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1. BillClinton MyLife ALFREDA.KNOPFNEW YORK 2004
Tomymother,whogaveme aloveoflife
2. ToHillary,whogavemea lifeoflove ToChelsea,whogavejoy
andmeaningtoitall Andtothememoryofmy grandfather,
whotaughtmetolookupto peopleotherslookeddown on,
becausewerenotso
3. differentafterall
4. PROLOGUE WhenIwasayoungmanjust outoflawschoolandeager
togetonwithmylife,ona whimIbrieflyputasidemy
readingpreferenceforfiction andhistoryandboughtoneof
thosehow-tobooks:Howto GetControlofYourTimeand
YourLife,byAlanLakein.
5. Thebooksmainpointwas thenecessityoflistingshort-,
medium-,andlong-termlife goals,thencategorizingthem
inorderoftheirimportance, withtheAgroupbeingthe
mostimportant,theBgroup next,andtheCthelast,then
listingundereachgoal specific activitiesdesignedtoachieve
6. them.Istillhavethat paperbackbook,nowalmost thirty
yearsold.AndImsureI havethatoldlistsomewhere
buriedinmypapers,thoughI cantfindit.However,Ido remembertheAlist.I
wantedtobeagoodman, haveagood marriageandchildren,have
7. goodfriends,makea successfulpoliticallife,and writea
greatbook. WhetherImagoodmanis, ofcourse,forGodtojudge.I
knowthatIamnotasgood asmystrongestsupporters believeorasIhopeto
become,norasbadasmy harshest
8. criticsassert.Ihavebeen gracedbeyondmeasureby
myfamilylifewithHillary and Chelsea.Likeallfamilies
lives,oursisnotperfect,but ithasbeenwonderful.Its flaws,
asalltheworldknows,are mostlymine,andits continuingpromiseis
groundedintheir
9. love.NopersonIknowever hadmoreorbetterfriends.
Indeed,astrongcasecanbe madethatIrosetothe presidencyontheshoulders
ofmypersonalfriends,the now legendaryFOBs. Mylifeinpoliticswasajoy.
IlovedcampaignsandI lovedgoverning.Ialways
10. tried tokeepthingsmovinginthe rightdirection,togivemore
peopleachancetolivetheir dreams,toliftpeoples
spirits,andtobringthem together.ThatsthewayI keptscore.
Asforthegreatbook,who knows?Itsureisagood story.
11. ONE Earlyonthemorningof August19,1946,Iwasborn
underaclearskyaftera violent summerstormtoawidowed
motherintheJuliaChester HospitalinHope,atownof aboutsixthousandin
southwestArkansas,thirty- threemileseastoftheTexas
12. borderat Texarkana.Mymother namedmeWilliamJefferson
BlytheIIIaftermyfather, William JeffersonBlytheJr.,oneof
ninechildrenofapoor farmerinSherman,Texas, whodied whenmyfatherwas
seventeen.Accordingtohis
13. sisters,myfatheralways triedtotake careofthem,andhegrewup
tobeahandsome, hardworking,fun-loving man.Hemet mymotheratTri-State
HospitalinShreveport, Louisiana,in1943,whenshe wastraining
tobeanurse.Manytimes
14. whenIwasgrowingup,I askedMothertotellmethe storyof
theirmeeting,courting,and marriage.Hebroughtadate
withsomekindofmedical emergencyintotheward whereshewasworking,and
theytalkedandflirtedwhile the otherwomanwasbeing
15. treated.Onhiswayoutofthe hospital,hetouchedthe fingeron
whichshewaswearingher boyfriendsringandasked herifshewasmarried.She
stammerednoshewas single.Thenextdayhesent theotherwomanflowersand
her heartsank.Thenhecalled
16. Motherforadate,explaining thathealwayssentflowers when
heendedarelationship. Twomonthslater,theywere marriedandhewasoffto
war.Heservedinamotor pool intheinvasionofItaly,
repairingjeepsandtanks. Afterthewar,hereturnedto
17. Hopefor Motherandtheymovedto Chicago,wherehegotback
hisoldjobasasalesmanfor the ManbeeEquipment Company.Theyboughta
littlehouseinthesuburbof ForestParkbut couldntmoveinforacouple
ofmonths,andsinceMother
18. waspregnantwithme,they decidedsheshouldgohome
toHopeuntiltheycouldget intothenewhouse.OnMay 17,
1946,aftermovingtheir furnitureintotheirnew home,myfatherwasdriving
from ChicagotoHopetofetchhis wife.Lateatnighton
19. Highway60outsideof Sikeston, Missouri,helostcontrolof
hiscar,a1942Buick,when therightfronttireblewout ona
wetroad.Hewasthrown clearofthecarbutlandedin,
orcrawledinto,adrainage ditch dugtoreclaimswampland.
20. Theditchheldthreefeetof water.Whenhewasfound, aftera
two-hoursearch,hishand wasgraspingabranchabove
thewaterline.Hehadtried but failedtopullhimselfout.He
drowned,onlytwenty-eight yearsold,marriedtwoyears
andeightmonths,onlyseven
21. monthsofwhichhehadspent withMother.
Thatbriefsketchisaboutall Ieverreallyknewaboutmy
father.AllmylifeIhave beenhungrytofillinthe
blanks,clingingeagerlyto everyphotoorstoryorscrap of
paperthatwouldtellme moreofthemanwhogave
22. melife. WhenIwasabouttwelve, sittingonmyuncleBuddys
porchinHope,amanwalked upthesteps,lookedatme, andsaid,YoureBill
Blythesson.Youlookjust likehim.I beamedfordays.
In1974,Iwasrunningfor
23. Congress.Itwasmyfirst raceandthelocalpaperdida
featurestoryonmymother. Shewasatherregularcoffee
shopearlyinthemorning discussingthearticlewitha
lawyerfriendwhenoneof thebreakfastregularsshe knew
onlycasuallycameuptoher andsaid,Iwasthere,Iwas
24. thefirstoneatthewreckthat night.HethentoldMother
whathehadseen,including thefactthatmyfatherhad retainedenough
consciousnessorsurvival instincttotrytoclawhimself upandoutofthe
waterbeforehedied.Mother thankedhim,wentouttoher
carandcried,thendriedher
25. tearsandwenttowork. In1993,onFathersDay,my
firstasPresident,the WashingtonPostranalong investigativestoryonmy
father,whichwasfollowed overthenexttwomonthsby other
investigativepiecesbythe AssociatedPressandmany
smallerpapers.Thestories
26. confirmedthethingsmy motherandIknew.Theyalso
turnedupalotwedidnt know, includingthefactthatmy
fatherhadprobablybeen marriedthreetimesbeforehe met
Mother,andapparentlyhad atleasttwomorechildren.
Myfathersothersonwas
27. identifiedasLeon Ritzenthaler,aretiredowner ofa
janitorialservice,from northernCalifornia.Inthe
article,hesaidhehadwritten me duringthe92campaignbut
hadreceivednoreply.Idont rememberhearingabouthis
letter,andconsideringallthe
28. otherbulletswewere dodgingthen,itspossible thatmy
staffkeptitfromme.Or maybetheletterwasjust misplacedinthemountains
ofmailwe werereceiving.Anyway, whenIreadaboutLeon,Igot
intouchwithhimandlater met
29. himandhiswife,Judy, duringoneofmystopsin
northernCalifornia.Wehad ahappy visitandsincethenweve
correspondedinholiday seasons.HeandIlookalike, hisbirth
certificatesayshisfatherwas mine,andIwishIdknown
abouthimalongtimeago.
30. Somewherearoundthistime, Ialsoreceivedinformation
confirmingnewsstories aboutadaughter,Sharon Pettijohn,bornSharonLee
BlytheinKansasCityin 1941,toa womanmyfatherlater
divorced.Shesentcopiesof herbirthcertificate,her parents
31. marriagelicense,aphotoof myfather,andalettertoher
motherfrommyfather asking aboutourbabytoBetsey
Wright,myformerchiefof staffinthegovernorsoffice. Im
sorrytosaythat,for whateverreason,Ivenever mether.
32. Thisnewsbreakingin1993 cameasashocktoMother,
whobythenhadbeen battling cancerforsometime,butshe
tookitallinstride.Shesaid youngpeopledidalotof
thingsduringtheDepression andthewarthatpeoplein anothertimemight
disapproveof.
33. Whatmatteredwasthatmy fatherwastheloveofherlife
andshehadnodoubtofhis loveforher.Whateverthe
facts,thatsallsheneededto knowasherownlifemoved
towarditsend.Asforme,I wasntquitesurewhatto makeofitall,butgiventhe
life Iveled,Icouldhardlybe
34. surprisedthatmyfatherwas morecomplicatedthanthe
idealizedpicturesIhadlived withfornearlyhalfa century.
In1994,asweheadedforthe celebrationofthefiftieth
anniversaryofD-day,several newspaperspublishedastory
onmyfatherswarrecord, withasnapshotofhimin
35. uniform.Shortlyafterward,I receivedaletterfrom
UmbertoBaronofNetcong, New Jersey,recountinghisown
experiencesduringthewar andafter.Hesaidthathewas a
youngboyinItalywhenthe Americansarrived,andthat
helovedtogototheircamp,
36. whereonesoldierin particularbefriendedhim,
givinghimcandyand showinghimhow enginesworkedandhowto
repairthem.Heknewhim onlyasBill.Afterthewar, Baron
cametotheUnitedStates, and,inspiredbywhathehad
learnedfromthesoldierwho
37. calledhimLittleGIJoe,he openedhisowngarageand
startedafamily.Hetoldme he hadlivedtheAmerican dream,withathriving
businessandthreechildren. Hesaidhe owedsomuchofhissuccess
inlifetothatyoungsoldier, buthadnthadthe opportunity
38. tosaygood-byethen,andhad oftenwonderedwhathad
happenedtohim.Then,he said, OnMemorialDayofthis
year,Iwasthumbingthrough acopyoftheNewYork Daily Newswithmymorning
coffeewhensuddenlyIfelt asifIwasstruckby lightning.There
39. inthelowerleft-handcorner ofthepaperwasaphotoof
Bill.Ifeltchillstolearnthat Bill wasnoneotherthanthe
fatherofthePresidentofthe UnitedStates. In1996,thechildrenofone
ofmyfatherssisterscame forthefirsttimetoour annual
40. familyChristmaspartyatthe WhiteHouseandbroughtme
agift:thecondolenceletter myaunthadreceivedfrom
hercongressman,thegreat SamRayburn,aftermyfather
died.Itsjustashortform letterandappearstohave
beensignedwiththeautopen ofthe day,butIhuggedthatletter
41. withallthegleeofasix- year-oldboygettinghisfirst train
setfromSantaClaus.Ihung itinmyprivateofficeonthe
secondflooroftheWhite House,andlookedatitevery night.
ShortlyafterIlefttheWhite House,Iwasboardingthe
USAirshuttleinWashington
42. forNewYorkwhenanairline employeestoppedmetosay
thathisstepfatherhadjust toldhimhehadservedinthe
warwithmyfatherandhad likedhimverymuch.Iasked fortheoldvetsphone
numberandaddress,andthe mansaidhedidnthaveitbut would
getittome.Imstillwaiting,
43. hopingtherewillbeone morehumanconnectionto my father.
