They no longer play “Hail to the Chief” when President Bill Clinton visits, but there is an equally welcoming sound that he still listens to all the time. “We love you!” yells an audience member in Harlem.
Here, walking the streets with Clinton feels like a victory lap. The former president set up shop here soon after leaving office. At the time, he was only 54, newly unemployed, but determined to use his influence, contacts and information to bring about change as a private citizen.
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He even said in his final address to the nation: “In years to come, I will never hold a higher office or a more sacred office than that of President of the United States. But there is no title I would rather “I will wear this with more pride.” Of the citizen.”
In the 24 years since that speech, Citizen Clinton has accomplished enough to fill many lives — and the pages of a new book: “Citizen: My Life After the White House” (To be published by Knopf on Tuesday).
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Asked what she was most proud of about the work she did while she was out of the White House, Clinton responded, “I think the thing I'm most proud of is that That I proved that you can make a big difference as a private citizen.” ,
By any measure, he has done so. Through her Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, which partners business leaders with nonprofits, she has helped fund projects around the world—in South Africa, to name a few. a program to help combat HIV/AIDS and a massive clean water project in Rwanda. Closer to home, his foundation helped with everything from an energy-saving retrofit of the Empire State Building in New York, to fighting drug overdoses in the Heartland, to upgrading street lights in Los Angeles. They also helped finance construction works to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure.
“We raised $16 billion from union pension funds to put people to work,” he said. “It was the largest in the country at the time. I'm proud of it, because I think people are happier when they do things that actually make things better.”
The President also took to the road against the Harris-Walz ticket in the final weeks of the campaign, and said he was disappointed by the result, but not entirely surprised.
I asked, “Do you think part of the issue is that America isn't ready for a woman president?”
“Maybe,” Clinton replied. “I think in some ways we've all moved to the right as a reaction to the turmoil. And I think if Hillary had been nominated in 2008, she would have been in it just like Obama was.”
“Has the country changed?”
“Well, I think all these cultural battles that we're fighting make it harder for a woman to get ahead in some ways.”
“So you think it has more to do with party than gender?”
“No,” he said. “Although I think it would probably be easier for a conservative Republican woman to win.”
“From a Democrat woman?”
Clinton said, “Uh-huh. Because, I mean, that's what Maggie Thatcher did.” “But I still think we'll have a female president soon.”
“How soon? Within your lifetime?”
“Oh yes. Well, I don't know how long I'll live. You're asking an old man that question!” He laughed. “I hope I'll be here next time. But now it's President Trump's turn. It depends on what he does and how he plays.”
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We spoke last week as the president-elect was in the process of naming his new Cabinet, causing a stir in Washington, DC and beyond.
I asked, “Are the railings closed?”
Clinton replied, “Well, there's no clear guardrail.” “The Senate has shown some indigestion about some of these suggested appointments. We'll see what happens there. You know, somewhere, [Trump will] One has to wonder whether, in this chapter of his life, he still thinks the most important thing is unquestioned dominance, 'because that's not what democracy is about.'
“So you're saying President Trump might have a change of heart?”
Clinton said, “Maybe. I grew up in the Baptist church. I believe in deathbed conversion! I think you can't give it up.” “But I think the rest of us just have to be diligent, keep an eye out for the signs and be willing to stand up for what we think is right, even if they take a piece off our skin.”
In his book, the president has written openly about his health issues, including his battle with weight. But he couldn't resist stopping at the famous soul food restaurant Sylvia's, if only for a cup of coffee.
I asked, “If you were eating here, what would you get?”
“Mid-afternoon? I'll have a piece of pie.”
“I know you talk about this in your book. Now you have to pay a little attention to your diet?”
“A lot,” Clinton said. “It's incredible how much your metabolism drops.”
If he is candid about his health, he is equally open about past controversies. Clinton writes about Monica Lewinsky, praising her recent work on bullying.
Why consider doing this? He said, “Because I thought I needed to say something about it, and I wanted to be as helpful as possible in letting her turn the page. I think she should be given a chance to build a life that is about her and her Be in.” The future, no more, you know, being trapped in an old story.”
So, while mindful of the past, Bill Clinton keeps moving forward, making connections big and small, still trying – and often succeeding – in his quest to change the world.
He said, “I don't mind when people jump on me; I just talk to them.” “And I don't replace them all. You don't have to replace everybody; you just have to get enough.
“We all just need to relax and get back in the game. … There's another thing, and I say it several times in the book: We all keep score. You've been doing this for a long time. You're keeping score about this interview compared to the 15 other interviews you've had, and I guess the way I keep score is this: compared to when you started. When you left the job, were the children's future bright and are we coming together instead of being broken? So, for me, if I can answer yes to those three things then it is enough.
“I know there are no permanent wins or losses in politics,” Clinton said. “And I have no interest in being an armchair quarterback other than helping my team perform better. And I think he has a lot of talent. So, I wish him the best, and I'll try to help. But in the meantime, I'm just going to be ready and keep doing what I'm doing.”
Read an excerpt: “Citizen: My Life After the White House” by Bill Clinton.
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The story is produced by John D'Amelio. Editor: Ed Givnish.
