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What can we expect from Bill Clinton, private citizen?
February 16, 2001
It seems as if controversy is destined to follow Bill Clinton wherever he goes. Less than a month out of office, Bill Clinton has kept himself in national headlines by issuing controversial pardons, bringing home gifts from the White House and searching for posh office space in New York.
Accusations of bribery, stemming from Clinton’s pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose wife has donated in excess of $450,000 to the Clinton Library Foundation, have arisen. Furthermore, there have been insinuations that Clinton tried to cash in on the presidency by taking $190,000 worth of furniture, flatware and art from the White House.
What do you think of Bill Clinton’s actions his first few weeks out of office? Do you think the accusations that have been levied against him are justified, or has he been perfectly within his rights? Here are some points to consider:
- After giving his first speech since leaving office for the financial firm Morgan Stanley, the company was pressed to apologize to their outraged investors. The official statement from the firm’s chairman, Philip J. Purcell read, “We should have thought twice before the speaking invitation was extended. Our failure to do so was particularly unfortunate in light of Mr. Clinton’s actions in leaving the White House” (New York Times). How would you have reacted if you were a Morgan Stanley investor?
- With only a few hours left as president, Bill Clinton issued pardons to 140 people. The pardon currently under investigation went to fugitive financier Marc Rich, who fled to Switzerland because he evaded more than $48 million in taxes and was involved in illegal oil trading with Iran. Do you think that the gifts and donations that the President received from Mrs. Rich relate to the pardon in any manner? Would you have given a pardon to Marc Rich?
- The former first couple was criticized after it became known that they received $190,000 in gifts, $86,000 in the last year alone. After they promised to pay for all of the gifts they received in the last year, it was revealed that furnishings donated in 1993, which were valued at $28,000, were part of the White House restoration project. These furnishings were meant to stay in the permanent White House collection, yet they went with the Clintons when they left Washington. Did the Clintons go too far when bringing home gifts from the White House? Or, do you think they were within their rights?
- Originally slated to rent New York City office space in Carnegie Hall Tower priced at $738,700 a year, Clinton decided to rent space in Harlem for $210,000 per year, to save the taxpayers an unneeded expense. The former president took a lot of heat over his first choice, but now says he would be happy to work in Harlem because it feels like home to him. How do you feel about Clinton’s decision? What kind of office do you think a former president should have?
- Finally, now that Clinton is a private citizen, what do you think his future will hold? What types of projects would you like to see him undertake? Do you think the media frenzy that has surrounded the Clinton Administration will quiet down now that he is out of office?
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