Attheendofmypresidency, Ipickedafewspecialplaces
tosaygoodbyeandthanks totheAmericanpeople.One
ofthemwasChicago,where Hillarywasborn;whereIall
44. butclinchedtheDemocratic nominationonSt.Patricks
Day1992;wheremanyofmy mostardentsupporterslive andmanyofmymost
importantdomestic initiativesincrime, welfare,andeducationwere
provedeffective;and,of course,wheremyparents wentto
45. liveafterthewar.Iusedto jokewithHillarythatifmy
fatherhadntlosthislifeon that rainyMissourihighway,I
wouldhavegrownupafew milesfromherandwe probably
neverwouldhavemet.My lasteventwasinthePalmer HouseHotel,sceneofthe
only
46. photoIhaveofmyparents together,takenjustbefore
MothercamebacktoHopein 1946.Afterthespeechand
thegood-byes,Iwentintoa smallroomwhereImeta woman,MaryEttaRees,and
hertwodaughters.Shetold meshehadgrownupand gone
tohighschoolwithmy
47. mother,thenhadgonenorth toIndianatoworkinawar industry,
married,stayed,andraised herchildren.Thenshegave
meanotherpreciousgift:the lettermytwenty-three-year-
oldmotherhadwrittenonher birthdaytoherfriend,three
weeksaftermyfathers death,morethanfifty-four
48. yearsearlier.Itwasvintage Mother. Inherbeautifulhand,she
wroteofherheartbreakand herdeterminationtocarry on:It
seemedalmostunbelievable atthetimebutyouseeIam
sixmonthspregnantandthe thoughtofourbabykeepsme
goingandreallygivesmethe
49. wholeworldbeforeme. Mymotherleftmethe weddingringshegavemy
father,afewmovingstories, andthe sureknowledgethatshewas
lovingmeforhimtoo. Myfatherleftmewiththe feelingthatIhadtolivefor
twopeople,andthatifIdidit
50. wellenough,somehowI couldmakeupforthelifehe
shouldhavehad.Andhis memory infusedme,atayoungerage
thanmost,withasenseofmy ownmortality.The knowledgethatI,too,could
dieyoungdrovemebothto trytodrainthemostoutof every
51. momentoflifeandtogeton withthenextbigchallenge.
EvenwhenIwasntsure where Iwasgoing,Iwasalwaysin ahurry. TWO
Iwasbornonmy grandfathersbirthday,a coupleofweeksearly,
weighinginata
52. respectablesixpoundseight ounces,onatwenty-one-inch
frame.MotherandIcame hometoherparentshouse onHerveyStreetinHope,
whereIwouldspendthenext four years.Thatoldhouseseemed
massiveandmysteriousto methenandstillholdsdeep
memoriestoday.Thepeople
53. ofHoperaisedthefundsto restoreitandfillitwithold
pictures,memorabilia,and periodfurniture.Theycallit
theClintonBirthplace.It certainlyistheplaceI
associatewithawakeningto lifetothesmellsofcountry food;to
buttermilkchurns,ice-cream makers,washboards,and
54. clotheslines;tomyDickand Janereaders,myfirsttoys,
includingasimplelengthof chainIprizedabovethem all;to
strangevoicestalkingover ourpartylinetelephone;to
myfirstfriends,andthework mygrandparentsdid.
Afterayearorso,mymother
55. decidedsheneededtogo backtoNewOrleansto
CharityHospital,whereshe haddonepartofhernursing
training,tolearntobea nurse anesthetist.Intheolddays,
doctorshadadministered theirownanesthetics,so therewas
ademandforthisrelatively
56. newwork,whichwouldbring moreprestigetoherand more
moneyforus.Butitmust havebeenhardonher, leavingme.Ontheother
hand,New Orleanswasanamazing placeafterthewar,fullof
youngpeople,Dixieland music,and
57. over-the-tophauntslikethe ClubMy-Oh-My,wheremen
indragdancedandsangas lovelyladies.Iguessit wasntabadplacefora
beautifulyoungwidowto movebeyond herloss. IgottovisitMothertwice
whenmygrandmothertook meonthetraintoNew
58. Orleans. Iwasonlythree,butI remembertwothingsclearly.
First,westayedjustacross Canal StreetfromtheFrench
QuarterintheJungHotel,on oneofthehigherfloors.It wasthe
firstbuildingmorethantwo storieshighIhadeverbeen
59. in,inthefirstrealcityIhad ever seen.Icanremembertheawe
Ifeltlookingoutoverallthe citylightsatnight.Idont
recallwhatMotherandIdid inNewOrleans,butIll neverforgetwhathappened
oneof thetimesIgotonthetrainto leave.Aswepulledaway
60. fromthestation,Mother kneltby thesideoftherailroadtracks
andcriedasshewavedgood- bye.Icanseehertherestill,
cryingonherknees,asifit wereyesterday. Formorethanfiftyyears,
fromthatfirsttrip,New Orleanshasalwayshada special
61. fascinationforme.Iloveits music,food,people,and
spirit.WhenIwasfifteen, my familytookavacationto
NewOrleansandtheGulf Coast,andIgottohearAl Hirt,the
greattrumpeter,inhisown club.Atfirsttheywouldnt letmeinbecauseIwas
underage.
62. AsMotherandIwereabout towalkaway,thedoorman
toldusthatHirtwassitting inhis carreadingjustaroundthe
corner,andthatonlyhecould letmein.Ifoundhimin his
Bentleynolesstappedon thewindow,andmademy case.Hegotout,tookMother
and
63. meintotheclub,andputus atatablenearthefront.He
andhisgroupplayedagreat setitwasmyfirstlivejazz
experience.AlHirtdied whileIwasPresident.Iwrote his
wifeandtoldherthestory, expressingmygratitudefora
bigmanslong-agokindness to
64. aboy. WhenIwasinhighschool,I playedthetenorsaxophone
soloonapieceaboutNew OrleanscalledCrescentCity
Suite.IalwaysthoughtIdid abetterjobonitbecauseI
playeditwithmemoriesof myfirstsightofthecity. WhenIwastwenty-one,I
wona
65. RhodesscholarshipinNew Orleans.IthinkIdidwellin
theinterviewinpartbecause I feltathomethere.WhenI
wasayounglawprofessor, HillaryandIhadacoupleof great
tripstoNewOrleansfor conventions,stayingata quaintlittlehotelinthe
French
66. Quarter,theCornstalk.When IwasgovernorofArkansas,
weplayedintheSugarBowl there,losingtoAlabamain
oneofthelegendaryBear Bryantslastgreatvictories. At
leasthewasbornandgrew upinArkansas!WhenIran
forPresident,thepeopleof New
67. Orleanstwicegaveme overwhelmingvictory margins,assuring
Louisianaselectoral votesforourside. NowIhaveseenmostofthe
worldsgreatcities,butNew Orleanswillalwaysbe specialforcoffeeand
beignetsattheMorningCall ontheMississippi;forthe
68. musicof AaronandCharmaine Neville,theoldguysat
PreservationHall,andthe memoryofAl Hirt;forjoggingthroughthe
FrenchQuarterintheearly morning;foramazingmeals ata
hostofterrificrestaurants withJohnBreaux,Sheriff
69. HarryLee,andmyother pals;and mostofall,forthosefirst
memoriesofmymother. Theyarethemagnetsthat keep pullingmedownthe
MississippitoNewOrleans. WhileMotherwasinNew
Orleans,Iwasinthecareof mygrandparents.Theywere
70. incrediblyconscientious aboutme.Theylovedme
verymuch;sadly,much betterthan theywereabletoloveeach otheror,inmy
grandmotherscase,tolove mymother.Of course,Iwasblissfully
unawareofallthisatthe time.IjustknewthatIwas loved.Later,
71. whenIbecameinterestedin childrengrowingupinhard
circumstancesandlearned somethingofchild developmentfromHillarys
workattheYaleChildStudy Center,I cametorealizehowfortunate
Ihadbeen.Foralltheirown demons,mygrandparents and
72. mymotheralwaysmademe feelIwasthemostimportant
personintheworldtothem. Mostchildrenwillmakeitif
theyhavejustoneperson whomakesthemfeelthat way.I hadthree.
Mygrandmother,Edith GrishamCassidy,stoodjust
overfivefeettalland
73. weighed about180pounds.Mammaw wasbright,intense,and
aggressive,andhad obviouslybeen prettyonce.Shehadagreat
laugh,butshealsowasfull ofangeranddisappointment and
obsessionssheonlydimly understood.Shetookitall
74. outinragingtiradesagainst my grandfatherandmymother,
bothbeforeandafterIwas born,thoughIwasshielded from
mostofthem.Shehadbeena goodstudentandambitious,
soafterhighschoolshetook a correspondencecoursein
75. nursingfromtheChicago SchoolofNursing.Bythe timeIwas
atoddlershewasaprivate- dutynurseforamannotfar fromourhouseonHervey
Street. Icanstillrememberrunning downthesidewalktomeet
herwhenshecamehome from
76. work. Mammawsmaingoalsfor mewerethatIwouldeata
lot,learnalot,andalwaysbe neatandclean.Weateinthe
kitchenatatablenexttothe window.Myhighchairfaced
thewindow,andMammaw tackedplayingcardsupon
thewoodenwindowframeat
77. mealtimessothatIcould learntocount.Shealso
stuffedmeateverymeal, because conventionalwisdomatthe
timewasthatafatbabywas ahealthyone,aslongashe
bathedeveryday.Atleast onceaday,shereadtome fromDickandJanebooks
untilI
78. couldreadthemmyself,and fromWorldBook Encyclopediavolumes,
whichinthose daysweresolddoor-to-door bysalesmenandwereoften
theonlybooksbesidesthe Bible inworkingpeopleshouses.
Theseearlyinstructions probablyexplainwhyInow reada
79. lot,lovecardgames,battle myweight,andneverforget
towashmyhandsandbrush my teeth. Iadoredmygrandfather,the
firstmaleinfluenceinmy life,andfeltpridethatIwas
bornonhisbirthday.James EldridgeCassidywasaslight
man,aboutfiveeight,butin
80. thoseyearsstillstrongand handsome.Ialwaysthought
heresembledtheactor Randolph Scott. Whenmygrandparents
movedfromBodcaw,which hadapopulationofabouta
hundred,tothemetropolis Hope,Papawworkedforan
icehousedeliveringiceona
81. horse-drawnwagon.Inthose days,refrigeratorsreally
wereiceboxes,cooledby chunks oficewhosesizevaried
accordingtothesizeofthe appliance.Thoughhe weighedabout
150pounds,mygrandfather carriediceblocksthat weigheduptoahundred
poundsor
82. more,usingapairofhooks toslidethemontohisback,
whichwasprotectedbya large leatherflap. Mygrandfatherwasan
incrediblykindandgenerous man.DuringtheDepression,
whennobodyhadanymoney, hewouldinviteboystoride
theicetruckwithhimjustto
83. getthemoffthestreet.They earnedtwenty-fivecentsa
day.In1976,whenIwasin Hope runningforattorneygeneral,
Ihadatalkwithoneofthose boys,JudgeJohnWilson.He grewuptobea
distinguished,successful lawyer,buthestillhadvivid
memoriesofthose
84. days.Hetoldmethatatthe endofoneday,whenmy
grandfathergavehimhis quarter, heaskedifhecouldhavetwo
dimesandanickelsothathe couldfeelhehadmore money.Hegotthemand
walkedhome,jinglingthe changeinhispockets.Buthe jingled
85. toohard,andoneofthe dimesfellout.Helookedfor
thatdimeforhourstono avail. Fortyyearslater,hetoldme
hestillneverwalkedbythat stretchofsidewalkwithout
tryingtospotthatdime. Itshardtoconveytoyoung
peopletodaytheimpactthe Depressionhadonmy
86. parentsandgrandparents generation,butIgrewup
feelingit.Oneofthemost memorablestoriesofmy childhoodwasmymothers
taleofaDepressionGood Friday whenmygrandfathercame
homefromworkandbroke downandcriedashetoldher he
87. justcouldntaffordthedollar orsoitwouldcosttobuyher
anewEasterdress.Shenever forgotit,andeveryyearof
mychildhoodIhadanew EasteroutfitwhetherI wanteditor
not.IrememberoneEasterin the1950s,whenIwasfatand
self-conscious.Iwentto churchinalight-colored
88. short-sleevedshirt,white linenpants,pinkandblack Hush
Puppies,andamatchingpink suedebelt.Ithurt,butmy
motherhadbeenfaithfulto her fathersEasterritual.
