..-- We Couldn't Get Enough: President Clinton's Legacy of Entertainment CARL LESTINSKY Communicated by: Dr. Jonathon Nashe! Department of History ABSTRACT This paper explores "why Clinton was fun to watch." The Democrats loved him because he had Kennedy­ like charisma and was a proven political winner. The Republicans loved to hate him because he adopted, as his own, their economic agenda with regard to welfare, tax credits, and a balanced budget amendment. Clinton also proved to be a cultural wedge issue with his perceived history as a 60's leftist, anti-American, draft dodger. This combination proved irresistible to the media and entertainment industry that loved him because of their ability to capitalize on this visceral reaction along with the drama of the Lewinsky affair and impeachment. The Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton lie speaker with his charm, grace, and intellect. Oth­ proved to be exhilarating, polarizing, and most of all ers were drawn by his conservative economic agenda entertaining. His presidential legacy of accomplish­ while still embracing a liberal social platform. The ments and failures has yet to be determined, but his state of the economy in both of his Presidential elec­ footprint on the American culture cannot be erased. tions played an active role in growing and continuing From the start of his Presidential campaign to his cur­ his support. All of these attributed to perception that rent status as former President, he is a person who in­ Bill Clinton was the winner the Democratic Party had stills strong emotions from conditional love to visceral longed awaited. Although there would prove to be tu­ hate. His exhilarating attributes such as charisma, multuous times for Bill Clinton, his rise to the presi­ empathy, and high intellect won him many strong sup­ dency would not be denied. porters. His polarizing attributes, such as his marital The national political outlook for Bill Clinton be­ infidelity, his avoidance of the draft, and his adop­ gan with a dismal speech at the 1988 Democratic con­ tion of conservative issues forged him many critics vention. His speech, introducing the Democratic nom­ throughout the political spectrum. This dichotomy of inee Michael Dukakis, lasted for 32 minutes and did America's opinions was taking shape during a techno­ not receive applause until he uttered the words, "In cultural evolution. This evolution developed within closing" (Maraniss 446). This speech proved to be the multi-media segment of our culture consisting of an anomaly for the candidate as his future national the old mediums of network news and newsprint and appearances illustrated his poise, confidence, and in­ the new mediums of the Internet and cable news sta­ telligence. In a Time magazine article in 1992, George tions. J. Church wrote, "Clinton has got off to an impressive This cultural change in the media facilitated start. He has improved immensely as an orator; his America's appetite for sensational news. Within this latest efforts have been smooth, colloquial and grace cultural context Bill Clinton became a suitable target. with a touch of self-deprecating humor" (Church "ls As his critics mounted attacks on his character, his Bill" 18). A New York Times article from the same allies supplied a defense and counterattack. The en­ period stated, "In a nation so fractionalized that each suing coverage involving the President developed high voting block has its own political language he is mul­ ratings for the industry and its participants. Even as tilinguistic. He does not speak the language of the people were claiming 'Clinton fatigue,' viewer ratings masses but of each diverse subset" (Kelly 1). The were showing that they could not get enough of the columnist, Michael Kelly, appreciated Clinton's abil­ coverage. The coverage of Clinton scandals became ities as an orator so much as to equate it to being a virtual industry of itself producing book deals, big able to speak in tongues, a phenomenon not seen in budget movies, and comedic entertainment. None of 2000 years. Paul Begala, a Clinton campaign director, this would have reached its magnitude without the noted Clinton's oratory skills in an interview on PBS stirring of emotions brought on by Bill Clinton. This he recalled, "So the poor guy is up there alone ... on all worked in sync providing profits to some and pro­ the most complex public policy issue, a fairly com­ viding entertainment to us all. plex bill, and he went the first nine minutes without "BLONDES FOR BILL" a note, and nobody could tell. It was phenomenal. .. it's part of the Clinton legend" (1). Clinton's ability There were varying reasons for the support of Bill to perform well in public appearances demonstrated Clinton within his own party and throughout his po­ to the public not only his intelligence and poise but