he was 15 years old.[4]

During his time in school, this ambitious young Bill was involved in many school activities such as being president of his junior class, the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Key Club. In many of the organizations he was in, Bill held the position of...