WhenIwaslivingwithhim, mygrandfatherhadtwojobs
thatIreallyloved:herana
89. littlegrocerystore,andhe supplementedhisincomeby
workingasanightwatchman ata sawmill.Ilovedspendingthe
nightwithPapawatthe sawmill.Wewouldtakea paper bagwithsandwichesfor
supper,andIwouldsleepin thebackseatofthecar.And on
90. clearstarlitnights,Iwould climbinthesawdustpiles,
takinginthemagicalsmells of fresh-cuttimberandsawdust.
Mygrandfatherloved workingthere,too.Itgothim outof
thehouseandremindedhim ofthemillworkheddoneas
ayoungmanaroundthetime
91. ofmymothersbirth.Except forthetimePapawclosedthe
cardooronmyfingersinthe dark,thosenightswere perfectadventures.
Thegrocerystorewasa differentsortofadventure.
First,therewasahugejarof Jacksonscookiesonthe
counter,whichIraidedwith gusto.Second,grown-upsI
92. didnt knowcameintobuy groceries,forthefirsttime
exposingmetoadultswho werent relatives.Third,alotofmy
grandfatherscustomerswere black.ThoughtheSouthwas
completelysegregatedback then,somelevelofracial
interactionwasinevitablein
93. small towns,justasithadalways beenintheruralSouth.
However,itwasraretofind an uneducatedruralsoutherner
withoutaracistboneinhis body.Thatsexactlywhatmy
grandfatherwas.Icouldsee thatblackpeoplelooked
different,butbecausehe
94. treated themlikehedideverybody else,askingaftertheir
childrenandabouttheir work,I thoughttheywerejustlike
me.Occasionally,blackkids wouldcomeintothestore and
wewouldplay.Ittookme yearstolearnabout
95. segregationandprejudice andthemeaning
ofpoverty,yearstolearnthat mostwhitepeoplewerent
likemygrandfatherand grandmother,whoseviewson racewereamongthefew
thingsshehadincommon with herhusband.Infact,Mother
toldmeoneoftheworst
96. whippingssheevergotwas when, atagethreeorfour,she
calledablackwoman Nigger.Toputitmildly, Mammaws
whippingherwasanunusual reactionforapoorsouthern
whitewomaninthe1920s. Mymotheroncetoldmethat
afterPapawdied,shefound
97. someofhisoldaccount booksfromthegrocerystore
withlotsofunpaidbillsfrom hiscustomers,mostofthem
black.Sherecalledthathe hadtoldherthatgoodpeople
whoweredoingthebestthey coulddeservedtobeableto
feedtheirfamilies,andno matterhowstrappedhewas, he
98. neverdeniedthemgroceries oncredit.Maybethatswhy
Ivealwaysbelievedinfood stamps. AfterIbecamePresident,I
gotanotherfirsthandaccount ofmygrandfathersstore.In
1997,anAfrican-American woman,ErnestineCampbell,
didaninterviewforher
99. hometownpaperinToledo, Ohio,abouthergrandfather
buyinggroceriesfromPapaw onaccountandbringing
herwithhimtothestore.She saidthatsheremembered
playingwithme,andthatI wastheonlywhiteboyin thatneighborhoodwho
played withblackkids.Thanksto
100. mygrandfather,Ididnt knowIwastheonlywhite kidwho didthat.
Besidesmygrandfathers store,myneighborhood providedmyonlyother
contactwith peopleoutsidemyfamily.I experiencedalotinthose
narrowconfines.Isawa
101. house burndownacrossthestreet andlearnedIwasnotthe
onlypersonbadthings happenedto. Imadefriendswithaboy
whocollectedstrange creatures,andonceheinvited meoverto
seehissnake.Hesaiditwas inthecloset.Thenheopened
102. theclosetdoor,shovedme intothedarkness,slammed
thedoorshut,andtoldmeI wasinthedarkalonewith the snake.Iwasnt,thank
goodness,butIwassure scaredtodeath.Ilearnedthat whatseems
funnytothestrongcanbe cruelandhumiliatingtothe
103. weak. Ourhousewasjustablock awayfromarailroad
underpass,whichthenwas madeof roughtar-coatedtimbers.I
likedtoclimbonthetimbers, listentothetrainsrattle
overhead,andwonderwhere theyweregoingandwhether
Iwouldevergothere.
104. AndIusedtoplayinthe backyardwithaboywhose
yardadjoinedmine.Helived with twobeautifulsistersina
bigger,nicerhousethanours. Weusedtositonthegrass for
hours,throwinghisknifein thegroundandlearningto
makeitstick.Hisnamewas Vince
105. Foster.Hewaskindtome andneverlordeditoverme
thewaysomanyolderboys did withyoungerones.Hegrew
uptobeatall,handsome, wise,goodman.Hebecamea greatlawyer,astrong
supporterearlyinmycareer, andHillarysbestfriendat theRose
106. LawFirm.Ourfamilies socializedinLittleRock,
mostlyathishouse,where hiswife, Lisa,taughtChelseatoswim.
HecametotheWhiteHouse withus,andwasavoiceof calmandreasoninthose
crazyearlymonths. Therewasoneotherperson outsidethefamilywho
107. influencedmeinmyearly childhood.Odessawasa
blackwomanwhocameto ourhousetoclean,cook,and watch
mewhenmygrandparents wereatwork.Shehadbig buckteeth,whichmadeher
smile onlybrighterandmore beautifultome.Ikeptup
108. withherforyearsafterIleft Hope.In 1966,afriendandIwentout
toseeOdessaaftervisiting myfathersandgrandfathers
graves.Mostoftheblack peopleinHopelivednearthe
cemetery,acrosstheroad from wheremygrandfathersstore
hadbeen.Irememberour
109. visitingonherporchfora good longwhile.Whenthetime
cametogo,wegotinmycar anddroveawayondirt streets.
TheonlyunpavedstreetsI sawinHope,orlaterinHot
SpringswhenImovedthere, were inblackneighborhoods,full
110. ofpeoplewhoworkedhard, manyofthemraisingkids like
me,andwhopaidtaxes. Odessadeservedbetter. Theotherlargefiguresinmy
childhoodwererelatives:my maternalgreat- grandparents,mygreat-aunt
Otieandgreat-uncleCarl Russell,andmostofall,my
111. great- uncleOrenknownas Buddy,andoneofthelights
ofmylifeandhiswife, AuntOllie. MyGrishamgreat-
grandparentslivedoutinthe countryinalittlewooden housebuilt
upofftheground.Because Arkansasgetsmore
112. tornadoesthanalmostany otherplacein theUnitedStates,most
peoplewholivedinvirtual stickhousesliketheirsduga holein
thegroundforastormcellar. Theirswasoutinthefront
yard,andhadalittlebedand a smalltablewithacoal-oil
113. lanternonit.Istillremember peeringintothatlittlespace and
hearingmygreat-grandfather say,Yes,sometimessnakes
godowntheretoo,butthey wontbiteyouifthe lanternslit.Ineverfound
outwhetherthatwastrueor not.My onlyothermemoryofmy
114. great-grandfatheristhathe cametovisitmeinthe hospital
whenIbrokemylegatage five.Heheldmyhandandwe posedforapicture.Hesina
simpleblackjacketanda whiteshirtbuttonedallthe
wayup,lookingoldasthe hills, straightoutofAmerican
115. Gothic. Mygrandmotherssister OpalwecalledherOtie
wasafine-lookingwoman with thegreatGrishamfamily
laugh,whosequiethusband, Carl,wasthefirstpersonI knew
whogrewwatermelons.The river-enriched,sandysoil
116. aroundHopeisidealfor them,and thesizeofHopesmelons
becamethetrademarkofthe townintheearlyfiftieswhen the
communitysentthelargest melonevergrownuptothat
time,justundertwohundred pounds,toPresidentTruman.
Thebetter-tastingmelons,
117. however,weighsixtypounds or less.ThosearetheonesIsaw
mygreat-uncleCarlgrow, pouringwaterfroma washtub
intothesoilaroundthe melonsandwatchingthe stalkssuckituplikea
vacuumcleaner. WhenIbecamePresident,
118. UncleCarlscousinCarter Russellstillhada watermelon
standinHopewhereyou couldgetgoodredorthe sweeteryellowmelons.
Hillarysaysthefirsttimeshe eversawme,Iwasinthe YaleLawSchoollounge
braggingtoskepticalfellow studentsaboutthesizeof
119. Hopewatermelons.WhenI was President,myoldfriends
fromHopeputona watermelonfeedonthe SouthLawnofthe
WhiteHouse,andIgottotell mywatermelonstoriestoa
newgenerationofyoung peoplewhopretendedtobe
interestedinasubjectI
120. begantolearnaboutsolong ago fromAuntOtieandUncle Carl.
Mygrandmothersbrother UncleBuddyandhiswife, Ollie,weretheprimary
membersofmyextended family.BuddyandOlliehad
fourchildren,threeofwhom were
121. gonefromHopebythetimeI camealong.Dwaynewasan
executivewithashoe manufacturerinNew Hampshire.ConradandFalba
werelivinginDallas,though they bothcamebacktoHope
oftenandlivetheretoday. Myra,theyoungest,wasa rodeo
122. queen.Shecouldridelikea pro,andshelaterranoffwith
acowboy,hadtwoboys, divorced,andmovedhome, wheresheranthelocal
housingauthority.Myraand Falba aregreatwomenwholaugh
throughtheirtearsandnever quitonfamilyandfriends. Im
123. gladtheyarestillpartofmy life.Ispentalotoftimeat
BuddyandOllieshouse,not just inmyfirstsixyearsinHope,
butforfortymoreyearsuntil OlliediedandBuddysoldthe
houseandmovedinwith Falba. Sociallifeinmyextended
family,likethatofmost
124. peopleofmodestmeanswho grew upinthecountry,revolved
aroundmeals,conversation, andstorytelling.They couldnt
affordvacations,rarelyif everwenttothemovies,and
didnthavetelevisionuntil the mid-tolate1950s.They
125. wentoutafewtimesayear tothecountyfair,the watermelon
festival,theoccasional squaredanceorgospel singing.Themenhuntedand
fishedand raisedvegetablesand watermelononsmallplots
outinthecountrythattheyd keptwhen
126. theymovedtotowntowork. Thoughtheyneverhadextra
money,theyneverfeltpoor aslongastheyhadaneat house,cleanclothes,and
enoughfoodtofeedanyone whocameinthefrontdoor. They
workedtolive,nottheother wayaround.
127. Myfavoritechildhoodmeals wereatBuddyandOllies,
eatingaroundabigtablein theirsmallkitchen.Atypical
weekendlunch,whichwe calleddinner(theevening meal
wassupper),includedhamor aroast,cornbread,spinach
orcollardgreens,mashed potatoes,sweetpotatoes,
128. peas,greenbeansorlima beans,fruitpie,andendless quantities
oficedteawedrankinlarge goblet-likeglasses.Ifelt
moregrownupdrinkingout of thosebigglasses.Onspecial
dayswehadhomemadeice creamtogowiththepie. When
129. Iwasthereearlyenough,I gottohelppreparethemeal,
shellingthebeansorturning the crankontheice-cream
maker.Before,during,and afterdinnertherewas constanttalk:
towngossip,familygoings- on,andstories,lotsofthem.
Allmykinfolkscouldtella
130. story,makingsimpleevents, encounters,andmishaps
involvingordinarypeople come alivewithdramaand laughter.
Buddywasthebest storyteller.Likebothofhis sisters,hewasverybright.I
often wonderedwhatheandthey
131. wouldhavemadeoftheir livesiftheyhadbeenborn intomy
generationormydaughters. Buttherewerelotsofpeople
likethembackthen.Theguy pumpingyourgasmighthave
hadanIQashighastheguy takingyourtonsilsout.There
arestillpeoplelikethe GrishamsinAmerica,many
132. ofthemnewimmigrants, whichis whyItriedasPresidentto
openthedoorsofcollegeto allcomers. Thoughhehadaverylimited
education,Buddyhadafine mindandaPh.D.inhuman
nature,bornofalifetimeof keenobservationanddealing
withhisowndemonsand
133. those ofhisfamily.Earlyinhis marriagehehadadrinking
problem.Onedayhecame home andtoldhiswifeheknewhis
drinkingwashurtingherand theirfamilyandhewasnever
goingtodrinkagain.Andhe neverdid,formorethanfifty years.