litical life. Many were drawn to him as a natural pub- also that he was empathetic to their concerns. We Couldn't Get Enough 65 Clinton's personal empathy may have been his (Boyer 447). This co-option of conservative ideals biggest asset in securing the disassociated voters of enabled Clinton to refute most criticisms as a tax the 1992 election. In a New York Times interview, and spend liberal. David Brooks stated in The At­ Illinois Senator Paul Simon discussed the relevance of lantic, "He (Clinton) inoculated the Democratic Party understanding the difficulties Americans were faced against the charge that it is dangerously liberal" (1). with during that election. Simon stated, "Bill Clin­ Although the liberal wing of the Democratic Party ton enjoys mixing with the people, and that comes did not agree with the co-option of conservative ide­ across on television. The image is one of warmth. als it did not abandon Clinton as their nominee. In his Here's a man who really identifies with the ordinary book All too Human, George Stephanopoulus stated: guy who's in trouble" (Apple Jr. Al). Paul Begala also spoke about Clinton's empathy during the cam­ Most liberals knew this, understood paign, he stated: that Clinton wasn't really one of us. But it felt good ... a time when the Kennedy He would have these endless town hall brothers epitomized the best and the meetings, the handshakes, and he never ·brightest, a time long before McGovern, met somebody he didn't like. He didn't Carter, Mondale, and Dukakis were cari­ ever meet somebody he couldn't persuade catured. (Stephanopoulos 47) or feel like he could, but he also listened .... but his most compelling attribute is that Most everyone in the party realized that Clinton interpersonal empathy. When he is con­ was more than just a contender; he was a winner. Af­ necting with someone, the whole world ter twelve years out of Presidential power the liberal melts away. (Begala 1) wing of the party was willing to accommodate Clin­ Clinton's empathy served him well in connecting ton's agenda to further their own. with the voters. It showed that he was a different type After winning the election in 1992, President Clin­ of candidate, one that truly understood the concerns ton made early attempts to placate the left. This and problems of the average American citizen. This included securing rights for homosexuals and promot­ attribute was one that played well on television. His ing a national health care plan. Although these ideals style of personal communication which included his fell to harsh criticism and controversy, Clinton did approach to shaking hands demonstrated that he was succeed in fulfilling a campaign pledge by appoint­ comfortable and at ease with all of society. ing women and minorities to political office (Boyer Clinton maintained other attributes associated 449). Other controversies such as Filegate, Travel­ with his empathy. Clinton also had a charismatic gate, Whitewater, and the Lewinsky affair provided charm to which many voters connected. Many people cohesion for the President's allies. This cohesion came were enamored with his charisma, as one columnist in the form of a united defense for the President wrote in the New York Times, "His allure becomes against his political enemies. The National Organiza­ clear when he opens his mouth.... His smile runs a tion for Women (NOW) presented their support with dizzying gamut, from open-jawed wonder to lip-biting a statement reading, "Women voters elected Clinton, coyness and to beaming boyish delight" (Kelly Al). and the majority of women still approve of his per­ Clinton practically presented himself with a super­ formance in office, apparently judging him as a pres­ star aura. In a 1992 campaign columnist Maureen ident whose strength outweighs his flaws" (1). The Dowd writes, "The Clintons are still uncomfortable Nation, a liberal publication supported Clinton in a with their new level of rock-star-style celebrity, in similar fashion by stating, "For at least the remainder which women scream as they once did for Frank Sina­ of this century the fate of the left will be tied to Bill tra, hold up signs reading 'Bill's a Babe' and 'Blon­ Clinton's political health" (Isserman and Kazin 44). des for Bill' ... " (Al). These feelings toward Clin­ The left wing of the Democratic Party had contin­ ton were not just school-girt banter. David Gergan, ued with their assumption that a moderate Democrat Clinton's Communication Director and former Rea­ in the White House would further their agenda more gan Aide stated, "Clinton exuded an animal mag­ so than any Republican, even if he did not champion netism that drew both men and women. They loved their causes to the extent of actual legislation. to be around him, to hang on his words, and enjoy a Along with the cohesion of Clinton's allies, a pro­ hug" (254).