home

Bill Clinton Ages and Mellows

The Sunday New York Times Magazine has a long article on how Bill Clinton is mellowing. And aging.

Clinton at 62 looks older than the boy president who dominated American politics in the 1990s, but he remains more robust than most men his age and full of intellectual energy. His left hand trembled a little bit during dinner, as it tends to do late in the day. It worried him enough at one point that he had himself tested for Parkinson’s disease, but the results came back negative; his doctor says he has just signed too many autographs over the years. When I mentioned that he had to get hearing aids during his White House tenure because of the effects of too many campaign rallies, he cheerfully pulled out the latest equipment from his ear and showed off how sleek and virtually invisible it was.

So, What's he up to now? [More...]

Clinton is trying to define his role and find his place in the Age of Obama. He agreed to some limits on his activities to satisfy the good-government advocates around Obama, but he is still traveling the globe, pushing his favorite philanthropic programs, collecting six-figure checks for speeches, dining with foreign leaders and in his own way speaking for America again. A couple of weeks ago, he agreed to serve as the United Nations special envoy to Haiti.

It's a long article and a good read.

< Sheriff Joe Arpaio Claims Investigation is Politically Based | AZ Halts Prison Policy After Inmate Death >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    OMG He's getting older? (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Sweet Sue on Sat May 30, 2009 at 06:41:16 PM EST
    Can we name one person in the history of this world who doesn't look older at sixty two than(s)he did at forty six?
    Susan Lucci doesn't count. The pilates and multiple face lifts make a difference.
    It was a real pleasure to read an article about the former (great) President that was not a hit job.

    He may be mellow, (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by Radiowalla on Sat May 30, 2009 at 06:45:48 PM EST
    but he's a mellow Big Dog.

    D**n right! (5.00 / 5) (#5)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 07:20:13 PM EST
    Jeepers, what a compelling character he is.

    Parent
    Making big cheese... (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Sun May 31, 2009 at 10:49:42 AM EST
    off of the office of the president, and collecting obscene pensionary benefits he has no need for during a time of (supposed) economic strife...I think it is safe to say Harry Truman would not be amused or smitten, but disgusted.

    Parent
    Bill got it done... (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by JoeCHI on Sat May 30, 2009 at 06:56:31 PM EST
    ...and, with two hands tied behind his back!  

    Gawd...I really miss Bill (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by oldpro on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:38:18 PM EST
    but I'm glad to know he's out there...somewhere...

    Ditto (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by nycstray on Sun May 31, 2009 at 01:48:59 AM EST
    And it sounds very much like he's out there in a nice place. Sadly, it sounds like he's "more accepted" comfortably outside of the US. But on the upside, he seems to have that handled and I for one have been very impressed with his foundation work (over the past few years), etc. He also seems to have adapted to working within the limits the current admin prefer quite well.

    Dang, remember all the hyperventilating about him in the primaries, the general and when Hillary's name came up for SoS? I'm very glad he is able to continue his work. And that they seem to have shut up for now. We need his contributions.

    Parent

    You can get a (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by kmblue on Sun May 31, 2009 at 08:13:29 AM EST
    "I MISS BILL" fridge magnet from the Clinton Museum gift shop in downtown Little Rock.

    I enjoy mine! ;)

    Parent

    I read this last night. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by AX10 on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:46:57 PM EST
    I can understand why Bill is not on good terms with Ted and Caroline Kennedy.

    As someone else said, Bill had to fight the GOP and the media with his hands tied.

    The Dems in congress were of no help to him, both when they had the majority 93-94 and in the minority 95-2000.

    Bill Clinton is Done (2.60 / 5) (#3)
    by kidneystones on Sat May 30, 2009 at 06:49:48 PM EST
    That's right, finished.

    Forget the balanced budgets, domestic and international coalition building, and cheerful lust for life and good humor.

    America's first 'black' president was revealed as a racist willing to twist any fact, tell any tale, and manipulate and threaten the weak and the powerless.

    Right.

    But those are the facts for the true believers who smeared the Clintons and their supporters as bigots and racists.

    Wonderful people.

    Still collecting six figures for speaking (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Sun May 31, 2009 at 04:09:49 AM EST
    engagements.......sigh, I always loved his intellect.  I remember how much I giggled when Dubya spoke of his future plans after the presidency and getting those high dollar speaking engagements like Clinton to replenish his coffers with.  I couldn't imagine a world beating at his door needing him to share with it his pearls of wisdom.  Somehow I'm doubting that Roswell N.M. ponied up with six figures.