134. Wellintohiseighties,Buddy couldtellamazingstories
highlightingthepersonalities ofdogshedhadfiveorsix
decadesearlier.He rememberedtheirnames, theirlooks,
theirpeculiarhabits,howhe camebythem,theprecise
waytheyretrievedshotbirds. Lotsofpeoplewouldcome
135. byhishouseandsitonthe porchforavisit.Afterthey left
hedhaveastoryaboutthem ortheirkidssometimes funny,sometimessad,
usually sympathetic,always understanding. Ilearnedalotfromthe
storiesmyuncle,aunts,and
136. grandparentstoldme:thatno one isperfectbutmostpeopleare
good;thatpeoplecantbe judgedonlybytheirworstor
weakestmoments;thatharsh judgmentscanmake
hypocritesofusall;thatalot oflifeis justshowingupandhanging
on;thatlaughterisoftenthe
137. best,andsometimestheonly, responsetopain.Perhaps
mostimportant,Ilearned thateveryonehasastoryof dreams
andnightmares,hopeand heartache,loveandloss,
courageandfear,sacrifice and selfishness.AllmylifeIve
beeninterestedinother
138. peoplesstories.Ivewanted toknow them,understandthem,feel
them.WhenIgrewupand gotintopolitics,Ialwaysfelt the
mainpointofmyworkwas togivepeopleachanceto havebetterstories.
UncleBuddysstorywas gooduntiltheend.Hegot
139. lungcancerin1974,hada lung removed,andstilllivedtobe
ninety-one.Hecounseledme inmypoliticalcareer,andif
Idfollowedhisadviceand repealedanunpopularcar-tag
increase,Iprobablywouldnt havelostmyfirst gubernatorialreelection
campaignin1980.Helived
140. toseemeelected Presidentandgotabigkick
outofit.AfterOlliedied,he keptactivebygoingdownto
hisdaughterFalbasdonut shopandregalingawhole
newgenerationofkidswith his storiesandwitty observationsonthehuman
condition.Heneverlosthis
141. senseofhumor. Hewasstilldrivingat eighty-seven,whenhetook
twoladyfriends,aged ninety-oneand ninety-three,fordrives
separatelyonceaweek. Whenhetoldmeabouthis dates,I
asked,Soyoulikethese olderwomennow?He
142. snickeredandsaid,Yeah,I do.Seems liketheyrealittlemore
settled. Inallouryearstogether,I sawmyunclecryonlyonce.
OlliedevelopedAlzheimers andhadtobemovedtoa nursinghome.Forseveral
weeksafterward,sheknew whoshe
143. wasforafewminutesaday. Duringthoselucidintervals,
shewouldcallBuddyand say, Oren,howcouldyouleave
meinthisplaceafterfifty- sixyearsofmarriage?Come get
merightnow.Hewould dutifullydriveovertosee her,butbythetimehegot
there,she
144. wouldbelostagaininthe mistsofthediseaseand didntknowhim.
Itwasduringthisperiodthat Istoppedbytoseehimlate
oneafternoon,ourlastvisit at theoldhouse.Iwashoping
tocheerhimup.Instead,he mademelaughwithbawdy jokes
145. anddrollcommentson currentevents.When
darknessfell,ItoldhimIhad togoback hometoLittleRock.He
followedmetothedoor,and asIwasabouttowalkout,he
grabbedmyarm.Iturnedand sawtearsinhiseyesforthe
firstandonlytimeinalmost fiftyyearsofloveand
146. friendship.Isaid,Thisis reallyhard,isntit?Ill
neverforgethis reply.Hesmiledandsaid, Yeah,itis,butIsignedon
forthewholeload,andmost ofit wasprettygood.Myuncle
Buddytaughtmethat everyonehasastory.Hetold hisin
147. thatonesentence. THREE AftertheyearinNew
Orleans,Mothercamehome toHopeeagertoputher anesthesia
trainingintopractice,elated atbeingreunitedwithme,
andbacktoheroldfun- loving
148. self.Shehaddatedseveral meninNewOrleansandhad
afinetime,accordingtoher memoir,LeadingwithMy
Heart,whichImsurewould havebeenabestsellerifshe had
livedtopromoteit. However,before,during,and afterhersojourninNew
Orleans,Motherwasdating
149. one manmorethananyoneelse, theownerofthelocalBuick
dealership,RogerClinton. She wasabeautiful,high-spirited
widow.Hewasahandsome, hell-raising,twice-divorced
manfromHotSprings, ArkansasSinCity,which
forseveralyearshadbeen
150. hometo thelargestillegalgambling operationintheUnited
States.Rogersbrother Raymond ownedtheBuickdealership
inHotSprings,andRoger, thebabyandbadboyofa familyoffive,hadcometo
Hopetotakeadvantageofthe waractivityaroundthe
151. SouthwesternProving Groundandperhapstoget
outofhisbrothersshadow. Rogerlovedtodrinkand partywithhistwobest
buddiesfromHotSprings, Van HamptonLyell,whoowned
theCoca-Colabottlingplant acrossthestreetfromClinton
Buick,andGabeCrawford,
152. whoownedseveral drugstoresinHotSpringsand onein
Hope,laterbuiltHotSprings firstshoppingcenter,and
wasthenmarriedtoRogers gorgeousniece,Virginia,a
womanIvealwaysloved, whowastheveryfirstMiss Hot
Springs.Theirideaofagood
153. timewastogamble,get drunk,anddocrazy,reckless
thingsincarsorairplanesor onmotorcycles.Itsawonder
theydidntalldieyoung. MotherlikedRogerbecause
hewasfun,paidattentionto me,andwasgenerous.He
paidforhertocomehometo seemeseveraltimeswhen
shewasinNewOrleans,and
154. he probablypaidforthetrain tripsMammawandItookto
seeMother. PapawlikedRogerbecause hewasnicebothtomeandto
him.Forawhileaftermy grandfatherquittheicehouse
becauseofseverebronchial problems,heranaliquor store.
155. Neartheendofthewar, HempsteadCounty,ofwhich
Hopeisthecountyseat, votedto godry.Thatswhenmy grandfatheropenedhis
grocerystore.Ilaterlearned that Papawsoldliquorunderthe
countertothedoctors, lawyers,andother respectablepeople
156. whodidntwanttodrivethe thirty-threemilestothe
nearestlegalliquorstorein Texarkana,andthatRoger washissupplier.
Mammawreallydisliked Rogerbecauseshethoughthe wasnotthekindofmanher
daughterandgrandson shouldbetiedto.Shehada
darksideherhusbandand
157. daughter lacked,butitenabledherto seethedarknessinothers
thattheymissed.Shethought RogerClintonwasnothing
buttrouble.Shewasright aboutthetroublepart,butnot the
nothingbut.Therewas moretohimthanthat,which
makeshisstoryevensadder.
158. Asforme,allIknewwas thathewasgoodtomeand
hadabigbrownandblack Germanshepherd,Susie,that
hebroughttoplaywithme. Susiewasabigpartofmy childhood,andstartedmy
lifelongloveaffairwith dogs. MotherandRogergot
marriedinHotSprings,in
159. June1950,shortlyafterher twenty- seventhbirthday.OnlyGabe
andVirginiaCrawfordwere there.ThenMotherandIleft
herparentshomeandmoved withmynewstepfather, whomIsoonbegantocall
Daddy, intoalittlewhitewooden houseonthesouthendof
160. townat321ThirteenthStreet atthe cornerofWalkerStreet.Not
longafterward,Istarted callingmyselfBillyClinton.
Mynewworldwasexciting tome.NextdoorwereNed andAliceWilliams.Mr.Ned
wasaretiredrailroadworker whobuiltaworkshopbehind
hishousefilledwithalarge
161. sophisticatedmodelelectric- trainsetup.Backthenevery
littlekidwantedaLionel train set.Daddygotmeoneand
weusedtoplaywithit together,butnothingcould compareto
Mr.Nedslargeintricate tracksandbeautifulfast
trains.Ispenthoursthere.It waslike
162. havingmyownDisneyland nextdoor. Myneighborhoodwasa
class-Aadvertisementforthe postWorldWarIIbaby boom.
Therewerelotsofyoung coupleswithkids.Acrossthe
streetlivedthemostspecial child ofall,MitziPolk,daughter
163. ofMinorandMargaretPolk. Mitzihadaloudroaring laugh.
Shewouldswingsohighon herswingsetthepolesofthe
framewouldcomeupoutof theground,asshebellowed
atthetopofherlungs,Billy sucksabottle!Billysucksa
bottle!Shedrovemenuts. Afterall,Iwasgettingtobe
164. abigboyandIdidnosuch thing. IlaterlearnedthatMitziwas
developmentallydisabled. Thetermwouldnthave meant
anythingtomethen,but whenIpushedtoexpand
opportunitiesforthedisabled as
165. governorandPresident,I thoughtoftenofMitziPolk.
AlothappenedtomewhileI livedonThirteenthStreet.I
startedschoolatMissMarie PurkinsSchoolforLittle
Folkskindergarten,whichI loveduntilIbrokemyleg oneday
jumpingrope.Anditwasnt evenamovingrope.Therope
166. intheplaygroundwastiedat oneendtoatreeandatthe
otherendtoaswingset.The kidswouldlineuponone side
andtaketurnsrunningand jumpingoverit.Alltheother
kidsclearedtherope. OneofthemwasMack McLarty,sonofthelocal
Forddealer,latergovernorof
167. Boys State,all-starquarterback, statelegislator,successful
businessman,andthenmy first WhiteHousechiefofstaff.
Mackalwaysclearedevery hurdle.Luckilyforme,he always
waitedformetocatchup.
168. Me,Ididntcleartherope.I wasalittlechunkyanyway,
andslow,soslowthatIwas oncetheonlykidatanEaster egghuntwhodidntgeta
singleegg,notbecauseI couldntfindthembut becauseIcouldntgetto
themfastenough.Ontheday Itriedto jumpropeIwaswearing
169. cowboybootstoschool.Like afool,Ididnttaketheboots off
tojump.Myheelcaughton therope,Iturned,fell,and
heardmylegsnap.Ilayin agony onthegroundforseveral
minuteswhileDaddyraced overfromtheBuickplaceto get
170. me. Ihadbrokenmylegabove theknee,andbecauseIwas
growingsofast,thedoctor was reluctanttoputmeinacast
uptomyhip.Instead,he madeaholethroughmy ankle,
pushedastainlesssteelbar throughit,attachedittoa
171. stainlesssteelhorseshoe,and hung mylegupintheairovermy
hospitalbed.Ilaylikethat fortwomonths,flatonmy back,
feelingbothfoolishand pleasedtobeoutofschool andreceivingsomany
visitors.Itook alongtimegettingoverthat
172. legbreak.AfterIgotoutof thehospital,myfolksbought me
abicycle,butIneverlostmy fearofridingwithoutthe
trainingwheels.Asaresult,I neverstoppedfeelingthatI
wasclumsyandwithouta normalsenseofbalance until,at
theageoftwenty-two,I
173. finallystartedridingabikeat Oxford.EventhenIfella few
times,butIthoughtofitas buildingmypainthreshold.
IwasgratefultoDaddyfor comingtorescuemewhenI brokemyleg.Healsocame
homefromworkatimeor twototrytotalkMotherout
ofspankingmewhenIdid
174. somethingwrong.Atthe beginningoftheirmarriage
hereallytriedtobetherefor me.I rememberonceheeventook
meonthetraintoSt.Louis toseetheCardinals,thenour
nearestmajorleaguebaseball team.Westayedovernight
andcamehomethenextday. I
175. lovedit.Sadly,itwasthe onlytripthetwoofusever
tooktogether.Liketheonly time weeverwentfishing
together.Theonlytimewe everwentoutintothewoods tocutour
ownChristmastreetogether. Theonlytimeourwhole
familytookanout-of-state
176. vacationtogether.Therewere somanythingsthatmeanta
lottomebutwereneverto occuragain.RogerClinton
reallylovedmeandheloved Mother,buthecouldntever quitebreakfreeofthe
shadowsofself-doubt,the phonysecurityofbinge drinkingand
adolescentpartying,andthe
177. isolationfromandverbal abuseofMotherthatkept him
frombecomingthemanhe mighthavebeen. Onenighthisdrunkenself-
destructivenesscametoa headinafightwithmy motherI
canteverforget.Mother wantedustogotothe
178. hospitaltoseemygreat- grandmother, whodidnthavelongtolive.
