Life Before PresidencyBill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas on August 19, 1946. His real name was William Jefferson Blythe III. Three months before Bill was born, his father who was a traveling salesman, William Jefferson Blythe, Jr., was killed in an automobile crash. At the time, Bill’s mother, Virginia, was studying to become a nurse. She left Bill in her parents’ care in Hope to be raised while she traveled to New Orleans. His grandparents owned a grocery store. In these times, segregation was still occurring, but these kind people sold goods on credit to everyone, no matter what their racial status. What cool grandparents!!! Bill learned a great lesson: people are created equal and should not be treated differently.
Virginia returned from with her nursing degree in 1950, and not long after, married Roger Clinton. Roger and his brother owned an automobile dealership in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Virginia, Bill, and Roger moved to the site. Bill had used his father’s last name since he was four, but when he was fifteen he formally adopted Clinton as his last name.
Bill wanted to become a public figure because of two men: John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.. In 1962, when JFK was president, Bill was selected to be a member of Boys Nation. This was a special youth leadership conference, also a group called Girls Nation, which was invited to the White House to meet President Kennedy. He was one of the first in line to shake hands with the President. This experience set a decision in Bill’s mind to make a difference in the lives of people by becoming president. Bill was also moved by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Bill actually memorized King’s words.
Clinton was a top student at every school he attended. But a very small amount of people know that Clinton was very close to becoming a musician. Clinton was in vocal and he played the tenor saxophone. Playing the saxophone was his favorite thing to do in his spare time. He was the best saxophone player in the school and was awarded first chair saxophone in the state band. Clinton was a dedicated player, practicing every day and attending band camp in the Ozark Mountains. He was also a member of the jazz ensemble. His love of music sent many scholarships his way.
But he did not proceed with music. Clinton attended Georgetown, with its Foreign Service program and also because it was in the capital. He worked toward earning his Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. He won a Rhodes scholarship in 1968 that allowed only select students to study at Oxford University in England. After this, he attended law school at Yale. This is where he met his future wife, Hillary Rodham. After he graduated, Clinton returned to his home state of Arkansas to teach at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He could then concentrate on running for political office. He didn’t make it the first time, but as we know he soon would. The rest is history.Knowing Bill had a love of music, allows me to make connections with him. Bill has a very interesting background and I love that he didn’t just come from a rich family like some presidents do. I think Bill would have been an amazing musician also, and it would’ve been neat to see him continue with his music and see where he would go.~Cora~
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