American Experience: Clinton

The viewer does not learn much about the President or his presidency. As an observant nonpartisan adult during both Clinton campaigns and presidencies, I was surprised by complete omission of AmeriCorps, student loan payment in exchange for government service, and many other accomplishments. It mentions his welfare reform only in a backhanded way. It gives the impression he was incompetent during his first term, which he was not. It exaggerates his minor flaws and omits his biggest mistakes--continued deregulation of the financial and banking systems despite opposition by the chairperson of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; getting involved in the centuries-old religious war in the Balkans. It does not address the irrational, malevolent, relentless defamation of President and First Lady Clinton by their detractors, which started while Bush 41 was still president and was a significant change in dirty politics at that time compared with decades prior (I typed "decades" not "a century"). I recommend the Clinton's autobiographical books and relevant Frontline episodes if you want to learn about Clinton.

While I neither personally nor politically like Bill Clinton I'm am always intrigued by presidential history. Once the campaigns and the power dim those that surround these people tend to be more forthcoming. There is an honest assessment of their time in office. Corruption, lies, and inexperience are all on the table. Even when they admit to Clinton's flawed personality they are still attached to this over grow boy. A stereotypical politician promising everything to everyone yet so many fell for the good ol'boy in chief. Still much like JFK history we learn two things wrongs were committed, we know that now and they are admitted now, yet like Clinton he is strangely beloved. All of the presidents series on pbs have been good for a general overview of history. The more in depth thru reading you go the shallower they become. You can't expect a few hours to do a whole persons life justice. Good or bad, biased or not we see what we wish to see from our leaders and we get what we deserve.

Series was rather well designed but it left me with the sense of Clinton as a "user" of everyone he came his across especially Hilary. And yes, I know that a marriage is a give and take relationship, but the idea of him letting her "fight his battles" on how he was abused by Republicans, when she was a wronged wife, was just too hard to even for a stranger to watch.All this "slick Billy" lawyering his way out of dirt, just didn't sit well with me. I would say, I felt worse about Bill Clinton after the series.

It was very informative. I feel the narrative was not selective on the details of the Clinton's lives. As such, while many documentaries seek to exonerate or incriminate the subjects involved, I didn't feel like I was being forced to choose whether I like the Clintons or not. I learned. I changed my opinions. I was moved. I was disgusted. I did like the ultimate narrative of seeing that even though people have made mistakes, as long as they keep trying, they can still make a positive difference.However, that being said, and given the information within this documentary, I also came to understand the number of and magnitude of the scandals that Hillary and Bill Clinton have been involved with and feel I could not trust them in positions that would influence other people's lives en mass. Their lack of transparency and continual muddied scandals to this day leaves me feeling they need a constant oversight committee to make sure they aren't cheating the American public for personal gain.

I have often wondered what makes the Clintons so different in the political arena. This documentary explains that both Bill and Hillary made their life ambition to be the president of the USA. Newsflash, their are so many better aspirations than a life of filthy politics and all of the messes that are created when you are haven't enough discipline to not make the trade offs. Many will look at this story with nothing but admiration. To me, it is so disappointing to see two people screw everyone, including themselves over in their mutual quest for power. What a waste of two otherwise talented lives. How would you like to be Chelsea, and not have any idea of what to expect from a parent because both have spent their entire lives chasing power. Something is so very wrong with their mindsets.

I have yet to watch a bad episode of American Experience. As someone who has a lot of books about the clintons, its nice to now have a documentary about their time in office. Two for the price of one.

A very good documentary on the rise of the Clintons in politics. The story of Bill and Hillary from young idealistic people. To working their way up the political ladder of Arkansas politics. To eventually become president and first lady of the United States. The good, bad and ugly of their story are all examined in this doc.

Relive a part of my childhood I always thought bill was a good president at the time.didnt know ever thing I learn from this dvd set .

Whether you're a Clinton fan or detractor (unless you're at the extreme end of either), I think you'll like this. I thought that it was a fair presentation of Clinton's presidency, the good, the bad and the slutty.The documentary traces Clinton's life from his Arkansas boyhood, living with his mother and his abusive stepfather, and follows with how he met and married Hillary, his early political rise leading to his time in the Governor's mansion, complete with the triumphs and disasters which accompanied his tenure in state politics. It describes how his national profile became elevated, how a long and boring speech at a Democratic convention almost torpedoed his political ascendency, and how he was able to learn from and get past that mistake. It goes on to relive his campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1992, complete with the first national publicity of his extra-marital affairs, and the masterful way in which he overcame that hurdle to become the Comeback Kid.The segment on the 1992 election is a wonderful recounting of how the obscure southern governor was able to defeat a President who, less than a year earlier, enjoyed an unprecedented 90% approval rating by schooling everyone in the lesson that, when it comes to presidential elections, "it's the economy stupid."The documentary reminds us that even with a Democratic congress, it wasn't all sunshine and roses for the Clinton presidency, but when the tide turned and Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took over congress, a series of very dramatic showdowns brought government to a halt and how skillful political manipulation was able to bring about an end to the stalemate. It is amazing to watch how Clinton was able to make lemonade from lemons, leaving a legacy of being the last President to bring about surplus budgets. The program explains how Clinton was able to secure his reelection, but at a price of losing some support within his base by passing welfare reforms. The story of how the counsel of Dick Morris was able to help steer the Clinton Presidency away from political rocks is all the more interesting when recounted by Morris himself and other principal players of the time.Of course the documentary also tells the story of the investigations against the Clintons: first Whitewater, which uncovered the sordid tale of a young intern named Monica Lewinsky and some bad behaviour by a president. The filmmakers present the cases both pro and con of those who argue that the first impeachment of a President since Andrew Johnson was or wasn't about sex, as we're reminded to Clinton's grand jury testimony and his alleged perjury. They are careful to walk a fine line in presenting opposing viewpoints of what Kenneth Starr's motives were, while offering no conclusions of their own.The selection of film is appropriate and outstanding. Complex issues are explained with remarkable clarity and the comments by some of the leading players and witnesses including Starr, Clinton's Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and politicians, cabinet members and journalists of the day add to the authenticity of this remarkable video chronicle. I found this to be an unbiased and very well presented documentary on the life of this intelligent, emotional, complicated and flawed president, and I recommend this documentary highly to anyone who hasn't yet seen it.

Bought as a gift and I think the person enjoyed it. Arrived in good condition.

Beware of this Blu Ray it does not play on uk players, I was really looking forward to seeing this and very annoyed when it finally arrived to find it would not play on my new Blu ray player, i thought blu rays were universal (well you know what thought did)