Daddysaidshecouldntgo. Theywerescreamingateach
otherintheirbedroominthe backofthehouse.Forsome
reason,Iwalkedoutintothe halltothedoorwayofthe
bedroom.JustasIdid,Daddy pulledagunfrombehindhis
179. backandfiredinMothers direction.Thebulletwent
intothewallbetweenwhere she andIwerestanding.Iwas
stunnedandsoscared.Ihad neverheardashotfired before,
muchlessseenone.Mother grabbedmeandranacross
thestreettotheneighbors. The
180. policewerecalled.Icanstill seethemleadingDaddyaway
inhandcuffstojail,wherehe spentthenight. ImsureDaddydidntmean
tohurtherandhewouldhave diedifthebullethad
accidentallyhiteitherofus. Butsomethingmore
poisonousthanalcoholdrove himto
181. thatlevelofdebasement.It wouldbealongtimebeforeI
couldunderstandsuchforces in othersorinmyself.When
Daddygotoutofjailhehad soberedupinmorewaysthan one
andwassoashamedthat nothingbadhappenedfor sometime.
182. Ihadonemoreyearoflife andschoolinginHope.I
wenttofirstgradeat Brookwood School;myteacherwasMiss
MaryWilson.Althoughshe hadonlyonearm,shedidnt
believeinsparingtherod,or, inhercase,thepaddle,into
whichshehadboredholesto cutdownonthewind
183. resistance.Onmorethanone occasionIwastherecipient ofher
concern. Inadditiontomyneighbors andMackMcLarty,Ibecame
friendswithsomeotherkids whostayedwithmefora lifetime.Oneofthem,Joe
Purvis,hadachildhoodthat made
184. minelookidyllic.Hegrew uptobeafinelawyer,and
whenIwaselectedattorney general,IhiredJoeonmy
staff.WhenArkansashadan importantcasebeforethe U.S.
SupremeCourt,Iwent,butI letJoemaketheargument. JusticeByronWhizzer
White
185. sentmeanotefromthe benchsayingthatJoehad
doneagoodjob.Later,Joe becamethe firstchairmanofmy
BirthplaceFoundation. Besidesmyfriendsand family,mylifeonThirteenth
Streetwasmarkedbymy discoveryofthemovies.In
1951and1952,Icouldgofor
186. adime:anickeltogetin,a nickelforaCoke.Iwent
everycoupleofweeksorso. Backthen,yougotafeature film,
acartoon,aserial,anda newsreel.TheKoreanWar wason,soIlearnedabout
that.Flash GordonandRocketMan werethebigserialheroes.
187. Forcartoons,Ipreferred BugsBunny, CaspertheFriendlyGhost,
andBabyHuey,withwhomI probablyidentified.Isawa lot
ofmovies,andespecially likedthewesterns.My favoritewasHighNoonI
probably sawithalfadozentimes
188. duringitsruninHope,and haveseenitmorethana dozentimes
since.Itsstillmyfavorite movie,becauseitsnotyour
typicalmachowestern.I loved themoviebecausefromstart
tofinishGaryCooperis scaredtodeathbutdoesthe right
189. thinganyway. WhenIwaselected President,Itoldan
interviewerthatmyfavorite moviewasHigh Noon.Atthetime,Fred
Zinnemann,itsdirector,was nearlyninety,livingin London.I
gotagreatletterfromhim withacopyofhisannotated
190. scriptandanautographed picture ofhimselfwithCooperand
GraceKellyinstreetclothes ontheHighNoonsetin1951.
OverthelongyearssinceI firstsawHighNoon,whenI facedmyownshowdowns,I
oftenthoughtofthelookin GaryCooperseyesashe
staresintothefaceofalmost
191. certaindefeat,andhowhe keepswalkingthroughhis
fearstowardhisduty.It works prettywellinreallifetoo. FOUR
Inthesummeraftermyfirst- gradeyear,Daddydecidedhe
wantedtogohometoHot Springs.HesoldtheBuick
192. dealershipandmovedustoa fourhundredacrefarmout on
WildcatRoadafewmiles westofthecity.Ithadcattle,
sheep,andgoats.Whatit didnt havewasanindoortoilet.So
fortheyearorsowelived outthere,onthehottest summer
193. daysandthecoldestwinter nights,wehadtogooutside
tothewoodenouthouseto relieveourselves.Itwasan
interestingexperience, especiallywhenthe nonpoisonous
kingsnakethathungaround ouryardwaspeeringup throughtheholeatmewhen
Ihad
194. togo.Later,whenIgotinto politics,beingabletosayI
hadlivedonafarmwithan outhousemadeagreatstory,
almostasgoodasbeingborn inalogcabin. Ilikedlivingonthefarm,
feedingtheanimals,and movingamongthem,until one
fatefulSunday.Daddyhad
195. severalmembersofhis familyouttolunch, includinghis
brotherRaymondandhis children.Itookoneof Raymondsdaughters,Karla,
outinto thefieldwherethesheep weregrazing.Iknewthere
wasonemeanramwehadto avoid,
196. butwedecidedtotemptfate, abigmistake.Whenwewere
aboutahundredyardsaway fromthefence,theramsaw
usandstartedtocharge.We startedrunningforthefence.
Karlawasbiggerandfaster andmadeit.Istumbledover abigrock.WhenIfellI
could seeIwasntgoingtomake
197. thefencebeforetheramgot tome,soIretreatedtoa small
treeafewfeetawayinthe hopeIcouldkeepawayfrom himbyrunningaroundthe
tree untilhelpcame.Anotherbig mistake.Soonhecaughtme
andknockedmylegsout from
198. underme.BeforeIcouldget uphebuttedmeinthehead.
ThenIwasstunnedandhurt andcouldntgetup.Sohe backedup,gotagoodhead
start,andrammedmeagain as hardashecould.Hedidthe
samethingoverandoverand overagain,alternatinghis
targetsbetweenmyheadand
199. mygut.SoonIwaspouring bloodandhurtinglikethe
devil.Afterwhatseemedan eternitymyuncleshowedup,
pickedupabigrock,and threwithard,hittingtheram
squarebetweentheeyes.The ramjustshookhisheadand
walkedoff,apparently unfazed.Irecovered,left withonlyascaronmy
200. forehead,which graduallygrewintomyscalp.
AndIlearnedthatIcould takeahardhit,alessonthatI
wouldrelearnacouplemore timesinmychildhoodand laterinlife.
Afewmonthsafterwe movedtothefarm,bothmy folksweregoingtotownto
work.
201. Daddygaveuponbeinga farmerandtookajobasa
partsmanagerforUncle Raymonds Buickdealership,while Motherfoundmore
anesthesiaworkinHot Springsthanshe couldhandle.Oneday,onthe
waytowork,shepickedupa womanwhowaswalkingto
202. town.Aftertheygot acquainted,Motheraskedher
ifsheknewanyonewho wouldcome tothehouseandlookafter
mewhilesheandDaddy wereatwork.Inoneofthe great
momentsofgoodluckinmy life,shesuggestedherself.
HernamewasCoraWalters; she
203. wasagrandmotherwith everygoodqualityofanold-
fashionedcountrywoman. Shewas wise,kind,upright,
conscientious,anddeeply Christian.Shebecamea memberofour
familyforelevenyears.All herfamilyweregoodpeople,
andaftersheleftus,her
204. daughterMayeHightower cametoworkforMotherand
stayedthirtymoreyearsuntil Motherdied.Inanotherage,
CoraWalterswouldhave madeafineminister.She made
meabetterpersonbyher example,andcertainly wasntresponsibleforanyof
mysins,
205. thenorlater.Shewasatough oldgal,too.Onedayshe
helpedmekillahugeratthat was hangingaroundourhouse.
Actually,Ifounditandshe killeditwhileIcheered. Whenwemovedouttothe
country,Motherwas concernedaboutmygoingto asmall
206. ruralschool,sosheenrolled meinSt.JohnsCatholic
Schooldowntown,whereI attendedsecondandthird
grade.Bothyearsmyteacher wasSisterMaryAmata McGee,a
fineandcaringteacherbutno pushover.Ioftengotstraight
Asonmysix-weekreport cardandaCincitizenship,
207. whichwasaeuphemismfor goodbehaviorinclass.I lovedto
readandcompeteinspelling contests,butItalkedtoo much.Itwasaconstant
problemin gradeschool,andasmy criticsandmanyofmy
friendswouldsay,itsoneI neverquite
208. gotover.Ialsogotintrouble onceforexcusingmyselfto
gotothebathroomand staying awaytoolongduringthe
dailyrosary.Iwasfascinated bytheCatholicChurch,its rituals
andthedevotionofthenuns, butgettingonmykneeson theseatofmydeskand
leaning
209. onthebackwiththerosary beadswasoftentoomuchfor
arambunctiousboywhose only churchexperiencebefore
thenhadbeenintheSunday schoolandthesummer vacation
BibleschooloftheFirst BaptistChurchinHope. Afterayearorsoonthe
210. farm,Daddydecidedtomove intoHotSprings.Herenteda
bighousefromUncle Raymondat1011Park Avenue,intheeastendof
town.Heled Mothertobelievehedmade agooddealforitandhad
boughtthehousewithhis income andhers,butevenwiththeir
211. twoincomes,andwith housingcostsaconsiderably smaller
partoftheaveragefamilys expensesthannow,Icant seehowwecouldhave
afforded it.Thehousewasupona hill;ithadtwostories,five
bedrooms,andafascinating little
212. ballroomupstairswithabar onwhichstoodabigrotating
cagewithtwohugediceinit. Apparentlythefirstowner
hadbeeninthegambling business.Ispentmanyhappy hours
inthatroom,havingparties orjustplayingwithmy friends.
Theexteriorofthehousewas
213. whitewithgreentrim,with slopingroofsoverthefront
entranceandthetwosides. Thefrontyardwasterraced onthreelevelswitha
sidewalk downthemiddleandarock wallbetweenthemiddleand
groundlevels.Thesideyards weresmall,butlargeenough
forMothertoindulgeher
214. favoriteoutdoorhobby, gardening.Sheespecially
lovedtogrowrosesanddid soinallherhomesuntilshe died.
Mothertannedeasilyand deeply,andshegotmostof hertanwhilediggingdirt
around herflowersinatanktopand shorts.Thebackhadagravel
215. drivewaywithafour-car garage,anicelawnwitha
swingset,and,onbothsides ofthedriveway,sloping lawns
thatwentdowntothestreet, CircleDrive. Welivedinthathousefrom
thetimeIwassevenoreight untilIwasfifteen.Itwas
216. fascinatingtome.The groundswerefullofshrubs,
bushes,flowers,longhedges laced withhoneysuckle,andlotsof
trees,includingafig,apear, twocrabapples,andahuge oldoakinthefront.
IhelpedDaddytakecareof thegrounds.Itwasonething
wediddotogether,though
217. asIgotolder,Ididmoreand moreofitmyself.Thehouse
wasnearawoodedarea,soI wasalwaysrunningacross spiders,tarantulas,
centipedes,scorpions,wasps, hornets, bees,andsnakes,alongwith
morebenigncreatureslike squirrels,chipmunks,blue jays,
218. robins,andwoodpeckers. Once,whenIwasmowing
thelawn,Ilookeddownto seea rattlesnakeslidingalongwith
thelawnmower,apparently captivatedbythevibrations. I
didntlikethevibes,soIran likecrazyandescaped unscathed.
