Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe in Hope, Arkansas, on August 19, 1946. Named after his father who was killed several months before he was born. When he was two years of age, Bill was sent to his grandparents to live, while his mother, Virginia took up nursing studies in New Orleans. Two years later, Virginia married Roger Clinton, a car salesman, and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Virginia. She changed Bill’s last name to Clinton shortly thereafter.
Bill was an honor student while attending school in Little Rock. He was popular among his classmates and had a knack for the saxophone. Virginia’s second husband was an abusive alcoholic according to family members. Bill’s acting ability was formulated in his early years while comforting his mother and feeling her pain. He stood up to his stepfather on a number of occasions. Bill learned to understand his stepfather’s drinking and forgave him before he died. His mother was a heavy gambler with mob ties. According to FBI and local police officials, his Uncle Raymond, to whom young Bill turns for wisdom and support, is a colorful car dealer, slot machine owner and gambling operator, who thrives on the fault line of criminality (except when his house is firebombed). Uncle Raymond’s gambling operations are franchised by the Marcello organization of New Orleans.
Bill Clinton’s early on dealings with a tumulus home life helped pave the way for his ability to deal with people. He learned to emulate what people were feeling and became a human chameleon when dealing with others. This uncanny ability earned him a delegate ticket to the American Legion Boys’ Nation. This youth program was created to allow students to learn about their Government.
The group was invited to the White House to meet the President in 1963. The 17 year old Clinton got to shake John Kennedy’s hand.
This chance encounter, solidified young boy Clinton’s ambition to become something in life and to enter the political arena.
Graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1964, Clinton went on to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It was during this time that Clinton worked as a part time clerk for Arkansas Senator William Fulbright. His tenure with the Fulbright Senate office gave Clinton first hand knowledge of the ins and outs of Washington politics. It was also during this tenure that Clinton became pals with James McDougal, who also worked for Fulbright. Upon graduating from Georgetown with a degree in international affairs, Clinton was supposedly awarded a two year scholarship to Oxford University in 1968. However the truth is, the Rhodes Scholarship was awarded after the CIA got Fulbright to nominate him for the honor. Clinton did not attend classes required to take advantage of the scholarship. It’s a campaign ruse. This was Clinton’s first taste of political savory of influence in high places.
During his two years at Oxford, Clinton’s opposition to the Vietnam War came into conflict with his political aspirations.
He made himself available for the draft but was never called up because he received a high number in the draft lottery held that year. Like his mentor, Fulbright, Clinton, opposed the Vietnam War. It was during this time that we find Clinton being recruited by the CIA as a travelling student. At the time of the Soviets’ bloody seizure from the local communists, Bill Clinton stayed at the home of the son of a communist leader in Prague. Clinton was part of the CIA counter-espionage scheme to funnel funding through the Rhodes foundation. Clinton also went to Moscow as a war protester for the CIA. A terrific cover while stealing transcripts from the Soviet block for the CIA. It was during this time that Clinton began a close relationship with Winthrop Rockefeller. Rockefeller had many foreign oil properties at stake and the CIA’s job was to guard his interests. It is not clear what other role Clinton may have served for the CIA. We do know that his role was similar to the one played by Allard Lowenstein in the 1950’s. Lowenstein, was used by the CIA and was head of the National Student Association. When some journalists started questioning Lowenstein’s links to the CIA in 1980, he wound up being murdered by a lone assassin.
In 1970, Clinton returned to the United States to study law at Yale University. In 1972 he took time off to work for the presidential campaign of Democratic Senator George McGovern of South Dakota. A far left liberal who wanted to give everyone $2,000.00, he was soundly defeated by Richard M. Nixon.
In 1974, Clinton served as a staff lawyer for the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. That same year, he joined the University of Arkansas Law School. He also tried, unsuccessfully, to launch his own political career, running for Congress. With the Watergate scandal, Clinton was able to muster more votes than any Democratic candidate in 25 years in the district. During the campaign, Clinton made the following statement to the Arkansas Democratic Gazette, ” Yes, the president should resign. He has lied to the American people, time and time again, and betrayed their trust. He is no longer an effective leader. Since he has admitted guilt, there is no reason to put the American people through an impeachment. He will serve absolutely no purpose in finishing out his term; the only possible solution is for the president to save some dignity and resign”.
In 1975, Clinton met Hillary Rodham in the law library at Yale University. They were married later that year. Hillary went on to establish her own successful law firm in Little Rock.
In 1976, Bill Clinton ran for Attorney General of Arkansas and won. At the tender age of 30 years, Bill could feel the power of politics running through his veins.