Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from January 20, 1993, to January 20, 2001. His two-term administration oversaw strong economic growth and budget surpluses while also facing major political controversies, including impeachment and acquittal in 1998–1999.
Domestically, Clinton presided over a period of sustained economic expansion, reduced unemployment, and several major policy initiatives—most notably passage of NAFTA, welfare reform in 1996, and balanced budgets that produced federal surpluses in the late 1990s. His administration also advanced legislation on crime, gun control, and family leave while benefiting from the technology-driven boom of the decade.
Clinton’s presidency is also marked by controversy: a personal scandal led to his impeachment by the House in 1998 and acquittal by the Senate in 1999, which shaped public debate about character and accountability. On foreign policy he expanded U.S. engagement, including NATO interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, leaving a mixed legacy of increased international involvement and contested domestic politics.
Signed NAFTA (1993); Enacted 1996 Welfare Reform (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act); Achieved federal budget surpluses in the late 1990s; Led NATO interventions in Bosnia (1995) and Kosovo (1999); Impeached by the House (1998) and acquitted by the Senate (1999); Signed key domestic laws including the Brady Bill and Family and Medical Leave Act
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
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President Clinton submitted his administration's FY2000 budget to Congress, presenting spending priorities, deficit and surplus projections, and policy proposals for the coming fiscal year.
Clinton delivered his annual State of the Union to a joint session of Congress, outlining priorities including the strong economy, fiscal responsibility, education, health care, and national security.
The U.S. Senate convened as a court of impeachment with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding and senators sworn as jurors to begin the trial following the House's December 1998 impeachment votes.
The four-day U.S.- and U.K.-led bombing campaign against Iraqi military and WMD-related targets ended on December 19, 1998.
After approving articles of impeachment, the House of Representatives selected managers to present the case against President Clinton to the Senate.
The full House voted to impeach President Clinton on charges of perjury to a grand jury and obstruction of justice, becoming only the second U.S. president to be impeached by the House.
The House of Representatives impeached President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Clinton gave a televised statement defending and explaining the U.S.-led air campaign against Iraq—Operation Desert Fox—which began that day.
President Clinton ordered a combined U.S.-U.K. bombing campaign, Operation Desert Fox, targeting Iraqi military and governmental facilities over four days in response to Iraq's alleged noncompliance with UN weapons inspections.
Clinton ordered U.S. and British forces to begin a four-day series of airstrikes (Operation Desert Fox) against Iraqi military and security targets on December 16, 1998, citing Iraq's obstruction of U.N. weapons inspections.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to approve four articles of impeachment—perjury to a grand jury, perjury in a civil case, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power—and forwarded them to the full House for consideration.
President Clinton agreed to settle the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit for $850,000, resolving the civil case without admitting wrongdoing.