219. AnothertimeIwasntso lucky.Daddyhadputupa
hugethree-storybirdhouse for martins,whichnestin
groups,atthebottomofthe backdriveway.OnedayI was
mowinggrassdownthereand discoveredithadbecomea
nestingplacenotformartins
220. butforbumblebees.They swarmedme,flyingallover
mybody,myarms,myface. Amazingly,notoneofthem stungme.Iranofftocatch
mybreathandconsidermy options.Mistakenly,I assumedtheyhaddecidedI
meantthemnoharm,soafter afew minutesIwentbacktomy
221. mowing.Ihadntgoneten yardsbeforetheyswarmed me
again,thistimestingingme allovermybody.Onegot
caughtbetweenmybellyand my belt,stingingmeoverand
over,somethingbumblebees candothathoneybeescant.I
wasdeliriousandhadtobe
222. rushedtothedoctor,but recoveredsoonenoughwith another
valuablelesson:tribesof bumblebeesgiveintruders
onefairwarningbutnottwo. More thanthirty-fiveyearslater,
KateRoss,thefive-year-old daughterofmyfriends Michael
223. RossandMarkiePost,sent mealetterthatsaidsimply:
Beescanstingyou.Watch out. Iknewjustwhatshemeant.
MymovetoHotSprings gavemylifemanynew experiences:anew,much
largerand moresophisticatedcity;a newneighborhood;anew
224. school,newfriends,andmy introductiontomusic;my
firstseriousreligious experienceinanewchurch; and,of
course,anewextended familyintheClintonclan. Thehotsulfursprings,for
whichthecityisnamed, bubbleupfrombelowground ina
225. narrowgapintheOuachita Mountainsalittlemorethan
fiftymileswestandslightly southofLittleRock.The
firstEuropeantoseethem wasHernandodeSoto,who came
throughthevalleyin1541, sawtheIndiansbathingin
thesteamingsprings,and, legend
226. hasit,thoughthehad discoveredthefountainof youth.
In1832,PresidentAndrew Jacksonsignedabillto
protectfoursectionsofland around HotSpringsasafederal
reservation,thefirstsuchbill Congresseverenacted,well before
227. theNationalParkService wasestablishedor
Yellowstonebecameourfirst nationalpark. Soonmorehotelssprungup
tohousevisitors.Bythe 1880s,CentralAvenue,the main
street,snakingamileanda halforsothroughthegapin
themountainswherethe springs
228. were,wassproutingbeautiful bathhousesasmorethan
100,000peopleayearwere taking bathsforeverythingfrom
rheumatismtoparalysisto malariatovenerealdiseaseto
generalrelaxation.Inthe firstquarterofthetwentieth
century,thegrandest bathhouses
229. werebuilt,morethana millionbathsayearwere
taken,andthespacity becameknown aroundtheworld.Afterits
statuswaschangedfrom federalreservationto nationalpark,
HotSpringsbecametheonly cityinAmericathatwas actuallyinoneofour
national
230. parks. Thecitysattractionwas amplifiedbygrandhotels,an
operahouse,and,beginning in themid-nineteenthcentury,
gambling.Bythe1880s, therewereseveralopen gambling
houses,andHotSpringswas onitswaytobeingbothan
231. attractivespaandanotorious town.Fordecadesbeforeand
duringWorldWarII,itwas runbyabossworthyofany bigcity,MayorLeo
McLaughlin.Heranthe gamblingwiththehelpofa mobsterwho
moveddownfromNewYork, OwenVincentOwney Madden.
232. Afterthewar,aGIticketof reformersheadedbySid
McMathbrokeMcLaughlins powerinamovethat,soon
after,madethethirty-five- year-oldMcMaththe nations
youngestgovernor. NotwithstandingtheGI reformers,however,
gamblingcontinuedto
233. operate,withpayoffstostate andlocalpoliticiansandlaw-
enforcementofficials,well intothe1960s.Owney
MaddenlivedinHotSprings asarespectablecitizenfor therest
ofhislife.Motheronceput himtosleepforsurgery.She
camehomeafterwardand laughinglytoldmethat
234. lookingathisX-raywaslike visitingaplanetarium:the twelve
bulletsstillinhisbody remindedherofshooting stars.
Ironically,becauseitwas illegal,theMafianevertook overgamblinginHot
Springs; instead,wehadourownlocal
235. bosses.Sometimesthe competinginterestsfought, butin
mytime,theviolencewas alwayscontrolled.For example,thegaragesoftwo
houses werebombed,butatatime whennoonewashome.
Forthelastthreedecadesof thenineteenthcenturyand
236. thefirstfiveofthetwentieth, gamblingdrewanamazing
arrayofcharacterstotown: outlaws,mobsters,military
heroes,actors,andahostof baseballgreats.The legendarypoolshark
MinnesotaFats cameoften.In1977,as attorneygeneral,Ishotpool
withhimforacharityinHot
237. Springs.Hekilledmeinthe gamebutmadeupforitby
regalingmewithstoriesof long- agovisits,whenheplayed
thehorsesbyday,thenate andgambledupanddown Central
Avenueallnight,addingto hispocketbookandhis famouswaistline.
238. HotSpringsdrewpoliticians too.WilliamJenningsBryan
cameseveraltimes.Sodid TeddyRooseveltin1910,
HerbertHooverin1927,and FranklinandEleanor Roosevelt
forthestatescentennialin 1936.HueyLonghada secondhoneymoonwithhis
wife
239. there.JFKandLyndon Johnsonvisitedbeforethey
werePresidents.SodidHarry Truman,theonlyonewho
gambledatleasttheonly onewhodidnthideit. Thegamblingandhot-water
attractionsofHotSprings wereenhancedbylarge
brightlylitauctionhouses, whichalternatedwith
240. gamblingspotsand restaurantson CentralAvenueontheother
sideofthestreetfromthe bathhouses;byOaklawn
racetrack,whichofferedfine Thoroughbredracingfor
thirtydaysayearinthe spring,the onlylegalgamblinginthe
city;byslotmachinesin
241. manyoftherestaurants, someof whichevenkidswere
allowedtoplayiftheywere sittingontheirparentslaps; andby
threelakesnearthecity,the mostimportantofwhichwas
LakeHamilton,wheremany of thecitysgrandees,including
242. UncleRaymond,hadlarge houses.Thousandsofpeople
flockedtothelakesmotels forsummervacation.There
wasalsoanalligatorfarmin whichthelargestresident
waseighteenfeetlong;an ostrichfarm,whoseresidents
sometimesparadeddown CentralAvenue;Keller BrelandsIQZoo,fullof
243. animalsand featuringtheallegedskeleton ofamermaid;anda
notoriouswhorehouserunby Maxine Harris(laterMaxineTemple
Jones),arealcharacterwho openlydepositedherpayoffs in
thelocalauthoritiesbank accountsandwhoin1983
244. wroteaninterestingbook abouther life:CallMeMadam:The
LifeandTimesofaHot SpringsMadam.WhenIwas tenor eleven,onacoupleof
occasionsmyfriendsandI entertainedourselvesfor hoursby
callingMaxinesplaceover
245. andover,tyingupherphone andblockingcallsfromreal
customers.Itinfuriatedher andshecursedusoutwith
saltyandcreativelanguage wed neverbeforeheardfroma
woman,oraman,forthat matter.Itwashilarious.I thinkshe
thoughtitwasfunny,too,at
246. leastforthefirstfifteen minutesorso. ForArkansas,astate
composedmostlyofwhite SouthernBaptistsandblacks, Hot
Springswasamazingly diverse,especiallyforatown
ofonly35,000.Therewasa good- sizedblackpopulationanda
247. hotel,theKnightsofthe Pythias,forblackvisitors. There
weretwoCatholicchurches andtwosynagogues.The
Jewishresidentsownedsome of thebeststoresandranthe
auctionhouses.Thebesttoy storeintownwasRickys, named
248. bytheSilvermansaftertheir son,whowasintheband
withme.Laurays,the jewelry storewhereIboughtlittle
thingsforMother,was ownedbyMartyandLaura Fleishner.
AndtherewastheBnai BrithsLeoN.Levi Hospital,whichusedthehot
springsto
249. treatarthritis.Ialsometmy firstArab-AmericansinHot
Springs,theZorubsandthe Hassins.WhenDavid Zorubsparentswerekilled
inLebanon,hewasadopted byhis uncle.Hecametothis
countryatnineunableto speakanyEnglishand eventually
250. becamevaledictorianofhis classandgovernorofBoys
State.Nowheisa neurosurgeon inPennsylvania.Guido
Hassinandhissisterswere thechildrenoftheWorld WarII
romanceofaSyrian- AmericanandanItalian woman;theyweremy
neighborsduring
251. highschool.Ialsohada Japanese-Americanfriend,
AlbertHahm,andaCzech classmate, RenDuchac,whosemigr
parentsownedarestaurant, TheLittleBohemia.There was
alargeGreekcommunity, whichincludedaGreek Orthodoxchurchand
Angelos,a
252. restaurantjustaroundthe cornerfromClintonBuick.It
wasagreatold-fashioned place, withitslongsodafountain
likebarandtablescovered withred-and-whitechecked
tablecloths.Thehouse specialtywasathree-way:
chili,beans,andspaghetti. MybestGreekfriendsbyfar
253. weretheLeopoulosfamily. Georgeranalittlecafon
BridgeStreetbetween CentralAvenueand Broadway,whichweclaimed
wastheshortest streetinAmerica,stretching allofathirdofablock.
Georgeswife,Evelyn,wasa tiny womanwhobelievedin
254. reincarnation,collected antiques,andlovedLiberace, who
thrilledherbycomingtoher housefordinneroncewhile
hewasperforminginHot Springs.Theyounger Leopoulosson,PaulDavid,
becamemybestfriendin fourthgrade andhasbeenlikemybrother
255. eversince. Whenwewereboys,Iloved togowithhimtohisdads
caf,especiallywhenthe carnivalwasintown,because
allthecarniesatethere.Once theygaveusfreeticketsto
alltherides.Weusedevery oneofthem,makingDavid
happyandmedizzyandsick to
256. mystomach.AfterthatI stucktobumpercarsand
Ferriswheels.Weveshared alifetime ofupsanddowns,and
enoughlaughsforthree lifetimes. ThatIhadfriendsand
acquaintancesfromsucha diversegroupofpeoplewhen Iwas
257. youngmayseemnormal today,butin1950sArkansas,
itcouldhavehappenedonly in HotSprings.Evenso,most
ofmyfriendsandIledpretty normallives,apartfromthe
occasionalcallstoMaxines bordelloandthetemptation
tocutclassesduringracing season,whichIneverdid,but
258. whichprovedirresistibleto someofmyclassmatesin high
school. Fromfourththroughsixth grades,mostofmyliferan
upanddownParkAvenue. Our neighborhoodwas interesting.Therewasarow
ofbeautifulhouseseastof
259. oursallthe waytothewoodsandanother rowbehindourhouseon
CircleDrive.David Leopoulos livedacoupleofblocks
away.Myclosestfriends amongthenearneighbors werethe
Cranefamily.Theylivedina bigoldmysterious-looking
260. woodenhousejustacross from mybackdrive.EdieCranes
AuntDantooktheCrane kids,andoftenme, everywheretothemovies,
toSnowSpringsParkto swiminapoolfedbyvery cold springwater,andto
WhittingtonParktoplay
261. miniaturegolf.Rose,the oldestkid,wasmy
age.Larry,themiddlechild, wasacoupleofyears younger.Wealwayshada
great relationshipexceptonce, whenIusedanewwordon
him.Wewereplayingwith Rosein mybackyardwhenItoldhim
262. hisepidermiswasshowing. Thatmadehimmad.ThenI
toldhimtheepidermisesof hismotherandfatherwere
showingtoo.Thatdidit.He went home,gotaknife,came
back,andthrewitatme. Eventhoughhemissed,Ive beenleery
ofbigwordseversince.
263. MaryDan,theyoungest, askedmetowaitforherto growupso
thatwecouldgetmarried. Acrossthestreetfromthe frontofourhousewasa
collectionofmodest businesses. Therewasasmallgarage
madeoftinsheeting.David andIusedtohidebehindthe
264. oak treeandthrowacornsagainst thetintorattletheguyswho
workedthere.Sometimeswe wouldalsotrytohitthe
hubcapsofpassingcarsand, whenwesucceeded,itmade aloud
pingingnoise.Onedayone ofourtargetsstopped
suddenly,gotoutofthecar,
265. sawus hidingbehindabush,and rushedupthedrivewayafter
us.Afterthat,Ididntlobso manyacornsatcars.Butit wasgreatfun.
Nexttothegaragewasa brickblockthatcontaineda
grocery,aLaundromat,and Stubbys,asmallfamily-run
266. barbequerestaurant,whereI oftenenjoyedamealalone,
justsittingatthefronttable bythewindow,wondering
aboutthelivesofthepeople in thepassingcars.Igotmy
firstjobatthirteeninthat grocerystore.Theowner, Dick
Sanders,wasalreadyabout
267. seventy,and,likemany peoplehisagebackthen,he thought
itwasabadthingtobeleft- handed,sohedecidedto changeme,adeeplyleft-
handed person.Onedayhehadme stackingmayonnaiseright-
handed,bigjarsof Hellmanns
268. mayonnaise,whichcost eighty-ninecents.I
misstackedoneanditfellto thefloor, leavingamessofbroken
glassandmayo.FirstI cleaneditup.ThenDicktold mehed
havetodockmypayforthe lostjar.Iwasmakinga dollaranhour.Igotupmy
courage
269. andsaid,Look,Dick,you canhaveagoodleft-handed
groceryboyforadollaran hour, butyoucanthaveaclumsy
right-handedoneforfree. Tomysurprise,helaughed and
agreed.Heevenletmestart myfirstbusiness,aused
comic-bookstandinfrontof the
270. store.Ihadcarefullysaved twotrunkloadsofcomic
books.Theywereinvery good conditionandsoldwell.At
thetimeIwasproudof myself,thoughIknownow thatifId savedthem,theydbe
valuablecollectorsitems today.
271. Nexttoourhousegoingwest, towardtown,wasthePerry
PlazaMotel.Ilikedthe Perrysandtheirdaughter Tavia,whowasayearortwo
olderthanI.OnedayIwas visitingherjustaftershed
gottenanewBBgun.Imust havebeennineorten.She threw
abeltonthefloorandsaidif
272. Isteppedoveritshedshoot me.Ofcourse,Idid.Andshe
shotme.Itwasaleghitsoit couldhavebeenworse,andI
resolvedtobecomeabetter judgeofwhensomeones bluffing.
Iremembersomethingelse aboutthePerrysmotel.It wasyellow-bricktwo
stories
273. highandoneroomwide, stretchingfromParkAvenue
toCircleDrive.Sometimes people wouldrentroomsthere,and
atothermotelsandrooming housesaroundtown,for weeks
orevenmonthsatatime. Onceamiddle-agedmandid thatwiththebackmostroom
on
274. thesecondfloor.Onedaythe policecameandtookhim
away.Hehadbeen performing abortionsthere.Untilthen,I
dontthinkIknewwhatan abortionwas. FartherdownParkAvenue
wasalittlebarbershop, whereMr.Brizendinecutmy hair.
275. Aboutaquartermilepastthe barbershop,ParkAvenue
runsintoRambleStreet, which thenledsouthupahilltomy
newschool,Ramble Elementary.InfourthgradeI started
band.Thegradeschoolband wascomposedofstudents fromallthecitys
elementary
276. schools.Thedirector,George Gray,hadagreat,
encouragingwaywithlittle kidsaswe squawkedaway.Iplayed
clarinetforayearorso,then switchedtotenorsaxophone
becausethebandneededone, achangeIwouldnever regret.Mymostvivid
memoryof
277. fifthgradeisaclass discussionaboutmemoryin
whichoneofmyclassmates, Tommy ONeal,toldourteacher,
Mrs.Caristianos,hethought hecouldrememberwhenhe was
born.Ididntknowwhether hehadavividimaginationor
aloosescrew,butIlikedhim
278. andhadfinallymetsomeone withanevenbettermemory thanmine.
Iadoredmysixth-grade teacher,KathleenSchaer.
Likealotofteachersofher generation,shenevermarried
anddevotedherlifeto children.Shelivedintoher late
eightieswithhercousin,who
279. madethesamechoices.As gentleandkindasshewas,
MissSchaerbelievedin toughlove.Thedaybefore
wehadourlittlegradeschool graduationceremony,she
heldmeafterclass.Shetold meIshouldbegraduating firstin
myclass,tiedwithDonna Standiford.Instead,because
280. mycitizenshipgradeswere so lowwemighthavebeen
callingitdeportmentby thenIhadbeendroppedto atie
forthird.MissSchaersaid, Billy,whenyougrowup youreeithergoingtobe
governor orgetinalotoftrouble.It
281. alldependsonwhetheryou learnwhentotalkandwhen to
keepquiet.Turnsoutshe wasrightonbothcounts. WhenIwasatRamble,my
interestinreadinggrewandI discoveredtheGarland
CountyPublicLibrary,which wasdowntown,nearthe
courthouseandnotfarfrom
282. ClintonBuickCompany.I wouldgothereforhours,
browsingamongthebooks and readinglotsofthem.Iwas
mostfascinatedbybooks aboutNativeAmericansand read
childrensbiographiesof Geronimo,thegreatApache;
CrazyHorse,theLakota Sioux
283. whokilledCusterandrouted histroopsatLittleBighorn;
ChiefJosephoftheNez Perc, whomadepeacewithhis
powerfulstatement,From wherethesunnowstands,I will
fightnomoreforever;and thegreatSeminolechief Osceola,whodevelopeda
written
284. alphabetforhispeople.I neverlostmyinterestin
NativeAmericansormy feelingthat theyhadbeenterribly mistreated.
MylaststoponParkAvenue wasmyfirstrealchurch,
ParkPlaceBaptistChurch. ThoughMotherandDaddy
didntgoexceptonEaster
285. andsometimesatChristmas, Motherencouragedmetogo,
andIdid,justaboutevery Sunday.Ilovedgetting dressed
upandwalkingdownthere. FromthetimeIwasabout
elevenuntilIgraduatedfrom high school,myteacherwasA.B.
SonnyJeffries.Hisson
286. Bertwasinmyclassandwe becameclosefriends.Every
Sundayforyears,wewentto Sundayschoolandchurch
together,alwayssittinginthe back,ofteninourownworld.
In1955,Ihadabsorbed enoughofmychurchs teachingstoknowthatIwas
asinnerandtowantJesusto save
287. me.SoIcamedowntheaisle attheendofSundayservice,
professedmyfaithinChrist, andaskedtobebaptized.The
ReverendFitzgeraldcameto thehousetotalktoMother
andme.Baptistsrequirean informedprofessionoffaith
forbaptism;theywant peopleto knowwhattheyaredoing,as
288. opposedtotheMethodists infant-sprinklingritualthat took
Hillaryandherbrothersout ofhellsway. BertJeffriesandIwere
baptizedtogether,alongwith severalotherpeopleona Sunday
night.Thebaptismalpool wasjustabovethechoirloft.
289. Whenthecurtainswere opened, thecongregationcouldsee
thepastorstandinginawhite robe,dunkingthesaved.Just
aheadofBertandmeinthe linewasawomanwhowas visiblyafraidofthewater.
She trembleddownthestepsinto thepool.Whenthepreacher
290. heldhernoseanddunkedher, shewentcompletelyrigid.
Herrightlegjerkedstraight upintheairandcametorest on
thenarrowstripofglassthat protectedthechoirloftfrom
splashes.Herheelstuck.She couldntgetitoff,sowhen
thepreachertriedtolifther up,hecouldntbudgeher.
291. Since hewaslookingather submergedhead,hedidnt
seewhathadhappened,sohe justkept jerkingonher.Finallyhe
lookedaround,figureditout, andtookthepoorwomans leg
downbeforeshedrowned. BertandIwereinstitches.I
292. couldnthelpthinkingthatif Jesushadthismuchofa
senseofhumor,beinga Christianwasntgoingtobe sotough.
Besidesmynewfriends, neighborhood,school,and
church,HotSpringsbrought mea newextendedfamilyinthe
Clintons.Mystep-
293. grandparentswereAland EulaMae CornwellClinton.PoppyAl,
asweallcalledhim,came fromDardanelle,inYell County,
abeautifulwoodedplace seventymileswestofLittle
RockuptheArkansasRiver. He metandmarriedhiswife
294. thereafterherfamily migratedfromMississippiin the1890s.
Wecalledmynew grandmotherMamaClinton. Shewasoneofahuge
Cornwellfamily thatspreadoutallover Arkansas.Togetherwiththe
Clintonsandmymothers relatives,
295. theygavemekinfolkin fifteenofArkansasseventy-
fivecounties,anenormous asset whenIstartedmypolitical
careerinatimewhen personalcontactscounted morethan
credentialsorpositionson theissues. PoppyAlwasasmallman,
296. shorterandslighterthan Papaw,withakind,sweet spirit.
ThefirsttimeImethimwe werestilllivinginHopeand
hedroppedbyourhouseto see hissonandhisnewfamily.
Hewasntalone.Atthetime, hewasstillworkingasa parole
297. officerforthestateandhe wastakingoneofthe
prisoners,whomusthave beenouton furlough,backtothe
penitentiary.Whenhegotout ofthecartovisit,theman was
handcuffedtohim.Itwasa hilarioussight,becausethe
inmatewashuge;hemust have
298. beentwicePoppyAlssize. ButPoppyAlspoketohim
gentlyandrespectfullyand the manseemedtorespondin
kind.AllIknowisthat PoppyAlgothismansafely backon time.
PoppyAlandMamaClinton livedinasmalloldhouseup
299. ontopofahill.Hekepta gardenoutback,ofwhichhe
wasveryproud.Helivedto beeighty-four,andwhenhe
wasovereighty,thatgarden producedatomatothat weighedtwoandahalf
pounds.Ihad tousebothhandstoholdit. MamaClintonruledthe
300. house.Shewasgoodtome, butsheknewhowto manipulate
themeninherlife.She alwaystreatedDaddylikethe
babyofthefamilywhocould do nowrong,whichisprobably
onereasonhenevergrewup. ShelikedMother,whowas
betterthanmostoftheother
301. familymembersatlistening toherhypochondriacaltales of
woeandatgivingsensible, sympatheticadvice.She
livedtobeninety-three. PoppyAlandMamaClinton
producedfivechildren,one girlandfourboys.Thegirl,
AuntIlaree,wasthesecond- oldestchild.Herdaughter
302. Virginia,whosenickname was Sister,wasthenmarriedto
GabeCrawfordandwasa goodfriendofMothers.The older
shegot,themoreofan idiosyncraticcharacterIlaree
became.OnedayMotherwas visitingherandIlaree
complainedshewashaving
303. troublewalking.Sheliftedup herskirt,
revealingahugegrowthon theinsideofherleg.Not
longafterward,whenshemet Hillaryforthefirsttime,she
pickedupherskirtagainand showedherthetumor.Itwas a
goodbeginning.Ilareewas thefirstoftheClintonsto
304. reallylikeHillary.Mother finally convincedhertohavethe
tumorremoved,andshetook thefirstflightofherlifeto the
MayoClinic.Bythetime theycutthetumoroffit weighedninepounds,but
miraculously ithadnotspreadcancercells
305. totherestofherleg.Iwas toldtheclinickeptthat amazing
tumorforsometimefor study.WhenjauntyoldIlaree gothome,itwasclearshe
had beenmoreafraidofherfirst flightthanofthetumoror thesurgery.
TheoldestsonwasRobert.
306. Heandhiswife,Evelyn, werequietpeoplewholived in
Texasandwhoseemed sensiblyhappytotakeHot Springsandtherestofthe
Clintonsin smalldoses. Thesecondson,UncleRoy,
hadafeedstore.Hiswife, Janet,andMotherwerethe
307. two strongestpersonalities outsidethebloodfamily,and
becamegreatfriends.Inthe early fiftiesRoyranforthe
legislatureandwon.On electionday,Ihandedout cardsforhimin
myneighborhood,ascloseto thepollingstationasthelaw
308. wouldallow.Itwasmyfirst politicalexperience.Uncle
Royservedonlyoneterm.He wasverywelllikedbut didnt
runforreelection,Ithink becauseJanethatedpolitics.
RoyandJanetplayed dominoes withmyfolksalmostevery
weekforyears,alternating
309. betweenourhomeandtheirs. Raymond,thefourthchild,
wastheonlyClintonwith anymoneyorconsistent involvementinpolitics.He
hadbeenpartoftheGI reformeffortafterWorld WarII,
althoughhewasntinthe servicehimself.Raymond
Jr.,Corky,wastheonly
310. onewho wasyoungerthanI.Hewas alsobrighter.Heliterally
becamearocketscientist, witha distinguishedcareerat NASA.
Motheralwayshadan ambiguousrelationshipwith Raymond,becauseheliked
torun
311. everythingandbecause,with Daddysdrinking,weoften
neededhishelpmorethatshe wantedit.Whenwefirst movedtoHotSprings,we
evenwenttoUncle Raymonds church,FirstPresbyterian,
thoughMotherwasatleasta nominalBaptist.Thepastor back
312. then,theReverend Overholser,wasaremarkable
manwhoproducedtwo equally remarkabledaughters:Nan Keohane,whobecame
presidentofWellesley, Hillarysalma mater,andthenthefirst
womanpresidentofDuke University;andGeneva Overholser,
313. whowaseditoroftheDes MoinesRegisterand
endorsedmewhenIranfor President, andwholaterbecamethe
ombudsmanforthe WashingtonPost,whereshe airedthe
legitimatecomplaintsofthe generalpublicbutnotthe President.
314. NotwithstandingMothers reservations,Iliked
Raymond.Iwasimpressed withhis strength,hisinfluencein
town,andhisgenuine interestinhiskids,andin me.His
egocentricfoiblesdidnt bothermemuch,thoughwe
wereasdifferentasdaylight and
315. dark.In1968,whenIwas givingprocivilrightstalks
tocivicclubsinHotSprings, Raymondwassupporting GeorgeWallacefor
President.Butin1974,when Ilaunchedan apparentlyimpossible
campaignforCongress, RaymondandGabeCrawford co-signeda
316. $10,000notetogetme started.Itwasallthemoney
intheworldtomethen. Whenhis wifeofmorethanforty-five
yearsdied,Raymondgot reacquaintedwithawidowhe had
datedinhighschoolandthey married,bringinghappiness
tohislastyears.Forsome
317. reasonIcantevenremember now,Raymondgotmadat
melateinhislife.Beforewe couldreconcilehegot
Alzheimers.Iwenttovisit himtwice,onceinSt. Josephs
Hospitalandonceina nursinghome.Thefirsttime ItoldhimIlovedhim,was
sorryfor
318. whateverhadcomebetween us,andwouldalwaysbe
gratefulforallheddonefor me. HemighthaveknownwhoI
wasforaminuteortwo;I cantbesure.Thesecond time,I
knowhedidntknowme,but Iwantedtoseehimonce moreanyway.Hediedat
eighty-
319. four,likemyauntOllie,well afterhismindhadgone.
Raymondandhisfamily livedinabighouseonLake Hamilton,whereweusedto
go forpicnicsandridesinhis bigwoodenChris-Craftboat.
WecelebratedeveryFourth of Julytherewithlotsof
320. fireworks.Afterhisdeath, Raymondskidsdecidedwith sadness
thattheyhadtoselltheold house.Luckilymylibrary andfoundationneededa
retreat,so weboughttheplaceandare renovatingitforthat
purpose,andRaymondskids and
321. grandkidscanstilluseit. Hessmilingdownonme now.
Notlongafterwemovedto ParkAvenue,in1955Ithink,
mymothersparentsmoved to HotSpringstoalittle
apartmentinanoldhouseon ourstreet,amileorso towardtown
322. fromourplace.Themove wasmotivatedprimarilyby
healthconcerns.Papaws bronchiectasiscontinuedto advanceandMammawhad
hadastroke.Papawgotajob ata liquorstore,whichIthink
Daddyownedapartof,just acrossfromMr.Brizendines
barbershop.Hehadalotof
323. freetime,sinceeveninHot Springsmostpeopleweretoo
conventionaltofrequent liquorstoresinbroad daylight,soIoftenvisited
himthere.He playedalotofsolitaireand taughtmehow.Istillplay
threedifferentkinds,often when Imthinkingthrougha
324. problemandneedanoutlet fornervousenergy. Mammawsstrokewasa
majorone,andinthe aftermathshewasrackedby hysterical
screaming.Unforgivably,to calmherdown,herdoctor
prescribedmorphine,lotsof it.It waswhenshegothookedthat
325. Motherbroughtherand PapawtoHotSprings.Her
behaviorbecameevenmore irrational,andindesperation
Motherreluctantly committed hertothestatesmental
hospital,aboutthirtymiles away.Idontthinkthere wereany
drug-treatmentfacilitiesback
326. then. OfcourseIdidntknow anythingaboutherproblem
atthetime;Ijustknewshe was sick.ThenMotherdroveme
overtothestatehospitalto seeher.Itwasawful.Itwas
bedlam.Wewentintoabig openroomcooledbyelectric
fansencasedinhugemetal
327. meshtokeepthepatients fromputtingtheirhandsinto
them.Dazed-lookingpeople dressedinloosecotton
dressesorpajamaswalked aroundaimlessly,muttering to
themselvesorshoutinginto space.Still,Mammaw seemednormalandgladto
seeus,and
328. wehadagoodtalk.Aftera fewmonths,shehadsettled
downenoughtocomehome, and shewasneveragainon
morphine.Herproblemgave memyfirstexposuretothe kindof
mental-healthsystemthat servedmostofAmericaback then.Whenhebecame
governor,
329. OrvalFaubusmodernizedour statehospitalandputalot
moremoneyintoit.Despite the damagehedidinotherareas,
Iwasalwaysgratefultohim forthat. FIVE In1956,Ifinallygota
brother,andourfamily finallygotatelevisionset.
330. Mybrother, RogerCassidyClinton,was bornonJuly25,hisfathers
birthday.Iwassohappy. MotherandDaddyhadbeen tryingtohaveababyfor
sometime(acoupleofyears earliershedhada miscarriage).Ithinkshe,and
probablyhetoo,thoughtit mightsave
331. theirmarriage.Daddys responsewasnotauspicious.
IwaswithMammawand Papaw whenMotherdeliveredby
caesareansection.Daddy pickedmeupandtookmeto see
her,thenbroughtmehome andleft.Hehadbeen drinkingforthelastfew
months,and
332. insteadofmakinghimhappy andresponsible,thebirthof
hisonlysonpromptedhimto runbacktothebottle.
Alongwiththeexcitementof anewbabyinthehousewas thethrillofthenewTV.
Therewerelotsofshowsand entertainersforkids:
cartoons,CaptainKangaroo and
333. HowdyDoody,withBuffalo BobSmith,whomI
especiallyliked.Andthere was baseball:MickeyMantleand
theYankees,StanMusialand theCardinals,andmyall-
timefavorite,WillieMays andtheoldNewYorkGiants.
Butstrangeasitwasforakid oftenyearsold,whatreally
334. dominatedmyTVviewing thatsummerwerethe
RepublicanandDemocratic conventions.Isatonthe floorrightin
frontoftheTVandwatched themboth,transfixed.It
soundscrazy,butIfeltright at homeintheworldofpolitics
andpoliticians.Iliked
335. PresidentEisenhowerand enjoyed seeinghimrenominated,but
wewereDemocrats,soI reallygotintotheir convention.
GovernorFrankClementof Tennesseegavearousing
keynoteaddress.Therewas an excitingcontestforthevice-
336. presidentialnomination betweenyoungSenatorJohn F.
Kennedyandtheeventual victor,SenatorEstes Kefauver,whoserved
Tennesseeinthe SenatewithAlGoresfather. WhenAdlaiStevenson,the
nomineein1952,accepted his
337. partyscalltorunagain,he saidhehadprayedthiscup
wouldpassfromme.I admired Stevensonsintelligenceand
eloquence,buteventhenI couldntunderstandwhy anyone
wouldntwantthechanceto bePresident.NowIthink whathedidntwantwasto
lead
338. anotherlosingeffort.Ido understandthat.Ivelosta
coupleofelectionsmyself, thoughI neverfoughtabattleIdidnt
firstconvincemyselfIcould win. Ididntspendallmytime
watchingTV.Istillsawall themoviesIcould.Hot Springs
339. hadtwoold-fashionedmovie houses,theParamountand
theMalco,withbigstageson whichtouringwesternstars
appearedontheweekends.I sawLashLaRue,alldecked out
incowboyblack,dohis trickswithabullwhip,and GailDavis,whoplayed
AnnieOakley
340. onTV,giveashooting exhibition. ElvisPresleybegantomake
moviesinthelatefifties.I lovedElvis.Icouldsingall his
songs,aswellasthe Jordanairesbackgrounds.I admiredhimfordoinghis
military serviceandwasfascinated
341. whenhemarriedhis beautifulyoungwife, Priscilla.Unlike
mostparents,whothought hisgyrationsobscene, MotherlovedElvis,too,
maybeeven morethanIdid.Wewatched hislegendaryperformanceon
TheEdSullivanShow together,andlaughedwhen
342. thecamerascutoffhislower bodymovementstoprotect us
fromtheindecency.Beyond hismusic,Iidentifiedwith
hissmall-townsouthern roots. AndIthoughthehadagood
heart.SteveClark,afriendof minewhoservedasattorney
generalwhenIwasgovernor,
343. oncetookhislittlesister, whowasdyingofcancer,to see
ElvisperforminMemphis. WhenElvisheardaboutthe
littlegirl,heputherandher brotherinthefrontrow,and
aftertheconcerthebrought heruponstageandtalkedto her
foragoodwhile.Inever
344. forgotthat. Elvissfirstmovie,LoveMe
Tender,wasmyfavoriteand remainsso,thoughIalso
likedLovingYou,Jailhouse Rock,KingCreole,andBlue
Hawaii.Afterthat,his movies gotmoresaccharineand
predictable.Theinteresting thingaboutLoveMeTender,
345. a postCivilWarwestern,is thatElvis,alreadyanational
sexsymbol,gotthegirl, Debra Paget,butonlybecauseshe
thoughthisolderbrother, whomshereallyloved,had been
killedinthewar.Attheend ofthefilm,Elvisgetsshot
346. anddies,leavinghisbrother with hiswife.
IneverquiteescapedElvis. Inthe92campaign,some membersofmystaff
nicknamedmeElvis.Afew yearslater,whenIappointed KimWardlawofLos
Angeles
347. toafederaljudgeship,she wasthoughtfulenoughto
sendmeascarfElvishad wornand signedforheratoneofhis
concertsintheearly seventies,whenshewas nineteen.Istill
haveitinmymusicroom. AndIconfess:Istilllove Elvis.
348. Myfavoritemoviesduring thistimewerethebiblical
epics:TheRobe,Demetrius and theGladiators,Samsonand
Delilah,Ben-Hur,and especiallyTheTen Commandments,
thefirstmovieIrecall payingmorethanadimeto see.IsawTheTen
Commandments
349. whenMotherandDaddy wereonabrieftriptoLas
Vegas.Itookasacklunch andsat throughthewholething
twiceforthepriceofone ticket.Yearslater,whenI welcomed
CharltonHestontotheWhite HouseasaKennedyCenter
honoree,hewaspresidentof
350. theNationalRifle Associationandavirulent
criticofmylegislative effortstokeepguns awayfromcriminalsand
children.Ijokedtohimand theaudiencethatIlikedhim better
asMosesthaninhispresent role.Tohiscredit,hetookit ingoodhumor.
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